iEARN-USA (International Education and Resource Network)

The iEarn-USA folks are far ahead! iEarn-USA knows where the future of education is going and iEarn educators are leaders in global citizenship.

iEARN-USA does important work and does it well!
It is a great team, passionate, caring and detail oriented. The Youth they service truly learn about other cultures and this can only contribute to creating a more peaceful world where people from different cultures understand and empathize with each other.

Working with iEARN-USA has been an absolute pleasure. Everyone on the team is hardworking and caring. The work that they do to with international students should be commended.

I went on a study abroad experience, worked in a multicultural organization, and served as a program leader for this organization and had a wonderful experience. They are so caring toward their students on program and always looking to improve the study abroad experience.

As a fervent advocate for international education and cultural exchange, I cannot help but sing praises for the transformative experiences orchestrated by iEARN-USA. Their impeccable execution of short and long-term intensive language study abroad programs for high school students, specifically NSLI-Y, is a testament to their unwavering commitment to fostering global citizenship and linguistic proficiency.

In my time with iEARN-USA's Mandarin study program in Taiwan, I was struck by the organization's meticulous attention to detail and their unwavering dedication to providing an immersive and enriching learning environment. From the very outset, their team displayed a remarkable level of professionalism, ensuring a seamless and secure experience for both students and their families.

The program's comprehensive curriculum, carefully tailored to the needs of each student, not only facilitated rapid language acquisition but also nurtured a profound understanding of Taiwanese culture. Through a well-balanced blend of classroom instruction, cultural excursions, and community engagement activities, iEARN-USA effectively kindled a passion for Mandarin among the participants, fostering a deep appreciation for the intricacies of the language and its cultural nuances -- successfully developing a cohort of culturally fluent young adults who will carry their experiences for years to come.

From pre-departure orientation to re-entry preparation, the support network provided by iEARN-USA was nothing short of extraordinary, going above and beyond to ensure that each student received the guidance and encouragement necessary to thrive in a foreign environment. The constant availability of resources, including round-the-clock assistance and cultural orientation sessions, attested to the organization's dedication to the holistic development of its participants.

Furthermore, the seamless integration of immersive experiences into the curriculum provided students with invaluable opportunities to engage with local communities and native speakers, fostering authentic cross-cultural connections that transcended linguistic barriers. These interactions not only accelerated language proficiency but also instilled a deep sense of empathy and cultural awareness within the students, paving the way for a more interconnected and empathetic global community.

iEARN-USA's commitment to excellence in international education is truly unparalleled. The NSLI-Y program in Taiwan stands as a shining example of their ability to cultivate global citizens equipped with the linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding necessary to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Without a doubt, iEARN-USA's exceptional execution of this program has left an indelible mark on the lives of its participants, fostering a lifelong passion for language learning and cross-cultural exploration.

I love the team at iEARN and their mission is amazing. They are great at connecting with teachers and schools and make virtual student exchanges easy to implement around the world. Students learn cultural, digital, and academic skills all together while engaging in the virtual exchanges. And, it is so easy for teachers to integrate into what they are already doing in the classroom. It's also loads of fun to see students connect with each other from Taiwan to Syria to Iowa and DC.

I have proudly been an iEARN member since 1994 when the Learning Circles project became part of the International Education and Resource Network. Not only did my classes participate in Learning Circles, but they also participated in a great number of other iEARN social studies and social action projects. Over the years, technology and people have changed, but the basic process of students using the Internet to connect with other students through project work has remained the same. Children around the world want to make real connections with each other. As an educator, iEARN gave me the tools to make sure this happened in a safe, productive, enriching, and educationally sound way. Online projects, Learning Circles, and iEARN have been a part of my life for almost 30 years. I have taught professional development courses, coordinated the Learning Circles project, and attended many iEARN international conferences. My network of educational colleagues has expanded worldwide and my understanding of education in different areas of the world has expanded every year through my contact with iEARN educators. iEARN is a great non-profit because the organization empowers teachers and students to choose their own pathways to learning as well as the opportunity to create a brand new project community. It is my wish that every teacher has the opportunity to connect their students with other students around the world and work together to accomplish common educational projects through iEARN. I have found that when students communicate, work together, and share common goals, they develop deep friendships, more tolerance, and become appreciative of differences. We desperately need more organizations like iEARN in the world today.

iEARN-USA did an outstanding job administering the NSLI-Y program for my daughter’s academic year in Taiwan. They were highly professional, communicative, responsive, and attentive to parental concerns. They provided numerous, detailed resources for parents, a comforting reassurance for us with a child 7,500 miles away from home. Our daughter had a minor medical issue while in Taiwan which was promptly attended to with a complete doctor’s report, far exceeding our expectations. Overall, as parents, we were very pleased and thankful for the high quality services iEARN-USA provided and the communication we had with their friendly and professional staff.

I studied abroad with NSLI-Y implemented by the i-EARN program. I stayed in Taiwan for 8 months, and it was an amazing and transformative experience. There were so many immersive cultural events, volunteer opportunities, and we were even able to meet foreign ambassadors! i-Earn was amazing at addressing any concerns we had and keeping us up-to-date about any announcements. Overall, my experience with i-Earn has been incredible, and they have changed my life!

My daughter participated in the NISL-Y and iEARN-USA program last summer in Taiwan. We found this to be an excellent program. As a parent I felt that I had a good amount of information and preparation and enough contact during the the program. My daughter loved the program. She greatly enjoyed her host family and still remains in contact with them. She also enjoyed living in the dormitory where she developed a great comradory with her fellow students. Her language skills improved tremendously and she learned a tremendous amount about the local neighborhood exploring restaurants, coffee shops and culture. I can’t recommend this more!

My son Alexander attended a study abroad program this past summer in Taiwan coordinated by iEarn-USA. The program turned out to be a game-changer for my son to get both language and cultural immersion, as well as developing independence and grow for the long-term. The program was superbly well run by the iEarn team (Alexander, Kyle, and Christen) from all perspectives. They helped prepare me and my student before the international trip on what to expect, as well as communicated frequently during the course of the program, including sharing pictures of the social events locally in Taiwan, all of which was run very well. The host family locally in Taiwan was very hospitable and kind. I deeply appreciate the iEarn team for making this program an amazing experience for my son. Thank you, and keep up the great work.

It has been such a privilege helping iEARN tell their story over the last several years. I've been able to see both the inner workings of the organization as well as speak directly with educators and students who have benefitted from their projects and programs. The work iEARN does is so important, especially now when there is much upheaval in the world. Their projects bring together students and teachers from vastly different cultures and teach them critical educational and interpersonal skills, promoting peace and understanding between people, cultures, and ultimately, nations.

I have been associated with iEARN-USA for roughly two years, and I continue to be impressed with the impact they have on both virtual and in-person exchange. They are driven to touch as many students and teachers as they can, and I know they will have an even larger impact in the years to come. We have had the great pleasure to speak with many teachers and students who have been touched by their work, and we have seen how their work administering an overseas study abroad program or an in-classroom virtual exchange seems to have had a permanent impact. We are so honored to be associated with iEARN-USA.

