WAC - Archive 2006

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2006 World Affairs Challenge™ - Commentary

2006 World Affairs Challenge™ Recap

by Jacob Meyer

The 2006 World Affairs Challenge™ was a tremendous success, with nearly 400 middle and high school youth from around the Bay Area participating in the program. After three months of preparation, 48 teams from 25 Bay Area Schools traveled to San Francisco State University on March 18 to test their knowledge of international issues and share analyses and conclusions related to this year's theme, "Conflict in the Contemporary World". The Challenge garnered rave reviews from participants, coaches and spectators alike and received favorable coverage from KGO Channel 7 news and KCBS radio. A total of nearly 800 people were present at the event.

The Challenge received integral support from San Francisco State University administration and staff as well as from 175 community volunteers who served as coaches, judges, event proctors and performed numerous logistical tasks. Since its inception in 2003, the World Affairs Challenge™ has quadrupled in size at all levels of participation from youth, volunteers and spectators. The following statement from one of this year's coaches encapsulates the profound impact this program can have on youth:

"I did want to share with you the highlight of the event for me. After the collaborative question, three students were talking to each other and one mentioned that, "I didn't think I was a leader, but now I realize I am." Another responded: "I know just what you mean; I didn't think I was smart, but I am!" And the final girl said: "yeah, doesn't it make you excited for college?" I don't know about you, but that kind of experience where they OWN it and recognize their own accomplishments make this teaching thing for me all worthwhile! Hope it made you smile. Well done."

Each team in World Affairs Challenge™ program is required to prepare and perform a formal presentation related to the annual theme. The formal presentation must incorporate the perspectives at least two countries and offer a viable solution to the dilemma being examined. This year, participating teams reached new levels of creativity, complexity and rigor in their presentations on conflict around the world.

The Ross Middle School presentation examined issues of conflict between the indigenous peoples of Ecuador, the Ecuadorian government and oil companies through their debate of the following resolution: All exploration and drilling for oil on lands belonging to the Achuar, Shuar and Kichwa people should cease. Visitacion Valley Middle School combined personal and global perspectives in their skit, depicting how one family explores the way different cultures come into conflict. Across generations, the family sees how similar struggles for power and autonomy fuel conflict in Tibet , Sudan and Bosnia . At the high school level, Mission High incorporated real-life web log postings from people reacting to the 2005 Paris riots into a dramatic presentation. Mercy High School made creative use of multiple forms of media in their presentation on conflict in Yugoslavia , Palestine and Sudan , combining dramatic presentation, video, powerpoint and photography. These are just a few examples of the ways youth in the 2006 Challenge chose to examine international issues that are of importance to them.