Voices Against Indifference
A curriculum-based educational program, Voices Against Indifference (VAI) CONNECTS high school students with GLOBAL HUMANITARIANS who exemplify the POWER of the individual to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Each year, VAI addresses critical issues facing humanity from the perspectives of our participating humanitarians with the underlying goals of shifting attitudes, fostering global awareness and promoting personal responsibility among youth. Simultaneously, VAI builds bridges across cultural divides by bringing students from all corners of the region together for dialogue.
Our Curriculum
Living Science: The Aaron Ciechanover Project
This curriculum explores the life and discoveries of the extraordinary scientist Dr. Aaron Ciechanover whose joy in the mysteries and evidence of science is infectious. A 2004 Nobel Prize recipient in chemistry, his discovery of ubiquitin’s purpose has led to bio-medical advancement in many fields. Echo’s curriculum serves as a substantive tool for learning for teachers and students. The curriculum is developed by students with input from expert advisors and shared across the region and online free of charge.
UKRAINE: Calculus for Democracy
This curriculum offers an academic program covering the current situation in the Ukraine. It is a bold look at Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the history that led up to it, its impact and tragedy, and the involvement of International Actors.
ECHOLOGIC: Our Planet. Our Opportunity.
Focused on the environment and global warming, ECHOLOGIC is a unique curriculum that investigates the urgent issues that threaten our planet. It explores the impact of climate change, environmental racism, corporate and governmental challenges, public responsibility, the work of UNC Center for Galapagos Studies, and more.
Social Justice & The Media: The Nicholas Kristof Project
Including an array of articles that showcase the power and influence of the media, this curriculum shines a light on Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and author, Nick Kristof’s urgent and unrelenting call for human dignity – here in the USA, or anywhere in the world. A cutting-edge document examining current issues, the curriculum includes student activities and discussion questions; chapters on global responsibility to intervene; filmography and bibliography and relevant web links.
Justice Is Not Negotiable - Dr. Mukwege & The Panzi Hospital
This curriculum includes the history of Congo (DRC) and a comprehensive unit of Dr. Mukwege’s tireless commitment to humanity through the Panzi Hospital, with an emphasis on his work to heal victims of sexual violence as a tool of war. In addition, it includes information on the current conflict; student activities and discussion questions; chapters on global responsibility to intervene; filmography, bibliography and relevant web links.
Charlotte: A Tale of Two Cities
This curriculum focused on the economic opportunity divide in Charlotte and was inspired by the Opportunity Task Force Report, in harmony with Leading on Opportunity. Serving as the basis for a multi-year educational initiative, this material was taught across the region with the goal of 1. Sharing knowledge, 2. Engaging students across zip codes, and 3. Inspiring our young people to bring their well-considered solutions to community leaders.
The Samantha Power Project - State of the World. Challenges and Opportunities
This curriculum studied the capacity for an individual to reshape the world against systemic indifference. Inspired by Samantha Power’s relentless dedication to securing human rights for the most vulnerable populations and nations, State of the World honors the rights endowed to every human life. This guide offers educators and students alike a user-friendly tool with which to understand global atrocities, as well as what we, as a nation and as individuals, can do to stop them.
The Cuba Project
This curriculum offers educators and students a tool with which to access a view of Cuba; its history, culture, people, and more. Our collection of articles represents an effort to educate about, and to highlight, multiple viewpoints of past and current events of this tiny island nation, 90 miles off the United States coast.
Ideology, Conflict & Hope: The Bosnia Project
This curriculum offers an academic program covering Bosnia and Herzegovina. The juxtaposition of the rich culture, beautiful landscape, and welcoming people, to strong nationalism and the needless loss of thousands of lives, adds urgency to the study of this historic land and its challenges and possibilities today. This collective effort does not presume to be the definitive word on Bosnia, but rather it is a gesture of friendship, a seeking to understand, a recognition of the enormous complexity of the region, and an effort to honor those who lost their lives there.
Economics of Democracy: The Ben Bernanke Project
This curriculum offers an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of a sound and just financial system so that all citizens have fair access to employment and the ability to support themselves. It covers Bernanke's life story, the role and purpose of the Federal Reserve, financial literacy for teens and chronicles the most recent economic crisis.
A Decade Inspired by Elie Wiesel
This curriculum pays tribute to Nobel Peace Laureate, Elie Wiesel, whose vision gave life to this organization. His tireless work for humanity and his extraordinary commitment to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Region through his role as Honorary Chairman of Echo, have provided inspiration, knowledge and hope to teachers and students of all ages.
Please email [email protected] if you would like access to a curriculum that is currently not available online.