2006 Spring GVS: Foreign Aid
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The 2006
Global Vision Summit brought 140 students from four
islands together on Saturday
March 4, 2006 and Sunday March 5, 2006 to discuss
foreign aid at Hawaii Tokai International College.
The day began with a keynote speech from Dr. Yoichiro
Sato, a professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security
Studies. Dr. Sato gave us an insightful overview of
different kinds of foreign aid policies and the challenges
and considerations countries must address when deciding
to provide aid.
The students’ first
task was to present a case for foreign assistance
to Sudan, Columbia, Asia, or Sub-Saharan Africa. Each
case was an illustration of a different kind of foreign
aid: humanitarian aid, military and security aid,
economic stabilization, and development assistance,
respectively. After working in small groups, students
introduced their country, its need for aid, their
policy recommendations, and their goals for the future.
Other groups then peppered their peers with questions
and criticisms, and offered their own opinions.
In the afternoon, students
were asked to decide which foreign aid option aligned
most closely with their own values: Share the American
Dream, Join Hands for a Better World, or Put America
First. They explored their beliefs about what aid
policies should be based on, and then applied them
to three countries, Malawi, Indonesia, and Peru. In
the second large-group session of the day, groups
presented their decision regarding which of the three
countries ought to receive the most US aid, why, and
what kind of programs should be funded. Interestingly,
each of the groups chose a different country to assist.
Intense debate and questioning followed each presentation,
highlighting the diverse beliefs represented in the
room.
Although students could
have continued their lively discussions and debate
far into the evening, we closed the day with reflection
on the day’s experience. Each students was able
to gain a deep appreciate for the complexity of this
issue and the many limitations to providing relief
to other countries, and the difficulty of identifying
the best interests of donor and recipient countries.
On Sunday morning, a
group of 34 dedicated students from five schools spent
a morning volunteering at the Institute for Human
Services, in the spirit of aid and assistance. They
were able to learn about the shelter and the services
it provides the homeless community. Then they helped
with the spring cleaning at the men’s shelter,
and donation center at the family shelter. The difference
at the end of the morning was amazing, and as the
shelter is run largely by donations and volunteer
assistance, their work was certainly appreciated.
PAAC
is grateful to its sponsors and volunteers for this
conference, without whom this yearly event would not
be possible. Thank you to The University of Hawaii
at Manoa College of Business Administration Center
for International Business, Education, and Research
(CIBER), Hawaii Tokai International College for in-kind
donation of its facilities, Friends of Hawaii Charities,
and Hawaii Department of Education. Thank you also
to Mylene Agluba, Aaron Clark, Greg Eckart, Darryl
Freeman, Richie Kiyabu, Sechyi Laiu, Rusyan Mamiit,
and the Hawaii Pacific University ISSO Club: Makana
Shook, Nick Bassis, Katy Bockstiegel, Danni Borde,
Johanny Fernandez, Kristina Larson, Kekoa McClellan,
Dana Robbin, and Ashley Thompson.
Thank you to the
University of Hawaii Center for International Business,
Education, and Research (CIBER) for sponsoring this
worthwhile conference.
Please contact the High
School Program Director for more information by e-mail
at hs@paachawaii.org
or by phone at (808) 944-7759. |
