Overview of the SUSI on Global Environmental Issues
The Study of the United States Institute for Student Leaders on Global Environmental Issues (SUSI) is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The Institute is hosted by the East-West Center in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Environmental Center and over fifty other organizations. Participants were competitively selected from Burma, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand by U.S. Embassies. The Institute began last May 6, 2012 and ends on June 10, 2012. The first three weeks took place in Hawai‘i, fourth week in Boulder, Colorado, and final week in Washington DC. The vision of the Institute is to develop a vibrant network of young leaders dedicated and equipped to create innovative and positive solutions for 21st Century environmental challenges
SUSI participants learn about the environment through experiential methods and build on their leadership skills through adventure based learning. They interact with the local community to share solutions and ideas on environmental topics. Each SUSI participant also develops a personal action plan to implement on return home. Their action plan partners are organizations, businesses, or government agencies interested in co-designing a mutually beneficial project for the participants to develop during SUSI. SUSI participants then share solutions learned in the United States with their partners, and link them with environmental leaders and organizations in the US, increasing international collaboration for environmental projects.
SUSI participants learn about the environment through experiential methods and build on their leadership skills through adventure based learning. They interact with the local community to share solutions and ideas on environmental topics. Each SUSI participant also develops a personal action plan to implement on return home. Their action plan partners are organizations, businesses, or government agencies interested in co-designing a mutually beneficial project for the participants to develop during SUSI. SUSI participants then share solutions learned in the United States with their partners, and link them with environmental leaders and organizations in the US, increasing international collaboration for environmental projects.
PURPOSE- The Three Driving Questions
The purpose of SUSI is to use the United States’ experience to help participants answer three interlinked questions:
1. What is happening in our environment and how are humans reacting?
2. What leadership actions are needed to affect positive human and environmental change?
3. What can you do as a SUSI participant to create positive action in your home community?
1. What is happening in our environment and how are humans reacting?
2. What leadership actions are needed to affect positive human and environmental change?
3. What can you do as a SUSI participant to create positive action in your home community?
Program Objectives
Participants will complete the Institute with:
- An enhanced understanding of the United States and how environmental movements and policies affect and reflect U.S. society
- A better understanding of global environmental issues, namely the five Institute themes of water resource management, sustainable agriculture and food security, land use practices, oceans and coastal resource management, climate change and energy
- New leadership skills and relationships for creating positive change through developing community and ecological resilience
- Project development experience with international peer team and U.S. partner organization
The FOOD Team
Our team aims to investigate strategies, techniques and researches on food security in the United States. These include organic farming, aquaponics, aeroponics, vermiculture, green roofing and community-based agriculture. For the past weeks of the program, we have visited places and met organizations in Hawaii and in Colorado. The learning we had from these visits and meetings serve to inform us on how we can apply these solutions in Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines.