I interviewed Kristin Hayden, a founder and an executive director of One World Now! in Seattle. This is an organization which focuses on empowering young people in matter of language, leadership, and study abroad. I know her because my mentor, Jill Takasaki from Pacific and Asian Affairs Council in Hawaii, introduced me to Kristin. She also arranged a meeting for me and Kristin. Here is our conversation.
1. What is the story behind the establishment of One World Now?
When I was in high school, fifteen years old, I had opportunity to study abroad in South Africa where racism was found everywhere. All institutions, school, government are separated by race, between black and white and differenced by many categories. Then my brain was totally changed, and I have passion to social justice issues and also to encourage everybody to study abroad. I decided everyone should have this experience. The second story was 9/11 in which Muslim country became a suspect of terrorism, whereas not all Muslim are terrorists. I saw so much fear in America and blimp all cultures and religions because of that. I am tired complaining about school system, and I had a dream, and I did. My dream was I want to create a program that is addressing all the things that I think it is missing from all public education system. I use the model scheme of language, leadership, and study abroad.
2. What are the goals of One World Now?
Better understanding about cultural differences.
3. What activities does One World Now do toward young people?
The scheme consists of language learning, leadership, and study abroad. Critical language is not tough in public school, especially Arabic and Chinese. Leadership will empower people to believe themselves and do something. Study abroad can open their brain and changes their life.
4. How do you think someone can get involved with One World Now?
Everybody has the same chance. We offer this program through public school, and student can decide to involve with One World Now.
5. How many school or young people are involved with One World Now?
Now, we have 8 schools and over 1000 students that involve with us in Seattle. In Hawaii, we work with Pacific Asian Affair Council applying these three activities in Campbell School.
6. What does One World Now do to maintain young people’s interest?
We appreciate their experience and engage their participation in our program. We apply DVAR which is discovered, vision, action, and reaction. This is the whole process of our class. So, we can see our alumni have started building network around the country where they continue their study and build the new One World Now.
7. What do you think about young people education nowadays?
Public schools in America have no enough multicultural understanding learning. They need a program that corporate, celebrating and promoting the differences in which they are learning tolerant and empathy. For example, learning language is not just language but also culture and the appreciation.
8. What should we do in order to empower and educate young people?
The first thing is appreciating their feeling and experience. Learning can be fun by experiences learning, and we can engage them valuing their experiences. Facilitating is better than teaching. Build their self confidence that they can do anything so that they will have sensive-possibility. I say, “Argue for your limitation.” Then, connect them to what happens in the world. It can be build by five steps which are personal development, social identity, intercultural communication, global vision, and social anthroponeurship.
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