I studied abroad in Taiwan from 2020-2021 through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth, and iEARN-USA was the organization that facilitated this program. 2020 brought many challenges, but the individuals working at iEARN-USA were able to deftly work through every new barrier faced. When there were changes to COVID restrictions (which there were quite a few) or changes to flights (there were also quite a few of those too), we received timely and thorough communication. Overall, I had a wonderful experience studying abroad with much thanks to iEARN-USA.

iEARN-USA provides educators with the platform to create projects, share ideas and collaborate with teachers throughout the world.
Global competency is starting to take more of a role within the education community. iEARN is there to step through the doors of classrooms and tear down the walls to view the world.

I worked with iEARN-USA last year as a Storytelling Coach (through The Story Studio NYC) for the YES Stories Workshop. Our work entailed weekly, online group coaching of two groups of 12 alumni high school exchange students. These students (from Muslim countries) dug deep, writing and orally sharing their true personal stories about their year abroad in the USA and how the experience effected them. Their final stories were shared orally on zoom to a larger invited audience. Throughout the process, I was blown away by the intelligence, humor, and authenticity of each unique speaker. It's clear to me that iEARN-USA does important work that is truly impactful, as it fosters education, empathy and understanding between cultures. Keep up the great work!

iEARN works relentlessly to connect students from all around the world, and to provide programs for students to become better citizens and leaders of their community. I am both an alumna and former intern in their U.S. Department of State funded National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) project , for which they implement the Arabic, Chinese, and Hindi programs. These are merit-based opportunities for high school students to study a language abroad. Through my involvement with this side of the iEARN-USA team, I have seen the many facets of care and dedication that go into keeping each student safe, happy, and learning in a rigorous but supportive environment. I have seen the iEARN-USA team go out of their way to contribute as much as possible to the experience of their students. This includes the 24/7 immediate response capability if a student needs support, meticulously organized orientations, and constant communication with partners abroad. Even during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, iEARN was adaptable and organized in creating an engaging virtual alternative for students whose programs could not be held overseas. The staff at iEARN-USA are passionate about their projects and their work, and the results really show. I have yet to meet any fellow alumni who were not transformed by their experiences on iEARN's programs.

Working with iEarn was a fantastic experience. We partnered with them to offer a large International Podcasting Workshop in Albania for a large number of their program alumni. Their communication and organizational support far exceeded our expectations and the program was a huge success, and we're excited to get to work with them again this year. They bring rich and valuable organizational expertise, a deep bench of institutional knowledge and resources, and they're just simply a passionate and joyful team to work with. I can't wait to start our next project with them.

I have worked with iEARN for 8 years. This organization has profoundly impacted my educational practices by providing relevant and meaningful professional development and the opportunity for my students to connect with their global peers. Through project based work, my students have developed skills in valuing diverse perspectives, practicing cross cultural communication and critical thinking skills to solve a problem. iEARN staff members are extremely response to practitioner needs and are dedicated to the mission of iEARN.

Three years ago, I had not heard of iEARN. If you have also not heard of it, I encourage you to look it up immediately. As someone who has worked in education for the past 15 years, with a focus on international/global education, I am deeply impressed by the work iEARN is doing. Their work is visionary and truly collaborative; they offer phenomenal opportunities for students and teachers. Last year, participating in iEARN's Virtual Project Exhibition, I was amazed at the quality, collaborative work made possible by iEARN, its staff, and the incredible teachers and students.

I have worked with iEARN for global collaboration projects in my 9-12th grade classes for almost 4 years. With over 120 vetted projects to chose from, there is something for just about every subject and level imaginable. All projects are aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and as such, are meaningful experiences for the participants. I could envision their use not only in the classroom, but for school club and youth group projects.

The iEARN platform is easy to navigate (I did not grow up with a computer in hand) and well organized. iEARN takes care of the set up: groups, facilitators, searchable data bases, forums for teachers and youth; support (and their customer service is superior). As a teacher, you get to focus on the project details. My students have been really engaged in working on these projects and have kept in touch with students they met even after the project was completed. I would highly recommend iEARN to anyone wishing to include global education as a way to explore their curriculum.

Within iEARN and I learnt the way to lead myself, my own family and community members towards development; true, more than 15 years facilitation of iEARN project helped me to contribute to bring change to my community. Hence, participating and facilitating iEARN projects helps learners and educators achieve self esteem through sustainable self fulfillment.

My story with iearn@lgeria
iearn is not only building bridges via education rather it is building bridges with hearts, building bridges with minds & spirits. The program is so enriching that it leads to the peak of empowering educators all over the world. The courses provided by years, are a unique chance for colleagues all over the world to meet, discuss, share, collaborate in a spirit free from any prejudices, disparities& racism.
iearn and I have a lot to do and to say…….. I have been driven through all this period with courses, a terrible wonderful addiction that will live forever in me facing authentic situations for language use, is not current all the time so shall I quote: “ Stevens initiative is a blessing
Stevens initiative is a helping
Stevens initiative is a serving”
In other words, the impact of this human experience is huge, as it was said by my colleague Saliha Benhacene “ it is a giant leap “ a real jump. Breaking the monotony with educational techniques, with strategies, with current not an easy matter, these topics not of the least important ones.
iearn bridge program is a flawless contribution on the part of the USA to give a lift to North African countries. Why not consider it as a giant bridge that goes from Africa to America oh!!! what an achievement. Meeting people over the hill, is a daydream, not because I didn’t travel rather its because I didn’t have the chance to meet educators and learners as kind as those that I met in the Bridge program.
iearn experience drives me crazy saying that I ‘m a newly appointed teacher, a novice one. Although I have been teaching since 1994. I’m still daydreaming since I think now, more than any other moment that I can defeat time as well as age & seem younger not because I ‘m more than 25 years old but because I’m still teaching & educating students as well as the novice teachers who are still fresh.
iearn & my students is another matter, as nice as the roses in my home town Constantine. their path was so honorable that I don’t think their peers will forget about their passage in the bridge program fall 2017 . Amazingly, their perseverance, their will, as well as their nimble wit, drives me speechless. Through days, through months, they grew wiser, self-confident and above all good speakers or shall I say, good orators. Serine, Yasmine, Sid, and all the other learners @lgeria have become a myth, a model in Ibn Teymia High School - Constantine.
All in all, My philosophy in education is “ to teach youngsters different ways, different values so as to lead them to the peak of their dreams and to obtain future independent citizens in my country “
“ Touch the sky you ‘ll reach the stars “ internet source

Lilia zellagui – Ibn Teymia high school
Training Teacher of English
from Constantine – Algeria-

Hi everyone,
I hope you are enjoying your time now.
I have found IEARN really exciting and fruitful. I ameliorated my skills and project work techniques.
I wish you all the best from my heart
Mohammed Nazih
Morocco

Amazing experience!!! It provides to open a huge door for world without leaving the classroom!!!

Every single one of us makes a difference in the world. So we have decided to invest our energy and resources to spread awareness about the importance of equity of resources to eliminate the cycle of poverty and hunger and chose the platform of iEARN . We understand our responsibilities as a professional and youth to distribute fair chances for everyone. We are known as IEARN warriors when we started Digital Citizenship project and now we get an opportunity to work as a student ambassadors of finding solutions to hunger from Pakistan International School Doha Qatar. Its honour to be the part of this excellent organisation which help us to put our efforts in right direction.
Thank you iEarn.
Ambreen Mehboob's Team
Student Ambassadors from Pakistan International School Doha Qatar.

IEARN taught me about a wonderful global learning community. I guess I would be considered an iEARN elder. I did professional development in the 90's and 2000's. I treasure the travel, experiences and friends I made. I believe that all teachers have the same corizon (word for heart in Spanish) for the future!

Celia Einhorn, New Mexico, USA

What inspires me about working and learning with the amazing iEARN teachers is the ability for all of these educators to look past all the petty issues between countries and focus on collaborating , sharing and learning for the betterment of all.. teachers and students. It’s a shame politicians can’t see these kids and teachers in action!

Kathy Bosiak: iEARN Educator, with pride and GLobal Education Ambassador with passion

This experience was a dream for me . I have never ever thought that one day i will travel to the USA and alone ! Especially that its a pretty long distance for a person living in Egypt. first of all the moment you arrive it is required from you to be totally independent ,as you have a certain amount of money so, you will start making plans on how to save this money till the last moment and plenty other things you need to be independent to pass through. Talking about the event and what we did there we have to start by asking who did i met ??? what kind of people stayed with?? where did i stay??? Well, we were staying at at college were most of the students from places all over the world(India, Australia,Palestine,Egypt etc........) stayed in the same building . Each student had a roommate which is someone from an another country . This was insane!!!!!!! Now we can turn to our schedule there , each day at the morning after the breakfast we usually go to a high school , there we start to attend workshops for other students discussing the topics of our projects that we were working on &sharing our ideas together of how to reach the 17 sustainable goals by 2030 or workshops for teachers themselves. My favorites were the ones talking about refugees and girl raising . On the third day we went to Washington D.C.Despite the long walk we had and our legs which was about to scream thanks to this young lady with the red dress i never forgot that day was 100% of pure fun . It was fantastic visiting places showing thing about the world war 2 and Abraham Lincoln,s statue . Nothing was more beautiful that the white house . The culture day , at that day each group of students from the same country were asked to present a short play , song etc....... explaining there culture . Georgia , Indian & Japan had perfect performances i was watching with wide eyes ! Uhhhhhh here comes the last day i didn't want to go home ever , I loved my friends there we were used each night to get snacks and either play a movie or dace and listen to music . As a finale, the organization there made us a party in a church which was called the gala day each girl wore the elegant dress and each boy wore a suit to appear so handsome . the party was about having a dinner together while listening to music and it was okay to feel free and dance . After spending thus 10 days experience i can admit that i changed in communication skills , presentation skills , being more mature and having the desire to complete the path and explore more countries. Moreover, i had an enormous amount of information and knowledge. what ?!! All this in 10 days only ??!!!! You must be kidding , don't exaggerate. I am not exaggerating at all , you have to try and you will say more that that . Don't miss it !

iEARN excels at bringing global concerns and initiatives into the classroom by linking teachers and students together to share knowledge, experiences and concerns based on the UN SDGs. My students' world has grown and changed because of iEARN and my students feel more empowered to be global citizens. iEARN as truly changed my classroom for both my students and myself!

Wonderful global educators who connect the world. They are the best at making connections and developing programs based on the UN Platform.

My personal interaction with iEARN-USA was as an NSLI-Y scholarship recipient to China. What stood out the most for me is that this organization is made up of amazing individuals who truly embody the organization's mission and provide the utmost support to make my experience overseas nothing less than exceptional. The iEARN-USA staff made sure that I receive the training necessary to make me a successful exchange student, representing the US, before I even left the U.S. Their organization, with attention to every single complicated detail anticipated when one travels abroad, was such a key backbone support that free me to enjoy and learn the exchange experience itself. Above all, I absolutely adore and treasure the staff with whom I interacted.

IEARN has changed the way I deliver lessons to my learners. It has amazing pool of learning materials and collaborating projects. In this technological age, distance, boundaries and culture are no longer the factor. Bravo IEARN!!!

iEARN has been such a life-changing organization for myself and many others. I truly believe they will go on to be a great factor in making the world a better place

There is a lot of pride that IEARN members have

iEARN has had a transformative effect on my teaching and understanding of global education. Attending the 2007 conference in Mubarek City, Egypt, opened my eyes to the impact that this organization has on mutual respect and understanding among teachers and students around the world. Direct teacher-teacher and student-student contact through single-topic projects as well as multi-project Learning Circles deepens trust; students learn through these relationships that perceived barriers and mistrust are just that: perceptions that are radically altered by person-person contact. This is my 11th year with iEARN, and I cannot imagine my 6th grade (11-12 years old) Geography classes without iEARN. I am honored to be trusted with the role of Learning Circles Coordinator and plan to continue to work with iEARN even after I retire from full-time teaching. I have nothing but appreciation for the organization and its talented and devoted staff.

Respectfully - and gratefully,

Mark Cullen
University Prep
Seattle, WA, US

I am fortunate for having been involved in iEARN for several years, initially as a teacher and now as a project facilitator in both the Bridge Program and Finding Solutions to Hunger. I cannot imagine another organization in which global, student-centered, professional and compassionate teachers work so closely in so many areas of our shared world on behalf of their students. This is iEARN.

Side-by-side with the many other critically valuable skills that all students have the right to develop, those of compassion for others, citizenship in a shared world and integrity of action are part of what iEARN’s teachers offer as they develop their global studies. That is precisely what makes it stand out. It is an organization whose mission is evident in every resource and every collaborative effort made by teacher who have designed the projects and participate in the outreach of its mission. In an online world that often is swarming with too much information, the projects are well-organized and accessible and versatile....qualities of information and protocol that I greatly value in an online world that often is swarming with too much information!

When I think about the meaning of iEARN’s mission and its clarity of purpose in the global world of education, I know that students in all of its projects will have the safety and openness of its forums in which to explore what they have learned as well as all that they might imagine and hope to learn. For them, along with new knowledge, comes outreach and connection leading directly to that.…many ideas, many actions, many gestures of partnership one at a time. This is iEARN.
Mary Brownell - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

iEARN is the largest community of people worldwide who care for one another and who are passionate about their shared view of a more peaceful, safe and growing world. I have been with iEARN for more than 13 years and I feel the dramatic change that is operated among teachers who develop professionally thanks to programs ,such as BRIDGE(Building Respect Through Internet Dialogue and Global Education),thanks to online courses, to shared projects and to new technologies . We ,teachers and youth, worldwide, are tied to strong ,shared values ,that are and will definitely change our planet to the better.We are pioneers in using 21st century technology tools and skills to exchange ,on the spot, on a great variety of topics that bring life to the classroom and the classroom to the community. Improving the environment in our communities, empowering girls with quality education, exchanging ideas, photos, videos about our diverse cultures, history, families daily realities, all this can but foster mutual understanding ,openness, tolerance ,respect of diversity and ultimately can and will help our youth grow to live more peacefully .
HELA NAFTI
TEARN (iEARN Tunisia)

iEARN is an organization to which every globally-minded educator should belong. This is the best way to connect with teachers around the world, and to enable your students to connect with their peers. There is a steady stream of global projects with a wide range of participation. iEARN offers a lot of support and encouragement, and many opportunities to help your students gain the skills they need to engage with their world on a global level.

iEARN has the merit of bringing all the countries of the world together through very interesting online collaborative projects, videoconferences and face-to-face meetings. Educators and students interact with each other regardless of their race, nationality, or religious beliefs. To me, this approach can only lead to establishing an atmosphere of trust, mutual respect, collaboration, and peace among all iEARNers.

