International organizations offer a number of possibilities to engage in collaborative work. Two of the most impactful organizations fostering understanding, cultural and educational exchange are Partners of the Americas (POA) and iEARN. The first connects leaders and professionals in the Americas to work on projects that serve the community, through voluntary service, and change lives. The latter promotes a range of one-to-one and plural projects, as well as teacher forums to get classrooms of the world together through physical and online tools. What else do they have common? Project-Based Learning (PBL). Another facility these organizations provide is networking. Through influential connections around the globe both students and teachers can work on projects, present ideas and propose solutions to tackle global issues. POA and iEARN bring people closer, thus, increasing the likelihood of anyone to come across innovative ways to merge the young and more experienced minds. The aim of this talk is to demonstrate how my experience in Wyoming on the Teacher-in-Residence grant from POA and the Capoeira Project in Goiânia in tune with iEARN's “Staying Healthy” project can revolutionize students’ learning experience and better prepare them for the challenges of this century as global citizens who work on planet-related issues together. At the end of the session, an open discussion on the importance of the consolidated POA + iEARN association will take place and participants will be able to brainstorm about how it can contribute to their students' awareness of their role as global citizens and critical thinkers.

1. André Hedlund
EFL Instructor & Teacher Coach
Academic Representative
Michigan Certificates Examiner

3. What’s the connection?
6

5. Six Degrees
of Separation
Frigyes Karinthy, 1929

6. Warisha Atiq – YES and English
Access Microscholarship Program
“I felt out of this world at that time and got tears of
happiness in my eyes. It was the most amazing
moment for me to get appreciation from the
President of the United States.”

7. Inhibition and
prejudice
Opportunity and
Relevance
Method and Rapport
Education Barriers

8. My trip to Wyoming

11. Partnership
People-to-people
Nonprofit
Voluntary service
Empowering citizens
Fundraising

13. CONNECTIONS
“Just one trip, the right people and great
ideas can spark enduring partnerships
between communities in the Americas.”
Partners of the Americas

14. PBL
Guest Teacher
Professional
Development

15. Mr. Trunk

21. Empowerment
Association
innovation
Respect
Next Generation

22. Inhibition and
prejudice
Opportunity and
Relevance
Method and Rapport
Respect and tolerance
Professional development and
experience
Communicate with real
people
Breaking Barriers

23. Guess where I am...

24. What did I learn? Who did I connect with?
I am a global citizen
Organizations that
cooperate to
transform the world
Mutual
understanding and
respect
Experts and people
who shared ideas
with me

25. As two known leaders in cross-
cultural collaboration, the
alliance between Partners and
iEARN-USA aims to address key
challenges and opportunities
facing educators in the Americas,
including bilingual education.
To this end, iEARN-USA offers
classrooms access to other
cultures and bilingual materials
as an alternative to costly study
abroad programs and language
academies.

26. Your
student!
CONNECTIONS
YOU!

27. Conclusions
-Connections – Collaboration - Cooperation –
Global issues
-iEARN (PBL) + POA (Travel Grants)
-Relevance and real communication
-Mutual understanding, respect and critical
thinking
-Education is a transformational force. We just
need to guarantee access to it.

28. THANK YOU
André Hedlund
EFL Instructor & Teacher Coach
Academic Representative
Michigan Certificates Examiner
andre.hedlund@yahoo.com.br
FACEBOOK: English Development Course