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Intercultural Citizenship for Change

Engaging underrepresented groups in Intercultural Citizenship education abroad & hands-on experiences to work towards a better tomorrow!

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Project Description

Introductions:

We are Molise Italian Studies and The Center for Intercultural Citizenship--two programs created by life-long educators with an eye towards a better world. We are not exactly study abroad and we are not your traditional service learning abroad either...we're our own unique program that blends authentic and intentional Intercultural Citizenship education with hands-on learning opportunities for participants to work towards a better world, from the inside out (both in-person and virtually).

We operate from the premise that in order for humanity to survive and thrive on a global level, all individuals must be able to lead safe, fulfilling, and purposeful lives in mindful harmony and cooperation with those of diverse backgrounds and experience. We believe the curiosity, empathy, and resilience needed to achieve the requisite transformation of perspective towards oneself and others, as well as to develop one’s capacity to implement positive, effective, and sustainable change towards a more just and equitable society, must be deliberately and intentionally cultivated through authentic and meaningful experience, and must be modeled for both current and successive generations.

Our main program is based in Molise, Italy. Molise IS a small, remote region of Italy full of history and tradition, hillside villages and stunning vistas, and kind, welcoming, hard-working people. It remains untouched by the bustle of modern tourism, which is exactly why it has so much to offer to reflective learners and slow travelers looking for an authentic Italian experience. Molise is a model for purposeful living, an ideal environment in which to foster intercultural collaboration and exchange through immersive service learning. 

Why is This Important?:

Study abroad/educational experiences abroad offer students tremendous benefits ranging from immediate to lifelong such as:

  • Improving University completion, retention, and transfer rates
  • Improving overall GPA
  • Improving language learning
  • Fostering intercultural understanding
  • Providing a global context 
  • Access to higher paying jobs

Increasing employability and career skills
(Read the studies Here)

Who Needs Your Support:

According to NAFSA's most recent statistics, we see that "although the diversity of study abroad participation has increased in recent years, [underrepresented] students are still greatly underrepresented in study abroad" (see table below). And the data for LGBTQIA+ students is virtually non-existent. 

Table showing underrepresented groups by self-identified race categories from NAFSA: Black/African American 13.3% post secondary enrollment 2019-2020 5.3% U.S. Students Abroad 2019-2020; Asian/Pacific Islander 7.4% 8.6%; Caucasian 54.3% 70%; Hispanic/Latino American 20.3% 10.6%; Multiracial 4.1% 4.8%; American Indian/Alaska Native.5%

(see the full study here)

Across the board, underrepresented groups face adversity at every turn and opportunity for educational experiences abroad should not be one of them. Therefore, we are making it our mission to offer safe, affordable, scaffolded, meaningful experiences abroad for young people who are passionate to work towards positive and sustainable change. 

How YOU Can Help:

Our goal is to raise $100,000 in order to offer students from underrepresented communities the ability to gain university credit, hands-on experience in their field of interest, make and sustain meaningful relationships with peers and mentors, as well as to bring their voices front and center to the discussion surrounding Intercultural Citizenship concepts and movements, who is studying abroad and how to extend access for unfiltered education, and the lifelong benefits that immersive experience brings. 

Molise Italian Studies and The Center for Intercultural Citizenship are dedicated to ensuring that these students are not only able to participate in an experience abroad but that they're able to bring this experience back to their home community and spread the awareness of Intercultural Citizenship and its importance for humanity's ability to not only survive but thrive! 

**Individuals will be awarded a full scholarship to a program of their choice (MIS or CIC) as well as be awarded $1,000 prior to their departure to utilize while on-site.

A big thank you to those who are working towards a more just and equitable world in their own way. We are stronger together and the time for change is NOW!

Updates

The Campaign FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions for our programs:

Other FAQs:

 

Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

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25.00 USD
Social Media Shout Out-IG Story!

Get a public and personalized shout-out on our Instagram and Facebook stories letting the world know that you're an awesome human! Your post will be made within 24 hours of your donation!

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150.00 USD
#bethechange Promise Waterproof Sticker+

With your $150 donation, you will receive:

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • AND the 3 x 3 in #bethechange Promise Waterproof Sticker

Sport your dedication to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion with a pinky swear to continue your work in being the change that you want to see in this world!