My story with iearn is distinguished .I've been with iearn 2000 started as one of the trainees in their workshop then and after WORKING WITH DIFFERENT PROJECT I BECAME THE COUNTRY representative.IEARN is the only safe educational network in the world that include students and educators.iearn is a supportive body for any educator who is willing to make the change.I have to admit that iearn has really changed my life in a positive way.My attitudes and the way I think has changed accordingly.Iearn is the first organization that spread the culture of learning with the world and this not as easy thing.Collaboration means a lot and it has different components.I'm a trainer now in my country and working on evolving all schools in iearn for its best impact on lives.

We are working closely with this fabulous organisation since 2002. Our scope of work include online and face collaborative educational projects. We implemented together several projects targeting schools, youth, teachers between US and Morocco.
Ans the story continue with always new projects and perspectives.

Mourad BENALI
Moroccan Education and Resource Network-MEARN
Morocco

I'm a teacher of English as a foreign language from Egypt. I have been engaging my students in the iEARN online projects for three years. I can notice how more open and understanding and confident my students become after sharing in these projects and activities, that vary and help our students all over the world to be more open, tolerant and aware of not only their local problems but also of the global issues as well. Sharing in such projects surely help my students to recognize the importance of the global cooperation and collaboration to solve out such problems and issues and to always believe that we not only can learn about each other but we also can learn from each other. It also help to develop the 21century skills among my students,consequently iEARN projects enhances their academic level and their personalities as well.
All in all iEARN is really a great non-profit website that can help people to live in peace and coexistence and make the peoples of the world more hopeful about the future.

iEARN is an excellent organization. I had the chance to meet other teachers from my country & from around the world, and to exchange ideas, info, experience in a friendly atmosphere with mutual respect. Also my students had the chance to talk to other students at student's forums provided by IEARN while working on a project.

One of the wonderful things at iEARN beside discussions, courses and forums are the projects, wide variety of projects related to all subjects at school. Working in the projects at iEARN was so interesting, lot of great creative ideas provided by iEARN and other teachers, and I think that every teacher had the chance to post and view his/her opinion and have nice discussions about it, by these discussions every teacher could improve his/her skills so much by viewing other's opinions and thoughts replying to his/her post. iEARN is like one community gathering people from all around the world to share their work, experience and ideas friendly. And the most important thing, students are learning to respect the others around the world, respect other cultures , the way they live ..Etc. Also I started to apply many ways of online learning with my students in order to make classes more active away from boring classes, also it was a chance to let every student show his talent in any subject and exchange ideas and thoughts with other students without fear, in order to be creative, and to let them keep in touch with other students from other cultures.

This is an extraordinary non-profit with an extraordinary staff and community!

We have had the pleasure of partnering with iEARN over the last five years to produce a large scale virtual Global Education Conference. We are indebted to iEARN for making this event a huge success .The professionals at this organization have been wonderful to work with and they provide much needed and respected services to educators all over the globe. iEARN's impact is profound in the world of education.

Through our conference and the iEARN community, It has also been amazing to watch teachers and students who participate in iEARN's programs globally. They exhibit so much growth as well as compassion and enthusiasm for making the world a better place.

We at vifprogram.com count IEARN as one of our most valued partners and have provided many of the teachers in our program with subscriptions to their site. The worldwide community of educators IEARN has built is to be admired and their focus on the use of technology for global collaboration dovetails perfectly with our shared vision for global education.

iEARN is an excellent organization that operates efficiently and effectively. It uses technology in a wonderful creating great experiences for students and teachers. It is helping connecting youth around the globe.

My first involvment with IEARN was in 2006 in which teachers and kids from my school start collaborating in projects with schools from other countries. Our school is in a city in Peru and it is very hard to get contact with other countries. The projects we did it were the Teddy Bear Project, Water Sampling Project , The Spirit of the Trees. I can remember one project of the Teddy Bear made with a school in Argentina. One of the kids doing the project travel years after the project was done with his parents to Argentina, and they were very fond that he had some friends there, and all of thar thanks to a travelling Teddy Bear. On the other side I remember how proud was a teacher of our school, as she finished her project on the Water Sampling and typing at Google her name just to find that she was the first in the list.
I do think IEARN projects made a diference with the pupils and teachers.

This organization, International Education and Research Network, reaches far and wide. I have participated each semester for five years with third and fourth graders.
The children are so excited when they hear from other countries. I have experienced the Teddy Bear Project, Learning Circles for five semesters, an online course, the daffodil project, and presented at the iEARN conference in Argentina in 2014. Other teachers from our district, HPISD, located in Texas are
on the band wagon, too.
I have always tried to bring the world into my classroom and this is a wonderful and safe way to expose them to other cultures. Log on and see what you are missing.

IEARN has been a great partner with www.myhero.com for more than a decade. The first time I went to an IEARN global conference was in Slovakia in 2012 representing The MY HERO Project. The amazing teachers and students gathered there from all over the world participating in workshops, sharing their cultures, communities and passion for learning made my husband and 12 year old daughter and myself believe that the world would indeed be ok.
I facilitate The MY HERO Global Learning Circles with Barry Kramer from IEARN. I always say we bring the world into your classroom and your class into the world. It always proves to be an uplifting, inspiring experience for all concerned and gives the next generations a better understanding of the world beyond their border. Thanks IEARN for all you do and for all those you reach.

As an English teacher I feel responsible to give my students a real learning opportunity in an actual situation, so learning circles are very helpful. Since cooperation is global, they feel a lot more motivated to learn and to work.

Twenty years ago we founded Kids Can Make A Difference (KIDS) and spent 17 years as a program of WhyHunger. Both of us come from the corporate world and devote our efforts to making our community, country and world a better place for all. Jane had recently received her Doctorate in Nutrition Education from Columbia University. Her overriding interest was in hunger in the world. Since there is enough food in the world to feed everyone, she wanted to find out why hunger and poverty continue to persist.

At the time, Larry decided to bring his knowledge of marketing to address this problem, and we joined WhyHunger to aid in their efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty. We started as volunteer fund raisers for the organization and shortly thereafter became members of the board.

We came to the conclusion that if any real change was going to happen, it would have to be brought about by people younger than the members of the WhyHunger Board. This lead to the establishment of Kids Can Make A Difference (KIDS) 20 years ago.

This relationship with WhyHunger continued until three years ago, when we felt that the time had come for a change. We no longer felt that being an education program embedded in a hunger program was the direction that would carry KIDS into the 21 Century.

KIDS needed to be allied with an education program that desired a strong hunger and poverty component. We did our home work and found that there was only one candidate that we felt would be a perfect fit for us.

That program was the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN).

We were impressed with iEARN’s mission and most of all with the management and staff of the organization. In our three years as a program of iEARN, Kids has been nurtured and has flourished. While we still are on a learning curve, with the establishment of the Finding Solutions Project we now have students in many schools and countries learning about the root causes of hunger and poverty and working together to develop solutions where they can make a difference.

We look forward to continued growth within the iEarn network.

