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Loudoun International Youth Leadership Summit 

The 4th Annual Loudoun International Youth Leadership Summit will be held April 12th to April 21st 2015 and is expanding to include six Loudoun County high schools (Dominion, Park View, Potomac Falls, Freedom, Rock Ridge, and Broad Run) and 13 international delegations from 12 countries: South Africa, Singapore, Mexico, France, South Korea, China, Germany, Lebanon, Australia, United Kingdom, Costa Rica, and Italy.

Students in the Global Ambassadors club have selected this year's theme "Standing for Unity, Changing Perspectives."

South Africa

Singapore

Mexico

France

South Korea

China

Germany

Lebanon

Australia

United Kingdom

Costa Rica

Germany

Italy

The Loudoun International Youth Leadership Summit began in the 2011-2012 school year at Dominion High School.  Students inspired by their experiences at the Asia Pacific Youth Leadership Summit, hosted by the Hwa Chong Institution in Singapore, were eager to create opportunities for their classmates to expand their perspectives on global issues and consider their roles as global citizens.  Students in the Global Ambassadors Club at Dominion submitted a proposal to the Pepsi Refresh Project and engaged the entire community in securing $10,000 in funding through an online voting campaign.  That year, Dominion High School hosted six delegations in the Dominion International Youth Leadership Summit, the first student initiated, student planned, and student facilitated summit of its kind in Loudoun County and perhaps the entire United States.  Eager to expand the incredible learning experiences created by the summit, Dominion partnered with neighboring Park View High School in 2012-2013 to host the Loudoun International Youth Leadership Summit; the two schools worked to develop a model for participation of multiple Loudoun high schools.  We are excited to see the summit grow in size in 2015 and engage even more Loudoun County students and international delegates in opportunities to learn from each other.

Itinerary for the 2015 Summit

The Summit will take place form April 12th to April 21st 2015.  Here is a draft of the Itinerary:

Sunday April 12th- Orientation Day (Including a trip to Washington DC)

Monday, April 13th- Responsive Government (With an opening ceremony at Rock Ridge High School)

Tuesday, April 14th- Access to Education (Each delegation will have a summit dialogue at their host school)

Wednesday, April 15th- Globalization (This day will include cultural performances at Freedom High School as well as a trip to DC)

Thursday, April 16th- Human Rights (This day will include a cultural exhibiton and summit dialogues at Potomac Falls High School)

Friday, April 17th- Sustainability (This day will include a summit dialogue and field trip hosted by Park View High School)

Saturday, April 18th- Eliminating Steriotypes (This day will be a service day hosted by Park View High School.  Students can attend the Glow Dance at Dominion High School on Saturday Night)

Sunday, April 19th- Free Day with Host Families (On Sunday, the international students will spend time with their host families and may prepare a dish for the farewell dinner)

Monday, April 20th- Individual Freedoms of Speech and Religion (This day will include activities at Broad Run High School and a farewell dinner hosted by Potomac Falls High School.

Tuesday, April 21st- The international students will shadow their host student at school until their time of departure.

Each delegation will prepare briefing papers and a cultural exhibition.  More information on these tasks will become available once the itinerary and delegations are finalized.

#1) Access to Education

• What are the requirements of compulsory education and who is allowed to attend school? What services are schools required to provide, such as programs for students with special needs?

• In terms of progression of education, on average how many students don’t pursue higher education and why? What opportunities are available to students after completing general education?

• How has your country shown progression in access to education over time?

  
  

  #2) Globalization

• Outline and describe your country’s immigration policies. What are the policies regarding asylum and refugees? How does an immigrant become a naturalized citizen in your country?

• What is your stance on the United Nations and their policies?
  What international policies does your country pursue (Active military presence abroad / Worldwide democracy / International (unalienable) rights)?

  
  

  #3) Human Rights

• Does your country promote equal pay between men and women?

• Please describe the role of a typical/average woman in your country?

• What is your country’s public attitude towards minorities, and what policies does your government implement to protect minorities (Affirmative Action / quotas)?

  
  

  #4) Environment and Sustainability

• Does your country support the use of nuclear energy, or is it condemned in favor of natural energy? Is abundance/efficiency more important than safety? What main sources of energy does your country use?

• Is your country for or against the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to sustain the ever growing global population?

• Should there be a restriction on consumption of energy for countries, so that resources can be preserved?