Participants from More Than 10 Countries Gathered to Foster Cross-Cultural Dialogue and Interfaith Understanding Through Miracle Corners of the World`s 8th Annual Youth Leadership Retreat
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Jul 28, 2005--Drawing on their experiences as community leaders, multicultural teenagers from around the world and from diverse communities around the United States convened under the auspices of Miracle Corners of the World, Inc. (MCW), the nonprofit, youth-founded community development and revitalization organization, for its 8th annual youth leadership retreat. The retreat provided an opportunity for more than 50 multicultural teenage youths to engage in leadership development, cross-cultural dialogue and global understanding.
During a weeklong series of workshops, lectures and roundtable discussions held July 16-July 21, 2005, MCW Retreat Delegates from the Middle East, Africa, and South America shared their experiences as community leaders working to foster peace, sustainable development and youth empowerment through grassroots development initiatives. Highlights included plenary discussions with leadership from New York University; the United Nations; the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency; and other public, private and professional partners.
``The MCW Leadership Retreat is a testament to the power of young people in fostering peace in today`s tumultuous landscape, because it unites an international team of Retreat alumni and young leaders from diverse communities around the United States to provide interactive learning opportunities for participants to share and develop leadership, cultural understanding, entrepreneurship skills and knowledge,`` said Edward Bergman, Executive Director and Co-Founder, MCW. ``It is also an opportunity to create a global network of
participants who are able to work together to build their own capacity and enact positive, identifiable improvements in their communities.``
Under the theme ``Local Change Through Global Exchange,`` participants engaged in a series of team-building activities with youths of different races, nationalities, and religions. One of the highlights included a visit to MTV`s ``Total Request Live`` (TRL) to learn about the role that media plays in shaping cultural attitudes, perceptions, public affairs and social initiatives. The weeklong activities concluded with the group`s annual ``Open Doors`` Ceremony, during which MCW honored participants and supporters of its annual youth leadership retreat, and provided updates on MCW`s current development projects in Tanzania, including: the MCW Library in Iringa, Tanzania; The MCW Dental Outreach Program in partnership with New York University`s College of Dentistry; the MCW Youth Housing and Community Village Center in Songea, Tanzania; and the MCW Dr. Herman Wrice Youth Empowerment Village in Arusha, Tanzania.
About Miracle Corners of the World, Inc.
MCW is a grassroots, youth founded, not-for-profit community development and revitalization organization that has developed and assisted with numerous community projects in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the United States. Today, MCW has a substantial network of partners through its board as well as partnering organizations and individuals who support the mission and project initiatives of the organization. MCW projects have received recognition from various government leaders and international organizations.
MCW has organized community development projects in Africa, which include the construction of the Dr. Herman Wrice Youth Village Community Center in Arusha, Tanzania that today serves as a resource center for both the local community and volunteers from abroad. The self-sustaining center offers services to over 1,000 community members a year, including a pre-school educational program, computer training at the Dr. Shils ``UJIMA`` Community Technology Center, after school sports youth development programs, vocational educational training, including English and French language courses, and an arts and crafts youth program supported through a community-based tourism initiative.
For more information about MCW, visit www.miraclecorners.org
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