GSL SUMMER OF CHANGE

VIRTUAL GLOBAL LEADERSHIP & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE
SUMMER 2021

Join the GSL Summer of Change – learn how to be well, create a positive mindset and develop a toolkit for action that will support you to thrive in life! Connect with a global diverse group of young people who like you want change in their lives and want a brighter more sustainable future for all. 

  • Age Eligibility | 11 to 17 years-old (you will be allocated in Junior 11-14 year-old teams or Senior 15-17 year-old teams)
  • Duration | 5 days of live interactive virtual sessions followed by 30 days of action
  • Dates for the GSL World Catalysts | 12th-16th July (Registration Deadline Sunday 27th June 2021) OR 26th-30th July (Registration Deadline Sunday 11th July 2021)  (please see a more detailed breakdown of timings below)
  • Cost | £220 – includes the 5 Day GSL World Catalyst Course, access to GSL Hive Community Hub & Celebration Event

The GSL Summer Catalyst World Catalysts are designed by Future Foundations and the Wellington Leadership and Coaching Institute.

Watch our webinar below

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“The three most important things that I have learned is to be myself, be confident, and to always value others opinions.”

“I loved meeting new people, hearing their voices and interacting with people from across the world. It helped me gain even more confidence as I have never met so many people at once.”

“I enjoyed it because I got to increase my confidence and I got to talk to new people.”

“I learnt I should always be open minded to new opportunities and experiences otherwise I won’t be able to properly succeed.”

“I enjoyed talking to people and building my confidence on how to be a leader. GSL has helped me understand myself A LOT more.”

About the experience

Connect this summer with other likeminded young people from around the world. Be inspired to take on a challenge and bring about transformational personal and social change in support of the United Nations Global Goals.

We are in unprecedented times and now more than ever we need to learn to navigate ourselves to changing contexts and adapt in ways that ensure wellbeing. The GSL Summer of Change is an opportunity to learn new skills, develop the right mindset, connect with other passionate young people and prepare for the future we want. Be empowered to take responsibility, take action and be the change you wish to see in you.

During the programme you will build leadership, future world of work skills and confidence. You will become part of a global team and will support each other in discovering your passions, tuning into your creativity and ensuring you all have a lot fun.

The course has been developed over a decade of programme delivery around the world. Only last year close to 2500 young people took part in our virtual experiences. We are an award-winning provider of pioneering leadership and character programmes. We have worked with young people globally and you can be assured that we will provide a unique journey that will transform your life.

Become part of a global movement of socially conscious young people.

The GSL Summer of Change has 2 World Catalyst

programme start dates: 

12th-16th July

Cohort 1 (AM): 08:00 -11:45 UK TIME (BST)

Cohort 2 (PM): 15:00 – 18:45 UK TIME (BST)

26th July – 30th July

Cohort 3 (AM): 08:00 -11:45 UK TIME (BST)

Cohort 4 (PM): 15:00 – 18:45 UK TIME (BST)

Be empowered to take responsibility, take action and be the change you wish to see in you.

Programme Overview

  • 5-Day World Catalyst Course

    There are two start dates available for the course:

    • 12 JULY
    • 26 JULY

  • 30 Day Challenge Period & GSL Hive Community Hub

    The 30 Days of Action starts on the Saturday after the 5 Day World Catalyst Course where you will go out and take on a real Independent Challenge you have designed. You will be able to continue to be supported by your team mates through our GSL Hive Digital Community!

    30 Day Challenge Period & GSL Hive Community Hub

  • GSL Summer of Change CELEBRATION Graduation

    There will be one Celebration Graduation for each Cohort! Invite your friends, family and teachers, as we showcase all you have learnt and have accomplished during the GSL Summer of Change. You receive you e-certificates following the events.

