Global Change
Impacting Global Change – Starting with Women
The global population, currently at around 6 billion is consistently growing, with China being the most populous country at about 1.3 billion. The cultural trends towards the environment in China, and the choices of China’s leadership could determine the overall future of our planet.
I’ve been inspired by what I’ve learned so far about the environment and sustainability, and will be participating in a year long empowerment and leadership program as a facilitator of change, called The World Academy of the Future of Women. We are not only dedicating our time and resources to educate some of the future women leader’s of China to do their part in creating impactful change, we are also inspiring them to enroll others through community service based projects they are developing.
From April 19-May 23, 2010, my contribution to this program will be 3 weeks of curriculum and 2 weeks of preparation, taking this group of young women through exercises that will teach them how to be effective speakers and presenters. I will be sharing with them what I know about the sales process and will be addressing the importance of building rapport. They will also be learning the importance of fully understanding the problems they are attempting to solve based on their target audience, as well as how to relate to their audience in regards to shared values and passions. This could involve investors, corporations, non-profits, community participants, friends, family, and other students of change. What they will be learning can also be applied to many personal aspects of their lives as well.
The selected participants who went through an application and interview process, are some of China’s most dedicated young women (selected out of 20,000 students) at Sias International University in Xinzheng City, Henan Province, China. The invitation is to be part of the World Academy for the Future of Women (WAFW), an innovative and rigorous, yearlong women’s leadership training program envisioned through Global Interactions. The intention is for the advancement of the Millennium Development Goals (including universal primary education, a sustainable environment, & halving poverty by 2015).
My Inspired Participation
In June of 2009 I went to Guatemala for 2 weeks where I primarily stayed in a little village called El Remate. Before going, I created the intention to simply relax on a vacation. When I got there, I had the pleasure of swimming in a beautiful lake everyday, hiked through the jungle, climbed ancient Mayan Temples in Tikal and rode a bike around the village. My experience was enriched by socializing with local business owners, and had the opportunity to do some volunteer work where I met with kids and teens to speak with them in Spanish and English, and assisted the local women by planting seeds for their self-sustainable vegetable gardens.
I was traveling with a friend and colleague who is also a Life Coach, and had expressed to her my desire to travel more abroad. I loved getting to know the local people and culture, and wanted to integrate that with the work I do as a Life Coach. The unexpected opportunity (thanks to her participation as well) to go to China for the first time to teach, is possibly just the beginning of the many other opportunities that will manifest to support me in positively impacting more people globally.
Over the course of the last few months I’ve realized that it’s not only about me going over there and teaching them what I know. It’s more about what I can learn from them in terms of how I can be more of a leader in my own life, how we are more similar than different, and how to have a profound respect for other cultures even though we might not understand their ways. Who I will be and what I will have experienced by the time I get back will not only be life transforming, it will be one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
To Invest in the Future of Women
…and contribute your tax-deductible donations via PayPal/Credit Card go to:
www.investinthefutureofwomen.org
To make a check donation:
Payable to Global Interactions, Inc. and in the memo section of the check: Alanna Levenson/China trip
Mail to:
Global Interactions, Inc.
c/o Jerrie Ueberle
14 West Cheryl Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85021
