The WLC Story
A Tradition of International Service
Since its launch, the World Leadership Corps has placed volunteers in 15 countries: Argentina, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ghana, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sweden, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States, and Wales. The volunteers have come from many nations, including Ghana, Lebanon, Pakistan, Uganda, Iceland, Argentina, Uzbekistan, Australia, and the United States.
The year-long volunteer assignments focused on a wide variety of projects, including education, access to new technologies, literacy, public health, women’s issues, the environment, and economic development. Organizations with which WLC volunteers were placed include iEARN (the International Education and Resource Network), the Carter Center, the Earth Charter Initiative, the DREAM (Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring) Project, ECOLOGIA, Curriki, and the University for Peace.
WLC volunteers transformed our organization and implemented projects that will have an enduring effect upon an entire region of south-central China.Randy Kritkausky, President and Co-Founder, ECOLOGIA
The WLC Experience
Northern Ghana
Following his work with the African University Initiative on teacher-training initiatives, Oscar Kirstein (originally from Charata, Argentina) worked in northern Ghana with the Guinea Worm Eradication Program, supported by the Carter Center. He lived in Tamle, “a beautiful town, flat, hot, and dusty, where the people are very kind.”
Most of his activities were in the field, visiting many villages, attending local meetings where villagers were shown how to use special cloth and pipe filters provided by the Carter Center to improve the safety of the drinking water. He also did some usage-monitoring work and conducted interviews, trying to trace individual sources of this terrible disease, which is endemic in Ghana and affects thousands of children—but is in now decline thanks to education and treatment.
“This experience exceeded my expectations, an experience and an adventure that I will treasure deep within my heart forever,” says Oscar. “My life is far richer now than I ever dreamed it to be. Meanwhile, I continue to be proud to be part of this great dream.”
The WLC Experience
Sichuan Province, China
Meg Young and Kate Leyland (Middlebury College, Class of 2007) traveled to China to work with Vermont-based ECOLOGIA's Chengdu office in Sichuan Province. Meg and Kate acted as full staff members, assisting with ECOLOGIA’s programs, including promoting and documenting corporate social responsibility among Chinese entrepreneurs; launching a rural microfinance program; and assisting indigenous environmental NGOs.
At the daily level of operations these tasks involved intensive cooperation with a local partner, The Rabbit King Poverty Alleviation Research Center, which is an outstanding example of sustainable development in China; assisting in the design and implementation of all aspects of a micro-finance program including creation of loan policies and loan participation selection criteria, developing a loan impact monitoring system; meeting with rural villagers; and identifying, interviewing, and supporting innovative "socially responsible" entrepreneurs.
Meg and Kate found the work very rewarding because they were engaged in highly meaningful activities, had real and significant responsibility, and could see the tangible results of their work. "Working with ECOLOGIA this past year,” says Meg, “was truly exceptional in that I was able to gain access to a level of depth in engagement and work that I don't think I could have ever hoped for in any other international entry-level position.”
Meg and Kate’s biggest challenge: the devastating earthquake that struck the province in May.
From Our Volunteers
In Their Own Words
Read what some of our volunteers have said about their WLC service experience.
There is no way to describe the unique and amazing people I have met during this year or the profound impact they have had on my life. I have seen the ability of digital technology and channeled creativity spark the imagination of young people. Their desire to learn and communicate is strong and helping them tap into the wealth of tools at their disposal is a key task in empowering the youth and communities of the world. Exposing them to those resources as well as to the diversity and creativity of their peers surely helps build a generation of understanding and engaged global citizens.Prairie Summer (American, served in Jordan and Lebanon)
Working together by means of networking in education, research, and technology is a truly effective strategy for bringing together people of different nations that at first glance seem to have no similarities and understanding how to respect the dignity and individuality of one another.Lev Gavrish (Uzbekistani, served in Tanzania)
The year was enlightening, rich with new friends, a new culture, and new experiences, but it was also overwhelming, difficult, exhausting, scary, and constantly challenging. The time with the WLC was not simply volunteering and working. I was also able to see the rich culture face-to-face without the trimmings of tourism. I would eagerly recommend this experience to anyone with a sense of adventure and deep respect for cultural diversity.Melissa Tylee (Australian, served in Pakistan)
Cohesion and spirit in the WLC family establishes a strong link between its members. The cornerstone that makes this diverse group’s strength is built out of the aims, goals, and methods put forward to achieve success.Paul Metni (Lebanese, served in China)
The experience in the World Leadership Corps was truly inspiring. It made me believe in myself as well as my capabilities to transform the world.Anne Marie Levey (American, served in Argentina and Wales)
The whole year was full of learning and challenges. I believe the WLC is a source of humanitarian service, teaching, learning, and global development. This great organization not only enabled us to explore and enhance our professional skills, it also helped us to learn and address the social aspects of these nations—we cannot realize and solve the global problems of developing nations without being close to them.Zulfiqar Ali (Pakistani, served in Nigeria)
My time in Costa Rica and the connections made there were very meaningful in my life and instrumental at focusing my future plans. I gained more confidence in myself as a leader and organizer. The last year has definitely been a great personal growth period and one of those big turning points in my life.Birta Vidarsdottir (Icelandic, served in Costa Rica)