Programme Design

  • Fully interactive live sessions facilitated by our expert trained coaches

  • Collaborative Sessions

  • Reflective Coaching Practices

  • Global Discussions

  • E-certificate of completion for course

  • E-certificate for completion of evidenced challenges

Learning Modules

  • Wellbeing & Resilience

  • Reflection

  • global & local issues

  • Leading yourself & Others

  • Pursuing your Passions

  • Deepening your Understanding of the 17 UN Global Goals

  • Communicating Your Message

  • toolkit for action

Secure your Place

In order to participate in the GSL Summer of Change you will need to complete the following steps:

  1. Complete your registration form | Begin by filling in our short registration form which should only take you just a few minutes. This is where you select which GSL World Catalyst programme start date you wish to join. After completion you will receive a confirmation email with a link to payment. Please make sure to check your INBOX and SPAM folder. EVERYONE MUST REGISTER USING THIS FORM regardless of whether they are paying as an individual or part of a school/group booking.
  2. Pay for your place | You should ensure that the payment for the programme is completed as soon as possible. If you have a Discount Code or Bursary supported place you can add the details in the shopping cart. Please note we will send you an occasional reminder so that you do not miss out on this opportunity! Pay for your place here.
  3. Complete your Parental Consent Form and Code of Conduct | Once the payment is received you will be asked to complete your Parental Consent Form and Code of Conduct. These must be completed so that you can participate in the programme. We will not share the programme log in details with you until both of these forms are completed. You will receive daily reminders until these are completed.

Please remember that you can only register for the programme as an individual if you are between 11 and 17 years old.

GROUP BOOKINGS: If you are part of a Group booking you will still need to complete all of the steps above. You can tell us you are part of a Group Booking when you complete your registration form.

secure your place

(Student Registration)

secure places for your students

(Teacher Registration)

The most important thing I learnt today is that leadership is not just about confidence, compassion or teamwork, its about being true to yourself, its about being grateful and resilient and learning from the mistakes you do, growing from them and being a better future you as “change is inevitable”.
From these sessions on wellbeing and leadership and true you, I reflected on my actions and believes and found a new thing about myself That I’m not alone, The problems I’m facing today are nothing compared to what the world and people around me are going through, I learned to be appreciative of things that are great about me which I think I haven’t done in days. I gave myself some peace and encouraged myself to go back to what brings me peace : which is
playing my ukulele, I was shocked that the mental health I neglected at times ,after today’s session gave me a new perspective on life.

Today I learnt to be the true me.

How does the programme work?

It is important that you know what you are going to be part of! The GSL Summer of Change involves a live five-day GSL World Catalyst virtual course led by a team of expert GSL facilitators. Following the course you will take on an Independent social challenge as part of the 30 Days of Action. You will then submit evidence by the deadline date for your programme and then attend a Celebration Graduation in September.

  • 5-Day GSL World Catalyst

Begin your GSL transformation by discovering the leader in you on our five-day interactive GSL World Catalyst virtual course. You will: Build leadership skills and future world of work skills; hear from guest speakers who are leading the change for people and planet; Learn about yourself; develop a toolkit for wellbeing & resilience; learn how to support and collaborate with others and be inspired to take action towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Independent Challenges

Our programmes are about taking action and creating change in your life and in your communities both locally and globally. After the live five-day GSL World Catalyst course, you will be supported to complete independent social challenges over a period of 30-days. The 30-day period of Action will be an opportunity for you to make positive change for issues you care about.

You will be given access to our interactive GSL Hive Digital Community where you can continue to connect, share and support each other on your journey. You will be awarded a certificate for your participation on the course and one for the Challenge you complete.

  • GSL Summer of Change Graduation

Celebrate what you have achieved during the programme and receive certificates of participation and for your challenge! Our Celebration Graduations are an opportunity to champion each other and share with your family, friends and schools the journey you have been on.

  • Online Safety

We take your safety seriously and we want to ensure you have a great experience on the programme.
 
All participants will need to sign a Code of Conduct before we start. We want all young people to be able to engage in a safe and respectful space. 
 
Please be aware that we will be using Zoom for the programmes live virtual sessions. 

  • Course Content in English

The programme is all in English, and we do not provide translations of the materials. 
 
