Global Student Embassy

Global Student Embassy (GSE) inspires young environmental leaders to "emerge", blossom, and take action in making positive change in their own local communities and in collaboration with youth in other countries. I have been so impressed over many years with the "testimonies" given by youth participants, both from the USA and from Ecuador and Nicaragua (where GSE works), of how the experience of participation in GSE programs, "changed their lives", "gave them focus", etc. in educating and activating themselves to be effective environmental change agents now and in the future. So important to acknowledge youth transformation and action!

Global Student Embassy is a remarkable international organization that marries education with leadership training and environmental action. I've been involved as a student leader for two years and can absolutely say that GSE has made my high school experience more fulfilling. Prior to getting involved, I was interested in environmentalism, but unsure whether I could make any difference--GSE has changed the way I think about impact and taught me that, if I work with other passionate young people, we can make major accomplishments. After students at my school went to Nicaragua to teach and learn sustainable agriculture, they came back and were able to institute a food-producing sustainable garden in our quad. I've served as a member of plenty of environmental organizations in the past, but GSE is unique in its ability to combine youth leadership with cultural exchange and concrete environmental action.

Several years ago my son went on a student trip to Ecuador with Glbal Student Embassy. Their group spent a week planting trees to prevent erosion and helping a local school plant an organic garden. The trip was very well organized and the students returned with a wonderful insight into another culture. Lucas Oshun was the trip organizer. He also brought students from Ecuador to visit local Marin high schools. Everyone I've met from Global Student Embassy has been wonderful. They are motivating high school students to care about making a difference in the world. I enjoy making annual donations to this wonderful organization.

I worked with Lucas Oshun when he was first starting GSE and have to say he's done an amazing job of creating a niche for himself where he is perpetually surrounded by adoring teenage girls. Amazing chutzpah.