Youth Facing The Global Freshwater Crisis: A Diplomacy Simulation & Advocacy Program
Do you want to learn to negotiate international crises like a diplomat? Do you want to explore how to advocate for action on conservation and the environment in the U.S. and around the world?
This is an online program for high school students who are interested in experiencing global citizenship, learning about diplomacy, and engaging in advocacy related to conservation and the environment.
This program has two components:
1) a Diplomacy Simulation designed by the U.S. Department of State, introduces students to the language of “stakeholders” in international negotiations regarding the environment.
2) an Advocacy Service Project engages students with actual domestic and global stakeholders who have interests in conservation and freshwater issues in particular.
Taken together, this program consists of: four hours for the Diplomacy Simulation components, plus four hours for the Advocacy Service Project.
Diplomacy simulation. In two online sessions, students will learn how to negotiate an international freshwater crisis.
Students participate in a Diplomacy Simulation designed by the U.S. Department of State. Students will work in small groups to represent “stakeholders” (e.g. countries, multilateral organizations, NGOs) in a negotiation process.
See here for information about the U.S. Department of State’s National Museum of American Diplomacy, which has designed and which offers these simulations, and here for curriculum materials for the Freshwater Crisis Diplomacy Simulation that students will complete in this program.
This Diplomacy Simulation program includes two online preparation and negotiation Sessions:
- Session 1: Students receive their scenario materials and are divided into stakeholder teams representing the affected countries, the United Nations and a non-governmental refugee rights organization. Teams meet to prepare their negotiating strategies.
- Session 2: Students representing their stakeholder teams learn how to prepare, strategize, and negotiate with each other in informal and formal negotiation sessions, with the goal of achieving a diplomatic solution to freshwater crisis scenario.
Advocacy service project. In addition, students will complete an advocacy service project, under the guidance of program facilitators, following the conclusion of the Diplomacy Simulation.
Students write letters and/or emails advocating action on issues of their choice related to the topics addressed in the Diplomacy Simulation.
Under the guidance of the facilitators of the Diplomacy Simulation, students study how advocacy and letter-writing campaigns work. They engage in research on an issue of concern to them, review templates of effective advocacy communications, and finally, draft, edit, and send their letters to elected representatives and/or to the governmental or non-governmental organizations of their choice.
Schedule and Times (Total: Eight Hours)
- One hour of at-home review of preparation materials on the diplomatic process prior to the first online session. At-home review of materials includes completing of readings, watching videos, and preparing a description of their stakeholder’s position regarding the simulation.
- Two 1.5-hour online participatory diplomacy simulation sessions, scheduled in the late afternoon.
- A four-hour advocacy service project where the student will work from home, in contact with the program facilitators, following the second online session. The Advocacy Service Project includes two hours online with instructors and two hours engaging in research and letter-writing on issues of concern to them that are related to the Diplomacy Simulation
SSL credit hours. The program offers high school students the opportunity to earn SSL credit hours through WCIE. The program is designed to satisfy the SSL requirements of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). If you are enrolled at another public or private school in the U.S., or elsewhere around the world, ask your counselor if this program satisfies community service requirements.
Program dates. This program will hold required Zoom sessions on February 22 and 24, 2021, from 4:30-6 pm with a State Department official facilitating the simulation held on the 24th. In addition, an orientation to the Advocacy Service Project will take place on Friday, February 26, at 4:30-5:30pm. All program sessions and completion of the Advocacy Service Project by March 5th are required for students seeking SSL credit hours. Additional program dates are under consideration.
PLEASE NOTE: This program integrates the Diplomacy Simulation and Advocacy Service Project, and students seeking SSL credit hours must attend all sessions (absent legitimate excuse/illness) and complete the Advocacy Service Project by March 5th to receive any SSL credit.
To register. Students interested in this program must complete an online registration form. Students will also need to provide a short personal statement (two to four paragraphs) explaining why they want to take part in this program and what they hope to learn from their participation. Please email the personal statement to us at communityservice@washingtoncie.org. Your personal statement should include the name of your school and grade level.
Requirements. Students must be between 15 and 19 years of age. Students must complete the application and provide a short personal statement. Non-native English speaking students must have English language proficiency at a High Intermediate level or above.
Timeline. Students will be informed if they are accepted to the program and will be provided program materials two weeks prior to the first online session.
For more information. Email with questions to communityservice@washingtoncie.org.
Please note the following guidelines for student service through live virtual platforms:
- A student’s parent/guardian must provide the nonprofit with written approval of the student’s participation in the virtual platform prior to the student serving/volunteering.
- Students must use personal/private accounts (not MCPS student accounts) to engage in the virtual platform.
- Students will only engage with others under the direct supervision of a nonprofit supervisor. The nonprofit supervisor will be directly present in the virtual space (including any breakout sessions) at all times.
- The nonprofit supervisor will initiate and host all virtual sessions. If the nonprofit supervisor is not available to initiate and host the virtual session, the session will not occur.
- Virtual sessions will not be recorded.
- Students should not share or upload any videos, pictures, or images of themselves, unless the nonprofit organization has obtained a signed form/waiver from the student’s parent/guardian authorizing permission/release.
- Students’ email addresses/home addresses or any personally identifying information will remain protected and not shared.
Student participation in this service project is at the discretion of the student’s parent/guardian. The nonprofit organization is responsible for maintaining student safety and privacy at any time the student is interacting with the nonprofit and its clients. The nonprofit organization will determine the number of SSL hours awarded based on the evidence submitted. Parents/guardians should contact the nonprofit directly with any questions and/or concerns. This service activity is designed to be completed within the safety of the student’s home until schools resume normal status.