We do not ask you to do a test to show your level, so please be sure you are happy with your English language!  We suggest a CEFR level (Common European Framework of Reference) of B2 or above (C1/ C2) to join this programme.
 
If you are concerned about this, please get in touch with our team before you register. There are some free online tests if you want to check your level. 

  • Time Zones

Sessions will take place at 08:00 AM British Summer Time (morning), and 15:00 PM British Summer Time (afternoon). Please ensure that you can be available during these times based on your own time zone.

You will need to commit to attending a total of 20 hours of live sessions at either of the following dates and times:

12th-16th July

  • 08:00-11:45 BST or 15:00-18:45 BST and around 5 hours per week to complete an independent social challenge in August

26th July – 30th July

  • 08:00-11:45 BST or 15:00-18:45 BST and around 5 hours per week to complete an independent social challenge in August

Below is a rough example of times – do check the time where you live in the world before applying! Click here to download an online time zone converter. 

London, UK   Vancouver, Canada  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Istanbul, Turkey Abu Dhabi, UAE  Delhi, India Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Sydney, Australia 
08:00  00:00  04:00  10:00  11:00  12:30  15:00  17:00 
15:00  07:00  11:00  17:00  18:00  19:30  22:00  00:00 

Aims and Outcomes

  • Make Meaningful Global Connections

The GSL Summer of Change will provide you with the opportunity to make friends and learn from other young people from a diverse range of backgrounds. You will have the time to connect, share and learn about the world from their perspectives.  Discover what they are passionate about and explore how you can collaborate and support each other to make the world a brighter more sustainable place for all.

“It was eye opening to be in a Zoom call with people from around the world who came from different, highly varied walks of life. It was inspiring to hear many of them share their ideas and feelings and truly made me feel as though I were a part of a global community.”

  • Wellbeing & Resilience

We are in unprecedented times. Now more than ever we need to learn to navigate ourselves to changing contexts and adapt in ways that ensure wellbeing. There will be dedicated sessions on wellbeing and resilience where you will learn and develop a practical toolkit for supporting you being well now and in the future. We believe it is important to give time and space to develop good mental health and wellbeing. The GSL Summer of Change will give you the space that you need to reflect and grow in the ways you want to.

“I always put too much pressure on myself, not forgiving myself for the little mistakes I make and leading me to become anxious, but the course helped me to think that I should be more aware of my wellbeing because it’s something very important.”

  • Future World of Work Skills: The Four Cs of 21st century learning

The future employment landscape is always changing, and there are lots of choices facing young people around education, jobs and their future!  We want to support you to build these skills on our courses by focusing on The Four C’s. 

“If today’s students want to compete in this global society, they must be proficient communicators, creators, critical thinkers, and collaborators (the “Four Cs”). Students need to master additional subject areas, including foreign languages, the arts, geography, science, and social studies.  Educators must complement all of those subjects with the “Four Cs” to prepare young people for the global workforce”

[Extract from research carried out by the National Education Association]. 

  • Transformative competencies

The OECD highlight the need to acquire three transformative competencies to help shape the future we want: creating new value, reconciling tensions and dilemmas, and taking responsibility. When young people “create new value, they ask questions, collaborate with others and try to think “outside the box” in order to find innovative solutions. This blends a sense of purpose with critical thinking and creativity”

Young people “need to be able to balance contradictory or seemingly incompatible logics and demands, and become comfortable with complexity and ambiguity. This requires empathy and respect.” 

Young people “who have the capacity to take responsibility for their actions have a strong moral compass that allows for considered reflection, working with others and respecting the planet.” 

[OECD Learning Compass 2030] 

We have shaped our programme based on this Learning Compass which has focused on what knowledge, skills, attitudes and values students’ need today to thrive in and shape their world. 

The GSL Catalyst is shaped to focus on building knowledge, skills attitudes and values through independent learning as well as live sessions connecting young people.  We believe in building the right attitude and values in young people as the foundation for GSL programmes. 

