Videoconference History

Virtual Connections - Videoconference History

The international videoconference programs have been, and will remain, an important cornerstone of Empower Peace.

The videoconference programs allow students from around the world to engage in a dialogue sharing insight into their cultures, customs and life styles. Each videoconference program is 90 minutes in length and features at minimum two classrooms, one in the United States and one international classroom.

The program model that has proven to be the most successful and educational involves students from each country making presentations about their life styles and engaging in a question and answer period from their peers from abroad. Additionally, students conduct a cultural presentation featuring music or dance.

Eighth Exchange: Dubai to Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
On February 10, 2009, Jumeriah College in Dubai, UAE connected in an interactive videoconference with students from McDowell High School in Erie, Pennsylvania. The goal was to promote mutual respect and understanding between the East and the West by letting the students candidly talk with each other.

The students discussed what it is like to live in their respective towns and countries, and discussed the importance of open dialogue in promoting global peace.

The McDowell students were part of a class, taught by Mr. David Hoderny, entitled Tolerance 101. From this class, several students formed the group, “Exposure,” designed to promote tolerance, spread awareness about global issues, and encourage the acceptance of diversity.

“It is our hope that video conferencing will begin the process of breaking down cultural barriers and develop an appreciation of diverse cultures and people,” said Mr. Hoderny.

McDowell High School is a public institution with approximately twenty five hundred students, located in Erie, PA. Jumeriah College is a private institution located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During the exchange, students not only questioned each other about culture, religion, and current events, but also shared about their hobbies and daily lives. At both schools, the conference involved two student ambassadors, a ten-student panel, and featured prerecorded cultural presentations from both sides called, “A Day in the Life,” which describd the daily life of a typical high school student in both countries.

Several of the students had met previously at the 2008 Women2Women Conference in Cambridge, MA, whereas some of the students were introduced for the first time via the videoconference this innovative opportunity and educational experience. Empower Peace hopes that by letting students share their thoughts, hopes, and dreams for the future with each other, a new generation of peacemakers will be formed.

The videoconference was also streamed live over the Internet at www.empowerpeace.org to allow students from all over the world to view and ask questions via instant messaging and email. Using cutting edge technology to conduct online exchanges, Empower Peace brings together young people to build cultural bridges in an effort to improve mutual understanding between cultures. Over the past four years, Empower Peace has connected thousands of students in America with students in the Middle and Near East.

Seventh Exchange: Boston to Edinburgh, Scotland to Kuwait
On Thursday March 22, 2007, Empower Peace made its latest global connection uniting hundreds of students in three unique locations - Boston with students in Edinburgh, Scotland and Kuwait. Students from James Gillepies and Liberton High Schools in Edinburgh, Scotland, spoke with students from Pentucket and Stoneham High Schools in Boston and students from the AMIDEAST ACCESS scholarship program in Kuwait.

This was the first time Empower Peace ventured to Europe and it was pleased to find that ‘teen speak’ could be understood around the world!

During the 90-minute broadcast, students discussed openly numerous topics such as hobbies, sports, television and even political preferences. In addition to the question and answer segments, students presented day-in-the-life videos and cultural performances. In Boston, one student sang a beautiful rendition of the Beatles’ “Let it Be,” while in Kuwait one student treated broadcast participants with a unique instrumental on the oud, a Mediterranean version of the guitar.

Altogether nearly 1000 students and teachers representing 15 countries worldwide participated in the broadcast.

Sixth Exchange: Lebanon to Long Beach II
Subsequent to the summer turmoil that took place in Lebanon, and in the midst of political chaos, Empower Peace returned to revisit Lebanon to connect two more schools. On November 30, 2006, the Hariri High School II and the American Community School in Beirut, Lebanon were connected with the Robert A. Milikan Peace Academy in Long Beach, California. The broadcast was hosted by Sarah Khoury, a television journalist for Lebanon’s Future TV and Nader Twal, a teacher in Long Beach, California.