Peace,

Larry & Jane Levine

iEARN is a wonderful window to the world for US students and teachers. It is a networking organization that connects classrooms from over 100 countries in project-based, online learning experiences. Kids learn about others and themselves as they engage in thought-provoking interactions online. The true potential of this organization is helping develop graduates who are prepared to be citizens of the world, able to interact intelligently and in a culturally sensitive manner with their counterparts from throughout the globe.

140 Countries
30 Languages
50,000 Educators
2 Million Youth

iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) is the world's largest non-profit global network that enables teachers and youth to use the Internet and other technologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world.
I joind iEARN in 2003 and learned a lot and my learning venture is ongoing. iEARN is the window to see the world and to be seen by the world as the PBL grants you to learn with the world not just about it

I joined iEARN only last year as a teacher. After the Doha conference in July, I immediately put information I gained from the conferences and workshops into my lesson plans this year. I am facilitating an iEARN project with 7 other teachers and their classrooms in Nepal, Belarus, Portugal, Dominican Republic, Peru, Guatemala, and California. I'm also looking forward to presenting my students' collaborative projects at another teaching conference this Feb in Mumbai on using technology for social entrepreneurial students.

iEARN is playing a pivotal role in teaching 21st century skills to teachers and students of this era. In the past 25 years, it has achieved milestones and has actually made a difference in the lives of many individuals. I have been associated with iEARN for the past 3 years now and yes, I have seen iEARN contributing to their maximum capacity in bridging cross-cultural differences and bringing people closer digitally.

I have been an iEARN teacher since 2003 and have been coaching teachers as they globalize their classrooms since 2006. iEARN has made it possible for me to connect hundreds of students with their peers in other countries, to learn about real global issues that they will need to face together. This is the crux of it all- students learn by doing, and the essential task of our time is to learn to work together. The many projects and highly invested educators create a rich environment for working together- the kids do the rest and it is magical.

I have been involved with IEARN since the beginning and in different ways over the past 25 years of history. Recently I have joined the board but in the past I was a facilitator for Learning Circles on iEARN. What makes iEARN so valuable is the personal connections that are created between students and teachers in classrooms around the world. In learning circles classrooms have the experience of leading a world wide group of students in a project that helps them learn more about themselves as they learn more about others. This reflection and understanding helps students to acquire a sense of global citizenship that will be so valuable in our shared future. Learning how to learn from and with people who are different with respect and curiosity are skills that are vital to world order. THere is no organization that is doing a better job of helping students develop new perspectives and empowering them to solve real problems in their communities and across the world. The stories are rich and varied but all end with a renewed sense of the wonder and power of the human spirit to find ways to get past amazing challenges.

I am a young creative and energetic English teacher from small town in Sarband in the south of Tajikistan. I heard about IEARN in english teacher conference in 2007 and then I was the first english teacher in my country who benifited from iEARN projects starting from 2007 till now and later i become contact person of iEARN in my country.
Our first project was Folk tales. I gathered 5 english speaking students and later i opened english club and we searched tajik folk tales and translated them and shared it in forum.We read folk tales from other countries and found similarities.Students undestood through folk tales that the world is small we all share the same things but it has different names in all countries. learning moral of the tales students changed and stood out from other students in school. Students drew pictures, acted folk tales for big audience at school and read a folk tale in elementary schools. In one word, this projct chnaged my students at school and me. Later, we gathered all our folk tales and got a grant and published our Tajik folk tales book. Now we have abook from this project. Then in 2010 we took project School uniform we exchanged our school uniform with Taiwan school. It was another life chnaging xperience for my students. All projects of iEARN enhance 21 st century skills which is very important for students all over the wolrd. The georgraphy of my students become good they saw many students from other countries participating and learning about other country at the same time.
I always wanted to do my lessons and projects to keep engageed and motivated my students.I was lucky that only our school in our small town has internet access and I use internet on the right way. Iearn not only changed me as young teacher. I become very motivated, creative and with full ideas and with updated knowledge. I was appointed at school the senior English teacher at methodical union and conducted workshop once in amoth for teachers at school. iEARN become part of me and i involve all students and teachers to use this website as it changed one ordinary teacher from small town.

iEARN began with a simple idea, years before the Web was created: With telecommunications, people could reach out across the world and work together with other people, regardless of their governments' official stances. For 25 years, this network has flourished with trust. This network was and still is a chain of friends and friends of friends.

Not only are some of my closest friends members of this chain and not only have these friendships enrich and transformed my personal life, but iEARN members' technological savvy in building community strengthened my own professional expertise as co-founder and editor of the National Geographic's Intranet. Together, we -- my iEARN friends and I -- have found joy in using using pre-Web bulletin boards, the Web, email, snail mail, e-newletters and print publications, art, photos and video to make the world a better place. We have been doing this for decades.

I am a volunteer, a donor, a board member, and this year, I am a teacher who is using iEARN projects at César Chavez Prep, a public charter school for 6-th - 9th grades in Washington, DC. If you could have watched my 6th graders in the Holiday Card Exchange project today, you would experience something precious and such a proof of why iEARN is important and why it's motto: Learn with the World, is so accurate.

In the beginning of the year, each of the seven children in my enrichment class selected one school from our assigned group of eight schools. Earlier this week, we sealed our boxes and mailed them (we had to get boxes, the children decided, so we could include Halloween candy along with our cards for the multitude of holidays between now and New Year's.)

You have to understand, the children have remembered their city since the very first day they chose their partner. And finally, today, we started to visualize ourselves in our cities as we get ready to to write to our partners on the forum. As the students looked up the temperatures for tomorrow and decided what they'd wear to school (40 degrees in Russia; 88 degrees in Taiwan), they kept finding photos of their cities. They'd exclaim in delight: "Look how beautiful Minsk is!" "Look, there is snow on the mountains in Slovenia!" "OH! LOOK" The latter was a video of an extraordinary festival of lights in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

We stopped what we were doing to watch the Russian video and we studied it carefully, trying to figure out when the festival is held. There was snow, so later then now, we decided, and then we saw a decorated Christmas tree. We think this must be a Christmas festival. But we don't. know. Rosa, the student who has Krasnoyarsk, can't wait to write and ask for more details on Monday when we meet again. Rosa wants to make a powerpoint about Krasnoyarsk, and the others are excited now to show off their cities and schools. They'll have so much to write about and to ask. I can't wait to see what will unfold next.

Awesome organization that give youth the skills and opportunity to make a difference in their community.

The International Education and Research Network (iEARN) is an invaluable resource for educators and youth workers, alike. The collaborative projects engage students on issues ranging from the environment to peace-building through civic action. As a social science educator of secondary students with special needs, iEARN offers a variety of projects in which students of all abilities can participate and contribute to the international community through dialogue. The exchange of ideas, traditions and cultures that occurs in iEARN forums, online courses and projects utilizing instructional technology is vital to the development of 21st Century skills among students. This non-profit organization is inclusive and supports the needs of individuals in a warm, caring way. My students feel empowered and hopeful about their future after having participated in an iEARN project.

I am the country coordinator and representative of iEARN in Algeria.
I have been working with iEARN since 2009.
I teach English to teens and being engaged with iEARN makes my job different and more interesting.
I no more teach in the classroom but the global community.