Reflection is a key component to any GSL programme, as part of the learning process; encouraging young people to reflect on their experience throughout the programme, their own individual learning and building their insight. “We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.” [Dewey (1933:78)] 

The Learning Compass highlights the need for “students to learn to navigate by themselves through unfamiliar contexts” [OECD Learning Compass 2030]. 

Through GSL you will learn to be the Captain of your own ship!

  • Social Action and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The GSL Summer of Change will challenge students to THINK GLOBAL and ACT LOCAL, examining the issues behind the Global Goals and understanding the part they can play by joining the biggest attempt in the history of the human race to make the world a better place.

We also feel that connecting young people from different countries and backgrounds will help shape meaningful discussions on issues as well creating collaborative solutions as Global Citizens.

Many young people are already running their own projects in their school or community, and the aim of the programme is to build and develop knowledge around the SDGs.  You will be supported to take on a real world 30 Day Challenge, where you will take action to address a local or global issue you feel passionate about. Check out our Challengers!

SECURE YOUR PLACE individual booking

(Student Registration)

Register to promote places to your students

(Teacher Registration)

AFTER THE PROGRAMME

PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED TO ENTER A GLOBAL COMPETITION

After the programme, you will be challenged to start your own social action project working in a team of 3 to 7 students which will make tangible changes within school and the community (local, national or global).

You will be invited to enter the GSL Global Goals Competition.

FIND OUT MORE

Frequently Asked Questions

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GSL World Catalyst

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What are the live online sessions?

As part of the programme, you will have live online sessions lead by a GSL facilitator, and with other participants joining from different countries. Please be aware that we will be using Zoom for live online sessions.

You will have been allocated one of the below session times for the three-days:

10.00 – 13.45 (CET) / 09.00 -12.45 (BST).

Please make sure you attend the full slot we have allocated – just in case we have to change the start slightly. 

 

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How does the programme work?

It’s important that you know what you are signing up to take part in!

This programme involves live online interactive sessions lead by a GSL coach (this is the Catalyst course). You will be able to use your camera and microphone to engage with your coach and students.

The course is followed by an independent social challenge of your choice. You will be supported to complete your challenge over a period of 30-days. 

There are no tests to complete the programme (phew!) or to participate in the programme. You will through have all the content in English.  

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Do I have to participate in the discussions?

In order to gain the most of your online learning experience, we recommend you participate in the discussions. Please if possible have your camera and microphone switched on when you go to breakout rooms. Our facilitators will tell you when to get ready for discussions. Please note, some of the sessions will be focused on how to launch and develop successful projects; gaining greater impact in your community; and topical debates which will help with your communication and persuasive skills. There will be other topics of discussion based on the requests we receive, for example an informal forum may be set up to for participants to connect with their global peers and exchange shared interests around similar SDG goals and community projects they are currently involved with. 

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What happens if I am worried about speaking English?

The programme is all in English, and we do not provide translations of the materials.  Hopefully in the future we will be able to release a programme that is suitable for a variety of levels of English. 

We would suggest that you need to have a CEFR level (Common European Framework of Reference) of B2 or above (C1/ C2) to join this programme. 

We do not ask you to do a test to show your level, so please be aware that this is important you are sure you are happy!  If you are concerned about this, please get in touch with our team before you register. 

There are some free online tests if you want to check your level. 

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What if I miss some of the online sessions?

We will not record sessions as a default as the live sessions are made to be interactive and involve all participants. 
In exceptional circumstances, we can discuss the possibility of recording a live session depending on the content and gaining additional consent from parents. Please note, we will need adequate notice if you need to miss an online session.

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What materials are provided? What do I need to bring?

All materials will be accessible on the online learning platform. As such, you will need access to the internet as well as a webcam for live sessions. Please note, these materials must not be shared with your friends, classmates and teachers.

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STUDENT REGISTRATION
SCHOOL REGISTRATION
5000+

young leaders around the world

1100+

reported social action projects

600+

schools involved in GSL programmes

100+

countries