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The Citizenship Courier

| April 2017 |

Share your story: #Iowa4HGlobal

The Citizenship Courier is a monthly newsletter established by the Global Citizenship Intern at ISU Extension and Outreach.

Citizenship is a 4-H curricula area that teaches youth about their individual role in society and government, and is divided

into four topics: civic engagement, civic education, service, and personal development. The Global Citizenship Intern aspires

to empower the area of civic education, primarily focusing on global and cultural competence, while also highlighting the

other three topics.

READY – SET – SERVE!

If you have been having a hard time coming up with a citizenship or leadership project, the month of April has plenty

of opportunities to put those desires into action. With National Volunteer Week coming up April 23rd-29th, there will be plenty

of time to serve your local, state, and global community.

Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

Identify a need in your community. Is there a certain

group or organization that could help?

Reach out to those you are wishing to serve. How

would they like you to help them?

Set Goals. What do you hope to accomplish? And by

when?

Ask for help. Service projects can sometimes be overwhelming. Don’t be afraid to ask someone for help

or advice. Your 4-H club is a great resource!

Have Fun! Volunteering in your community opens up the

door for new experiences and friendships!

Check out the Global Citizenship webpage for more ways to get involved as a global citizen!

“The best way to find yourself is to lose

yourself in the service of others.”

- Mahatma Gandhi -

UPCOMING EVENTS April 21st-23rd

Global Youth Service Day

http://ysa.org/act/programs/gysd/

How can you serve your community?

April 23rd-29th National Volunteer Week

https://ww2.pointsoflight.org/nvw

See article to the left

To be featured in our newsletter, share your story! E-mail: youth_sckock@iastate.edu | Social Media: #Iowa4HGlobal Any questions, comments, or ideas regarding events, global citizenship or stories: share with me today!

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

Rebecca Lyons: “My Club, My Community, My Country, and My World”

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to zip line through the clouds, plant a tree in the

rainforest, or kayak in a volcano’s watershed? Rebecca Lyons, a sophomore at Iowa State University and 4-H Alumnus from Clinton County, Iowa has done the former and more!

When Rebecca was a junior in high school, she had the opportunity to travel with her World Language

Club to Costa Rica for 10 days and immerse herself in the Costa Rican culture. When I asked Rebecca

how her experience impacted her life, she quoted Gandhi saying, “To live simply, so others can simply live.” Costa Rican culture places a lot of emphasis on personal relationships and the care of the

environment. And even though those two things may sound simple, it has helped the people of Costa Rica create a rich culture and community – something Rebecca really admires.

Rebecca’s cultural immersion from high school continues to impact her life. “For my club, my

community, my country, and my world,” has taken on a new meaning for Rebecca. Not only does she

feel she has gained a better understanding of what it means to be a global citizen, but traveling to a different country has also given her the confidence to be comfortable stepping outside of her comfort-zone. In addition to her Costa Rica immersion, Rebecca has traveled to Washington D.C. for Citizenship

Washington Focus, put on a county-wide food drive to help raise awareness of food insecurity on a local and global scale, and plans to spend six weeks this summer doing service work in Zimbabwe,

Africa. For anyone wanting to grow as a global citizen, Rebecca would encourage you to seek out different cultural experiences and try new things out of your comfort zone. You never know where it might take you! (Below: Photos of Rebecca on her service trip to Costa Rica. Courtesy of Rebecca Lyons)

Share your story: #Iowa4HGlobal