Show your sticker off on your notebooks, journals, cell phone covers, coffee or travel mug, helmet, skateboard, water bottle, or even on a laptop cover.

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500.00 USD
My Journey From Within Workbook+

With your $500 donation, you will receive:

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • #bethechange promise sticker
  • AND a copy of My Journey From Within: A Reflective Workbook From the Center for Intercultural Citizenship and Molise Italian Studies!

This interactive and reflective workbook provides an introduction to Intercultural Citizenship and a full month of personal development and growth opportunities.

We would each like to be our highest and best self as much of the time as possible. But it's tough, right? Especially in a world full of so much difference and as a species working against millennia of training in the protection of our communities against that difference.

But in the interconnected and multicultural—yet increasingly polarized—world we have created, humanity must learn to bridge and succeed across differences. It's a complex problem, but we can all learn how not only to survive, but to thrive, through the development of our Intercultural Citizenship.

You will receive a code for your free Amazon print on demand copy via email within 24 hours of your donation!

100 Left
0 Supporters
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1,000.00 USD
#bethechange Eco-Tote +

With your $1,000 donation you will receive:

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • #bethechange promise sticker
  • Print copy of My Journey From Within: A Reflective Workbook From the Center for Intercultural Citizenship and Molise Italian Studies!
  • AND a #bethechange Eco-Tote

Rep your #bethechange promise with this multi-use Eco-tote! Whether it's groceries or books, this mindfully crafted tote will tell the world that you're not only Earth conscious, but are also an advocate for positive and sustainable change! 

This Recycled Cotton Canvas tote bag is made to carry a heavy load and to last years of usage with its reinforced stress points. The durable canvas material makes the bag usable over and over again. Ideal for school or office work, grocery shopping, a park of beach visit and other daily activities. 

 

50 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward

About the Entrepreneur

Rewards

Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

0 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Social Media Shout Out-IG Story!

Get a public and personalized shout-out on our Instagram and Facebook stories letting the world know that you're an awesome human! Your post will be made within 24 hours of your donation!

100 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
150.00 USD
#bethechange Promise Waterproof Sticker+

With your $150 donation, you will receive:

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • AND the 3 x 3 in #bethechange Promise Waterproof Sticker

Sport your dedication to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion with a pinky swear to continue your work in being the change that you want to see in this world!

Show your sticker off on your notebooks, journals, cell phone covers, coffee or travel mug, helmet, skateboard, water bottle, or even on a laptop cover.

100 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
My Journey From Within Workbook+

With your $500 donation, you will receive:

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • #bethechange promise sticker
  • AND a copy of My Journey From Within: A Reflective Workbook From the Center for Intercultural Citizenship and Molise Italian Studies!

This interactive and reflective workbook provides an introduction to Intercultural Citizenship and a full month of personal development and growth opportunities.

We would each like to be our highest and best self as much of the time as possible. But it's tough, right? Especially in a world full of so much difference and as a species working against millennia of training in the protection of our communities against that difference.

But in the interconnected and multicultural—yet increasingly polarized—world we have created, humanity must learn to bridge and succeed across differences. It's a complex problem, but we can all learn how not only to survive, but to thrive, through the development of our Intercultural Citizenship.

You will receive a code for your free Amazon print on demand copy via email within 24 hours of your donation!

100 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
#bethechange Eco-Tote +

With your $1,000 donation you will receive:

  • Social Media Shout-Out
  • #bethechange promise sticker
  • Print copy of My Journey From Within: A Reflective Workbook From the Center for Intercultural Citizenship and Molise Italian Studies!
  • AND a #bethechange Eco-Tote

Rep your #bethechange promise with this multi-use Eco-tote! Whether it's groceries or books, this mindfully crafted tote will tell the world that you're not only Earth conscious, but are also an advocate for positive and sustainable change! 

This Recycled Cotton Canvas tote bag is made to carry a heavy load and to last years of usage with its reinforced stress points. The durable canvas material makes the bag usable over and over again. Ideal for school or office work, grocery shopping, a park of beach visit and other daily activities. 

 

50 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward