Background

The conference builds upon the success of the Service Summit Africa 2009, initiated and hosted by the International School of Uganda, in January of 2009. It will also integrate the Service Summit concept with the Global Issues Network program, an international schools’ initiative based on Jean Francois Rishard’s book, High Noon “Twenty Global Problems, Twenty Years to Solve Them”, which identifies 20 urgent global problems and encourages the formulation of small networks around the world to help solve them. Global Issues Network (GIN) conferences have been hosted in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Along with invitees from across Africa and beyond, sixteen Zambian students will also be honored, as Golden Heart winners, for their work in making a sustainable difference within their communities. They will also receive full scholarships to participate in the conference. The conference is designed to build partnerships and enhance student skills, knowledge and passion, so as to help empower our youth to make a further difference within their local communities and beyond.

The bridge between understanding and action is emphasized by uniting the Service Summit with the Global Issues Network within one conference. After two full days of student workshops, activities, symposium panels and guest speakers, the final day of the three-day conference is devoted to students working together on sustainable projects around the Lusaka area. Students will learn new ideas, build lasting relationships and networks, and return to their schools empowered to make a further difference in their communities today.