Educational Programs

iLEAD (i Learn Experience Accomplish and Dream) Program

To address the social problems American youth is facing today, ICEF created the iLEAD Program to promote a culture of peace through intercultural partnerships. This program gives young adults the opportunity to travel to other countries for two weeks to gain the skills and core values necessary to become a leader while developing their own character. They will be asked to participate in community services, in leadership training activities, and will be given a chance to experience the local culture and daily life by living among the local people. It will not only help them appreciate the diverse traditions and cultures that exist in the world but will help build brotherhood/sisterhood ties between these two nations. The program works to provide youth the knowledge, tools and support necessary to become peacemakers at home, in the communities and the world.

Objectives:

• To build understanding and acceptance of cultural, ethnic, and racial differences among the youth. The U.S. students will spend two weeks in the foreign country with the students from the local community there, participating in outdoor activities, sports, and cultural sharing. The participants will also have a 3 day home stay opportunity, where they live with a foster family and follow their daily schedules.
• To build brotherhood/sisterhood ties with youth from other nations. The students will form a bond with their newfound friends transcending cultural and ethnic walls, with a brotherhood/sisterhood ceremony, pledging to continue an ongoing dialogue and friendship of a lifetime.
• To develop our participants’ sense of civic responsibility and appreciation of service. The students will participate in community service activities, giving scholarships to underprivileged children with what they have earned themselves, visiting schools in the area, and participating in sustainable service projects.
• To instill character development. The students will attend Character Education and Leadership Training workshops and will have the opportunity to apply what they learn in the activities that will be conducted during their stay there.

See Launching of the iLEAD Program in Thailand 2008

 

Character Education Textbooks:

ICEF, in partnership with other NGOs, has committed to support the printing and distribution of “Discoving the Real Me”, a character education textbook series for Elementary and High School students.
 When the Philippines Educational System was established on January 21, 1901, Character Education was one of the original subjects in the curriculum.  In the 2002 Basic Education Curriculum, GMRC and CE were no longer included as learning areas but were integrated in all learning areas.  In 2005, it was again returned as a separate subject in the elementary as recommended by the President.  In spite of the concerted efforts of schools to develop the character of the learners, there is evident decline in morality, honesty, discipline, respect, civility and responsibility in our midst – in the family, in society, in government, even in schools.

The textbook series Discovering the Real Me is a welcome material in adding strength and vigor to the Character Education and Values Education Program of Department of Education.  It is proving to be an effective supplement and enhancer to the existing instructional materials in Dept. of Ed.

Since Filipino is the medium of instruction in teaching CE and VE, the management in consultation with the coordinators and try-out teachers decided to translate the textbooks to Filipino.  Thus, it is an urgent need to have these Filipino textbooks printed and distributed to be used by teachers in the classrooms this school year.

 

 

Youth Leadership Seminars

ICEF organized a 5-day Leadership Seminar on May 7-11, 2007, attended by 90 youth leaders and volunteers of the Foundation for Development and Peace. ICEF invited 1 lecturer from Japan Mr. Matsunami and translator Mr. Furuta.

Most of the participants were moved by the testimony of Mr. Matsunami regarding his leadership experience in guiding Japanese youth, educating them on how to live with the principle of “Living for the Greater Good.”