During the 90-minute event, students were able to discuss their thoughts and feelings with regard to education, pop culture and current events, particularly the summer war in Lebanon, and the subsequent political dishevel. In addition, students in both Lebanon and California engaged in an open-ended question and answer period where a number of students were able to voice their opinions on a wide range of topics. Students on both ends presented day-in-the-life videos, and students in California shared several student produced videos promoting peace. In addition, the Lebanese students sang a special version of the Lebanese national anthem, which they performed as their cultural presentation.

Fifth Exchange: Lebanon to Long Beach I
Empower Peace next ventured to Long Beach California and Brummana Lebanon on June 6, 2006 for its fifth broadcast. The 90-minute broadcast included day-in-the-life videos from Lebanon and California students, cultural dance performances, and a special message from former United States President Jimmy Carter. This fifth broadcast incorporated two special facilitators, both of Lebanese heritage: In California, Lebanese-American actress and political activist Kathy Najimy; and in Lebanon, actress Zeina Deccache from the Lebanese Broadcasting Channel. Both women spoke about the importance of cultural exchanges such as Empower Peace, as well as the necessity of forums where kids of all ages can address issues such as racial and cultural discrimination.

Fourth Exchange: Pledging for Pakistan
Just days after the Pakistan to Boston broadcast, a devastating earthquake hit Pakistan killing tens of thousands of people including 17,000 children who died when their schools collapsed. As reports of the destruction spanned the globe, Empower Peace students learned just how small the world really is; one of their new Empower Peace friends in Islamabad had died when his apartment tower collapsed. Soon afterwards, students in Boston and New York wanted to know how they could lend a hand. Empower Peace: Pledging for Pakistan was born from their desire to help!

On November 10, 2005, students and teachers participated in a live telethon, which was covered by a number of media outlets including Geo TV in Pakistan and WB56 in Boston, in addition to being streamed live over the Internet. Highlights of the event included a message from US Senator Edward Kennedy, and a performance by UN Goodwill Ambassador and Pakistani rock star Salman Ahmad. Empower Peace students raised $10,000 for the earthquake victims during the telethon, all of which was donated to the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing disaster relief to the victims of the South Asian disaster.

Third Exchange: Pakistan to Boston to New York to Egypt
The third Empower Peace youth cultural exchange took place on September 29, 2005 connecting schools in Boston and New York to schools in Egypt and Pakistan. The schools participating in the exchange from abroad were the Beaconhouse School in Islamabad, Pakistan and the Modern Education Schools in Cairo, Egypt. In the states the discussion involved students from Long Beach High School in Long Island, New York and Stoneham High School, Somerville High School, Prospect Hill Academy, and the Al-Noor Academy from Massachusetts. During the exchange students learned about the importance of understanding and respecting one another’s way of life while breaking down barriers of misunderstanding that they may have previously formed.

Second Exchange: Jordan to New York
The second Empower Peace took place on May 11, 2004, with students from Long Beach High School in Long Island, New York and students from five different schools in Amman, Jordan. They engaged in a 90-minute discussion to openly discuss the importance of promoting peace in their communities and in the world. Students from the 2003 Boston to Bahrain video exchange also participated by submitting their questions live to the students in New York and Jordan. Over 5,024 estimated students from 114 classrooms in 26 countries from the 6 continents logged on to view the successful and much needed event.

First Exchange: Boston to Bahrain
Empower Peace launched its first worldwide youth-based initiative on May 22, 2003, linking together high school students in Boston, Massachusetts with students in Manama, Bahrain through live videoconference. The broadcast took place at El Centro Del Cardenal High School in Boston where students from El Centro and Stoneham High School gathered together to talk live to students from Khawla Boys and Girls Secondary School in Manama. The discussion was streamed over the Internet allowing students and teachers around the globe to log onto www.empowerpeace.org to view the discussion live.

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