I said everything about iEARN in my article on this page
http://eltalgeria-ime.webs.com/my-global-family-in-qatar

I have been involved with iEARN as a teacher for the past year. They have provided me professional development, connected me with educators around the world virtually and in person, and hosted projects between classes. I attended their international conference in Doha, Qatar and had the chance to meet many teachers who have worked with iEARN for upwards of 10-15 years. Many of them said, "I could not do my job without this organization." They are doing amazing work and the people I have worked with in the organization truly believe in education for all.

I recently worked with this terrific organization as a trainer for two workshops teaching digital storytelling skills to international students, and I would be more than thrilled to work with iEarn again. I truly believe that iEarn has made it possible for these students to learn skills that will change their lives and enable them to share what they have learned with the world. All the iEarn personnel were immensely professional and deeply caring people who I am proud and grateful to have had the privilege to work with.

For more than a decade I have partnered with iEarn-USA on a number of international collaborations: launching Adobe Youth Voices, producing short documentaries, and most recently co-producing a series of digital storytelling workshops. While some of the faces change over the years, the energy and focus of their work has never wavered. iEarn has somehow established an internal culture of good spirit and collaboration that is so easy to see in the hundreds of students, teachers and partners I've met over the years. I am an admiring outsider who is very proud to have the chance to collaborate with such fantastic, hard-working people.

What a wonderful organization. The work iEARN does with teachers and students round the globe is life changing, and in these turbulent times, it is organizations like iEARN that can truly make a difference in our ever-smaller world.

I've been teaching English since 1989 in a public school of languages near Brasília, the capital city of Brazil. In 2001, I met iEARN through a very close friend from Washington - DC, and started to develop learning projects from iEARN's list in the public school that I work. From that time on, I can say that I changed the perspective of what teaching a foreign language is about. In 2004, I got a degree in Applied Linguistics and the case study was an iEARN project with the focus on the interaction that can happen in a collaborative project between two classroom from two diffrent countries. The work was about interaction, but it was also related with project based learning and iEARN proposal itself. I can say that I can divide my professional career in two parts - before and after meeting iEARN. I observed that from the very beginning, my professional connections have become global, and I have also made many friends all over the globe. Now, I'm the coordinator of iEARN Center in Brazil, and I really want to spread the news, projects and proposals of iEARN. I believe that iEARN can be a way to improve education in many levels, but mainly the learning, collaborative, social and cultural ones. Almerinda Garibaldi - Brazil

I joined iEARN in 2002 as a High School student and since then my life changed. Working on iEARN projects on the interactive online forums gave me an experience to learn and share my life and world with the rest of students and teachers around the world. One really instrumental iEARN project in my life has been the Adobe Youth Voices Project, through learning and teaching other youth on how to create media with purpose I have been able to establish myself as a top class media artist here in Uganda even without having ever gone to a multimedia school. In 2010, I interned at the iEARN USA office and this enabled me get a more global perspective of iEARN and also get hands on experience on how to run and manage global projects. iEARN has been transformational in my personal life and changed my entire view of the internet and the world at large.

I am the co-founder/executive director of The Art Miles Mural Project. There is no non profit organization in the entire world that has initiated and accomplished so much for the benefit of education among teachers and students and the public in general as iEARN. We have been associated with iEARN since the year 2000 when the Millennium United Nations Environment Program brought us and hundreds of children together in the United Kingdom. We were so impressed with the staff that were representing iEARN there because of the workshops they offered and the quality of instruction that came from them and in addition, because our own workshops (mural painting) became so popular and oversubscribed, the iEARNers jumped in to HELP US by helping to coordinate and assist with hundreds of international youth painting murals on the floors of the facility in Eastborne, UK! They even helped us carry the rolls of finished murals to the train station before we had to ship them off. This began what has become a long and rewarding collaboration and cooperation between not only our own organization, but the amazing networking that they are masters at; and largely because of them, we have also happily benefitted from the Project Book tha and conferences that has helped us complete more than 4,000 five by twelve hand painted murals on canvas with more than 1/2 million people from over 100 countries. What they do by connecting people in so many countries inthe world is nothing less than award winning. Interacting with them even inspired me to go meet the founder, Mr. Peter Copen in person because I sought his advice when starting our own project. How often does the founder of a magical project like iEARN consent to give positive advice to another up and coming non profit? The lifelong associations, friendships and FAMILY comradery that has come from our interaction with iEARN has become one of the highpoints of our lives and those that are "touched" by the learning and connecting of humanity they are so successful with. By reaching out with technology way ahead of what others have done, and connecting people throughut the world, it is my view that iEARN has also accomplished a ground swell for living in a culture of peace by teaching millions of adults and children how much more we have in comon versus differences. WE LOVE iEARN and thank them for connecting us with so many incredible and amazing people and projects that grow stronger throughout the years!

it was in 2002, when I got involved with iEARN and with the next conference met all the dedicated people of iEARN USA. That has changed not only my life, but also that of my family, and of so many people and students, we could help ever since

It is hard for me to choose my role for this. I started as a client with the international School Partnerships through Technology project of the North Carolina Center for International Understanding. There I became involved helping with face to face and online professional development. I was also asked to help develop the Teachers Guide to Online Collaboration. I love how iEARN empowers and respects its teachers. I am now thinking about retirement but am not ready to give up the work I love with iEARN.

I'm Magda Fouad From Egypt .My Best year was 2003 When i participated in iEARN and became one of this great family . It's my great luck and happiness to be one of iEARN community .I'm now an Inspector of English and i was till last May a Teacher , Also I'm a trainer and iEARN Master Teacher . I had the pleasure to train a large number of Students and teachers on iearn programs and on collaborative projects. I was one of organizers in annual 2007 international iEARN conference in EGYPT, It's a very great mission to build youth 'minds , personalities ,lives in iEARN . It's very wonderful to teach students to be independent ,work in team to be respected from everyone when he knows that they are iEARN Students . I attended Master Trainer and the international Conference in Taiwan Last Year . I also represented EGYPT in The ARABIAN TESOL Conference last March in DUBAI . I'm very pleased to join the first iearn online conference to meet again some of the i Earners that I had the pleasure to meet face to face in previous conferences ,and at the same time know new teachers and students from many countries

Back to 2001, I was first introduced to iEARN world. Through iEARN, I helped to connect to the world. There were only 5 teachers and about 100 students involving in iEARN projects. Now it is 2012, now 552 teachers and 10000 students have involved in iEARN projects. The number is on the increase for we see how iEARN makes a difference in Taiwan Global education in K-12 schools. In iEARN Big community, Taiwan teachers and students learn to work with their international partners by sharing their cultures and thinking via iEARN projects. They learn that it takes actions altogether to have a better world.

iEARN truly is non profit organization. It share educatin and awareness through collaborative projects. It is one of best org in the world. Long live iEARN.

I have seen this organization grow from 10 schools in Moscow and 10 schools in NY State to over 40,000 schools in about 120 countries; and do it with no loss of integrity and sense of mission. It is a testimony to the philosophy and the thousands of mostly volunteers, teachers and students.

My journey with iEARN started since 2006 and officially when I joined iEARN Pakistan in 2007. Attending a couple of workshops and then joining iEARN, opened up a new horizon to me. It helped me to discover a new world of friendship and collaboration. Being a computer professional, I was keen to learn how to apply my knowledge and skills in the field of education. With great support from iEARN Pakistan and iEARN USA, I developed skills to work with teachers and students, and help them using technology in classrooms by involving them in different iEARN Online collaborative projects. At iEARN Pakistan, we are running a number of projects in partnership with iEARN USA, to successfully engage teachers and students in using tecnology and Web 2.0 tools in classrooms. The online courses for teachers provided by iEARN USA, also help in the professional development of teachers improving their teaching and learning practices. Above all, it has helped to connect people in a meaningful way and develop a global community without any cultural boundaries.

