GSL WORLD CATALYST @HOME

FULLY FUNDED VIRTUAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
26th – 28th February 2021

We are delighted to invite socially active and creative young people to take part in a virtual global leadership development programme.

  • Age Eligibility |  15 to 17
  • Duration | 3 days of live virtual sessions followed by 30 days of action
  • Dates | 26th-28th February 2021
  • Fully Funded | The programme is fully funded and there is no charge for participation (if you are eligible and selected to take part)
  • How to Apply | Apply by 2nd February 2021 via the ‘Hello World – Rise’ app (download here)

The GSL World Catalyst is designed by Future Foundations and the Wellington Leadership and Coaching Institute in partnership with Wellington College.  

“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

The Global Social Leaders (GSL) World Catalyst @Home is a fully funded virtual leadership programme designed for exceptional 15-17-year-olds from anywhere around the world. It will enable you to learn new skills, develop the right mindset, connect with other passionate young people and prepare for the future we want.

You will be joining a group of 300 young people for this opportunity, and a global movement of young people in 107 countries. GSL will empower you to make your passions the drivers of change that will help us to build a more sustainable future for all.

There will be two streams for the GSL Catalyst:

  • Stream One (60 participants) will be grouped into small coaching teams of 1:20
  • Stream Two (240 participants) will form a larger team of 1:120

Before the live three-day course begins, you (and your parent/guardian) will be invited to attend a GSL on-boarding session. During the session you will be able to find out more about the programme, meet some of the GSL core staff team, and ask any questions you might have.

After the live three-day course, you will be supported to complete independent social challenges over a period of 30-days. The 30-day challenge will be an opportunity for you to take positive action locally and globally, and gain a certificate for your participation in the programme, which will be awarded during the virtual graduation event.

Future Foundations have developed an exciting online opportunity. 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 special experience for you.

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

Key dates

  • 2 Feb 2021

    Application Deadline

  • 16 FEB 2021

    GSL On-boarding Session

    16 FEB 2021

  • 26-28 FEB 2021

    GSL World Catalyst @Home

  • 1-31 MAR 2021

    Independent Challenge Period (30 days)

    1-31 MAR 2021

  • 13 APR 2021

    GSL World Catalyst Graduation

Programme Design

  • GSL On-boarding Session

  • Three-days of live workshops in an international group facilitated by our expert facilitators

  • Collaborative Sessions

  • Quizzes

  • Global Discussions

  • ACCESS TO DIGITAL RESOURCES

  • Independent Social Challenges

  • Graduation & Certificate

Learning Modules

  • Leading yourself & Others

  • global citizenship

  • Pursuing your Passions

  • Deepening your Understanding of the 17 UN Global Goals

  • Wellbeing

  • Communicating Your Message

  • Future World of Work Skills

How to apply

In order to participate in the GSL World Catalyst @Home you will need to complete an application via the Hello World – Rise app.

Please follow the steps outlined below:

  1. Download the App | Begin your application by downloading the Hello World app from the Google Play or iOS App Store. Find it by searching for “Hello World – Rise”.
  2. Set up your profile | First you will be asked to input information about yourself into your profile.
  3. Find the GSL World Catalyst @Home Opportunity | There are many other opportunities on the Hello World – Rise app, so you will need to locate the programme by finding Global Social Leaders.
  4. Apply for the GSL World Catalyst @Home (Deadline: 2nd February 2021) | To participate you will need to take on the challenge question, ‘What is a local or global issue you are most passionate about and how will you empower people to take action?’, via video recording. Please submit your answer by the 2nd February 2021.
APPLY HERE

“The ability to cope with uncertainty, develop new attitudes and values, and act productively and meaningfully, even when goals shift, remains, for the moment, a uniquely human skill”

Laukonnen, Biddel and Gallagher, 2018

How does the programme work?

It is important that you know what you are applying to take part in! The GSL World Catalyst @Home involves an online on-boarding session which is followed by a live three-day virtual course led by a team of expert GSL facilitators. The independent social challenges begin after the course, which must be completed within a 30-day time period.

  • GSL On-Boarding Session: 16th February 2021

This virtual session will be a chance for you (and you parent/guardian) to learn more about the programme, meet some of the core GSL staff team, and to answer any questions that you might have. 10 days before the start of the live course, the session will ensure you feel ready and begin to build up your excitement.

  • 3-Day World Catalyst @Home: 26th-28th February 2021

Begin your GSL transformation by discovering the leader in you on our three-day intensive 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, how to support and collaborate with others and be inspired to take action towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Independent Challenges: 1st-30th March 2021

Our programmes are about taking action. After the live three-day course, you will be supported to complete independent social challenges over a period of 30-days. The 30-day challenge will be an opportunity for you to take positive action and gain a certificate for your participation in the programme, which will be awarded during a virtual graduation event. Submit your challenge evidence by the 31st of March 2021.

  • GSL World Catalyst @Home Graduation: 13th April 2021

Celebrate what you have achieved during the programme and receive a certificate at your virtual graduation event.

  • 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 8 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (morning), and 3 p.m. Greenwich Mean 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 9 hours of live sessions at the following times:

  • 08:00-11:45 GMT or 15:00-18:45 GMT on 26th-28th February and around 5 hours per week to complete an independent social challenge in March.

 

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, BrazilIstanbul, TurkeyAbu Dhabi, UAE Delhi, IndiaKuala Lumpur, MalaysiaSydney, 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

  • 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]. 

  • OECD Learning Compass

We have shaped our programme based on The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 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]. 

  • 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] 

  • Wellbeing

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. The GSL Catalyst is an opportunity to learn new skills, develop the right mindset and prepare for the future we want. 

We believe it is important to give time and space to develop good mental health and wellbeing.  We will work with the young people on the programme to develop their own toolkit they can open anytime in the future when they need it. 

  • Social Action and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

In September 2015, world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs). If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030. 

The GSL Catalyst will challenge students to THINK GLOBAL and ACT LOCAL, examining the issues behind the 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.  We will help you to either improve existing projects or start new ones.  We will focus on areas such as understanding the users, measuring impact and how to make a project more sustainable. 

APPLY HERE

Download the ‘Hello World – Rise’ app and apply for the GSL opportunity

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

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