The 1998 was an unforgettable year when as a newly appointed head teacher I was looking for innovative teaching and learning strategies to implement in the school and hit iEARN USA. Everything else become a history with those few emails from iEARN USA registering us as iEARN member and explaining how to begin with iEARN projects. 1998 was still early to bring technology into classrooms and integrate in curriculum, professionals and trainers from iEARN USA have provided exceptional support, lesson plans, helped us with grants and trained a group of us to begin successfully with the Online PBL. We in Pakistan started iEARN ONline PBL with one school and one classroom which is now an initiative at national level with 1500 member school, 3000+ students participating in the projects annually and 3 iEARN Centre facility in Karachi, Quetta and Islamabad. Over the years iEARN US and iEARN Pakistan have worked on a range of collaborative projects developed ties for capacity building of teachers, supporting young people in underserved communities of Pakistan by providing them educational opportunities and uplifting the schools providing them cutting edge technological tools for teaching and learning. Thankyou iEARN USA

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH IEARN: I started volunteering for iEARN, the International Education and Resource Network, in January 1993 -- which is when my ongoing relationship with, and lifetime commitment to, iEARN's ideals and life- and world-changing work began. I have been honored to form close and lasting ties with iEARN's US and worldwide staff and volunteers -- and the participating teachers and students around the world. Most of my volunteer work in 1993 was for one project and, despite having a salaried part-time position with a nonprofit organization in Michigan that required frequent travel from my home in rural Virginia (my residence at the time), plus extra hours of work, beyond the 20 hours for which I was paid from my home office, I volunteered at least 50 hours per week in 1993 for iEARN. iEARN's exciting and compelling projects, professional and dedicated staff, and growing, dedicated, and embracing on-line international community left me energized by those 50+ volunteer hours/week in 1993 -- and I am still as excited about iEARN in 2012 as I was in January 1993.

(NOTE: I am an ordinary person who is neither noble nor especially selfless, but iEARN's important work is so captivating. iEARN has paid me for some consulting work, but Dr. Ed Gragert and the iEARN-USA staff know that I will do any project as a volunteer, if iEARN needs me and if I am qualified to do the work.)

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF IEARN: The introductory paragraphy at iEARN.org states that "iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) is [literally] the largest nonprofit global network in the world that enables teachers and young people to use the Internet and other technologies [and to help educators and students with no -- or minimal -- access to various technolgies] to access technologies, regardless of their location and financial limitations] to collaborate on projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world." (The text in brackets is mine.]

Although the number of participating students and teachers -- and new, exciting, unique projects -- worldwide increases with awareness and time, as of now (January 2012) an estimated 2 million students and 40,000 teachers in 130 countries, speaking 30 different languages (with English, translated or as a second language, being the common language for on-line collaboration) are participating in iEARN's projects. Please note that I have not viewed these participation statistics since some time last year -- 2011.

Please, I invite you to visit the iEARN-USA Web site at US.iEARN.org and/or the iEARN worldwide site at iEARN.org to learn about the current status of iEARN's impressive number of ongoing projects. To learn about iEARN's projects and programs in your country -- and abou iEARN's dedicated country coordinators and language resources -- I recommend that you visit the countries section of iEARN's Web site (iEARN.org/countries); you can select your country from a drop-down list or by selecting a region on the small world map on the main countries Web page; if you cannot locate your country on this Web page, new projects may just be starting (or be in the planning stages) and your help and support would be invaluable and gratefully accepted: Please send an e-mail message to 'ec AT iearn.org' if you cannot find your country.

iEARN offers both face-to-face workshops and on-line professional development courses for teachers who want to integrate on-line global project work into their classrooms. If you are not an educator, however (which is my situation), and wish to help iEARN in any way, I can tell you from personal experience that getting involved with iEARN will change your life and you will truly help to make a difference in the world; you *will* have an impact -- and iEARN will have an impact on you!

Cordially,

David

P.S. -- NOTE ON IEARN'S BEGINNINGS: Since 1988* iEARN has equipped more than 100,000 teachers all over the world with the technical, collaborative, and organizational skills they need to participate fully in a global, extremely interactive, and collaborative Internet-based learning environment.

CIEE started working with iEARN on administering the YES Program 5 years ago. We have enjoyed a strong and positive working relationship over the years and share a fantastic group of YES Program Alumni that are bringing change to their countries every day. We have found our colleagues at iEARN to be responsive, professional and a pleasure to work with. CIEE and iEARN share a common mission to help young people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.

About a decade ago, I was the global studies chair of an international studies magnet school. My school was searching for partners for online learning and exchanges. I learned about IEARN at a conference and my professional life was transformed. Recently Project Based Learning, 21st Century Skills, and global citizenship is all the rage. IEARN has been a pioneer in these endeavors for more than 20 years. I have stood under a tree in the rain with young social studies teachers from Iran who travel with male chapersones. I have stood in the sunshine with colleagues from Israel, Taiwan, Pakistan, Netherlands, Turkey, and Senegal. I have collaborated with and learned from educators and students from almost every continent. Such is the IEARN world. When a school or organization joins with IEARN, the students and teachers communicate with and do Project Based Learning with classrooms in any of 130 countries. Students of all ages engage in reading and writing for authentic audiences, tackle real world issues, express their work creatively, and use technology to research and communicate. IEARN projects cross all of the core and elective subjects and can be used within the required curriculum or in an extracurricular setting. Member teachers and students can join ongoing projects or propose new projects and seek partners.

Our office has worked with IEARN for 10+years. Working wtih the Staff of IEARN has been a wonderful experience both professional and personal. The employees of IEARN are dedicated and the experiences and knowledge they bring to others is enormous. Our organization looks forward to a continued relationship with IEARN.

Having been involved with IEARN since 1997, This is my absolutely favorite organization that supports and propels Global learning projects and initiatives. It continues to be on the forefront of social action projects and is extremely beneficial to my graduate students as they embark on global learning in their classrooms and seek to create meaningful projects themselves. I still consider this the premiere organization that supports global learning. The network is an invaluable resource! Thank you IEARN for an incredible and supportive organization in our endeavor to connect classrooms around the world in meaningful experiences! Dr. K. Bacer, Azusa Pacific University

Taiwan, Morocco, Russia, and Canada are only a few of the places our California school collaborates thanks to iEARN. iEARN connects my students and me to memorable events and to passionate people everywhere. iEARN is the inspiration for our most meaningful and memorable work. Our K-12 classes have met standards in art and language by writing descriptions of self portraits; in math by charting growth of tulips; and science by flying homemade kites with schoolmates on every continent. We see history and current events and literature through learning circles, choosing our own topics and sharing research and experience. Thanks to iEARN our classroom is truly the world, and we explore it with new friends and old ones each year.

Ever since I was introduced to iEARN in 2001, I've been learning something valuable in my life . iEARN has given the perspective to think globally and act locally . I have been involving many students in the iREAN projects which facilitate them to improve their thinking as well as communication skills . They developed :Communication skills, creative Expression, Technical skills, emailing skills, Confidence ,responsibility, general knowledge on global issues and personal attitudes. I was professionally benefited by the Online Professional development courses offered by iEARN_USA. Many schools and NGOs in my country , India received technology aids by being involved in Adobe Youth Voices project. The resources shared by the teachers around the world have been very useful to enhance our own teaching and learning processes.

In 1989 I was invited to work with an international team to plan a program to bring teachers and students together to work on projects that would grow concrete classroom experiences in the practice of peace. The passion grew as each new teacher, student, and country signed on to contribute to a growing body of projects designed to fit classroom curricular demands and to give all of us a chance for international collaboration. Each one of us who has been fortunate enough to participate have made lifelong friends from every corner of our dear planet. That iEARN has had such longevity is proof of its relevance for curricula, its organizational strategies, and the comfort and hope teachers and students feel in its community. I am so lucky to be a part of iEARN. Betsy Frederick, Guilford CT and Albuquerque, NM.

NGO work is all about passion, trust, and contributing to the welfare of the people. iEARN USA is not only a leader in online project based learning but also in ethical practices, professional standards, and eagerness to learn with the world. I have worked with iEARN USA since 2002 through many projects and under different capacities. Trust and passion have always characterized their delivery. Their understanding and support to regional iEARN offices and contacts has been amazing. I have enjoyed working with all their staff members and learnt from their process and procedures. There are many stories to be told about our fruitful cooperation that this space may not be enough for. I thank them for all the positive changes they caused in my life and thousands of lives in Egypt of students and teachers who have been involved in iEARN projects. Change was not only limited to the direct beneficiaries of the program but the community at large.

I have been an iEARN teacher since 1994 when my first grade classroom of students began doing curricular projects online with schools in China, Kenya, Argentina, Russia, Japan, Netherlands, Nicaragua and other schools in the United States. iEARN was amazing from our first experiences when we were communicating only through text -based email using a dedicated line to send and receive messages about water habitats, shared common cultures of caring in our communities, and how to help one another from school to school, community to community. During the next twelve years, the young elementary students in our public school classroom learned how to build understanding with global peers in science, math, social studies, world languages, art and service learning. We added new technologies as they came available including digital images, websites, video production and video conferencing to meet face-to-face. All students in the class participated from September to June in multiple iEARN projects. They realized they had an important role in making a difference in the world while they are in school not just when they became adults. They assumed that doing school projects with classmates on multiple continents was the definition of school learning. They learned to read and write by communicating with global classmates and teachers. They learn how to thoughtfully and generously respond to the needs of one another locally and globally, especially in difficult times of war, earthquakes, hurricanes, natural resource scarcity. They learned the importance of comfort, empathy and care during times of illness and medical emergencies. They learned the importance of all students having access to education. They learned about one another’s cultural commonalities as evidence of how we are alike worldwide and learned that one another’s cultural differences are opportunities to see, hear, dialogue, understand and embrace cultures and languages not previously familiar to them. Differences were opportunities to learn, commonalities opportunities to affirm; commonalities and differences both embraced as positives. The growing of community with global peers generated hope in these young children that, indeed, they were part of a complex and connected world where they each had a place alongside one another and where each of them could contribute to making a difference.

As one first grader said in a posting to thank iEARN teachers for helping her learn to read and write, “Thank you Ms. McLane (iEARN teacher in Seattle) and all my teachers around the world! I couldn’t have done it without you!”

As a teacher, being a part of iEARN was an incredible way to teach and learn as it was possible to connect globally with schools, teachers and students on every component of our classroom curricula. Our classroom work took on real world importance when the students knew that quality work resulted in incredible communications beyond the walls of our school, beyond the rural wheat fields of our community to places and people everywhere we could possibly connect. Student performances soared because they cared about being able to participate in the iEARN project conversations and make positive contributions with their work! There can be no greater privilege as a teacher than being alongside the young children in our classroom and their K-12 peers as, together, they found ways to make the world a better place day after day by working hard with care and responsibility for community near and far! Many iEARN teachers would agree...teaching and learning through iEARN is how and where school communities are moving our world forward. When students have the opportunity to take on important concerns, needs and challenges in a real world process of collaborating with global peers, they see that making a difference with what you know, understand and imagine possible during their school years, leads to making positive differences in the world as a lifelong endeavor!

I'm a Social Studies teacher here in Florida and use iEARN to engage my high school students in collaborative global projects. My students partner with students in countries like Morocco, Bahrain, Azerbaijan etc. to learn about culture (food, clothing, music etc.) in the My Identity, Your Identity Project. Many stereotypes have been broken since my mostly Latino students previously didn't know much about the Muslim world. We also exchange cultural packages to help learn about our respective cultures. Check out the iEARN Project Book where you can find descriptions of the various iEARN projects. I've also participated in Day in the LIfe, Students Unlimited, Kindred, Adobe Youth Voices, and Respect. In the spring I plan on joining Product in a Bag which is focused on economics/entrepreneuship. I love the fact that no matter my curriculum I can find a project that fits right into it. Check out the website at iearn.org.

I teach Middle School in Philadelphia, Pa. What began as a small global educational group of students last year has grown into a class that meets nearly every day at lunch, thanks to the work of iEARN and its mission of “collaborative action on global issues” for young people. Using the resources and forums available on the extensive iEARN site, my students have made collaborative connections with schools in many other countries as well as other parts of the United States. In this 21st century of rapid change and troubling issues, in iEARN project work there is always the common ground of reaching out and working hard with other students. We have been involved a project to raise awareness of and funding to find solutions to world hunger. We have made friends with and exchanged cultural celebrations cards with students in seven other countries. Along with partners in two other schools, we are learning to understand the danger of water pollution by plastic, and have begun a recycling program of plastic water bottles and cups in our school. Without the tools and collaborative stability of iEARN, we would never have come this far.

I volunteered as a photographer for iEARN in multiple US and international locations for events and conferences after working on a collaborative project setting up computer centers for schools to use with iEARN and a partner organization, IREX. From the latter experience, I knew that iEARN delivers on what it promises, and delivers well. Their network of contacts and partnerships with education ministries and departments, school administrators, educators, students and alumni are robust and extensive. And by volunteering I gained even further respect for iEARN; their collaborative projects transform the lives of the students and educators who participate. Participants gain incredibly close bonds to those with whom they collaborate, no matter how great the distance between their countries (literally or figuratively). iEARN's work increases global understanding and fosters clearer communication. I can't recommend them strongly enough.

I teach in Trenton, NJ. This is my second year using iEARN. It has changed the way I teach. My subject is technology and this year I have incorporated iEARN into my entire middle school curriculum. The middle schoolers have been working on "Finding Solutions to Hunger". We are in contact with over a dozen countries who are also working on this project. This affords us opportunity to study other cultures in a way that makes it REAL. We have friends in Latvia, and British Columbia, and Qatar, and UAE, and Philadelphia, PA.....we communicate with them and care about them. The younger students are working on a Teddy Bear exchange with Teacher David (as we call him in class) in Kenya, just today we made holiday greetings which we are going to electronically send to Russia to our 3rd grade friends there. iEARNs has become contagious in my school and we are all working together on cross-curricular ways to incorporate real people into our learning.