There have been more technological advancements in the last century than in the last 10,000 years. This rate of change is difficult to keep up with. To be successful and thrive in an interconnected world, we need to master 21st century skills.
What are 21st Century Skills?
21st Century Skills are critical thinking, creative problem-solving, collaboration, digital literacy, citizenship, and social/cultural competencies. 21st century skills, along with cross-cultural and global competencies, help us develop agile, innovative, and entrepreneurial thinking so that we can adapt to new opportunities, overcome challenges, and work together across our communities and the world.
How can you develop 21st Century Skills?
The Industrial Revolution era way of education stressed rote learning, a demanding memorization style, to provide a workforce of laborers. The technological revolution, globalization, and the challenges of our era require us to have a new set of skills and competencies to keep up with what is current.
By working on real-life projects and with real-life organizations through virtual internships, virtual volunteering, project-based global classroom exchange, volunteering abroad and more, you can develop these essential 21st century skills, learn about challenges and work together to solve them.
Five Quest Programs that will help you Develop as a 21st Century Global Leader
1. South Africa – Travel Volunteer Quest
South Africa is perfect for athletes or sports fans or those that want to learn how to use sports to teach life-skills, promote good citizenship and impart social/health awareness. Volunteers play and coach sports to young players who are passionate about soccer, cricket, rugby, hockey, netball, and/or tennis. Tasks may also include teaching, arts and crafts, or childcare work. Volunteers gain valuable work experience and use creativity to broaden opportunities for sick, disabled or underprivileged children. Learning and growth does not have to be void of fun. If you want to improve your skills through game and sport, then South Africa has the ideal places for you.
2. Peru – Travel Volunteer Quest
If global health interests you, Peru is one of United Planet’s top recommendations. Be taught to do clinical intake, assist in supervised
procedures and conduct community-based workshops on hygiene and preventive medicine. These are opportunities to really step outside of your comfort zone and gain field experience. If you love animals, you can volunteer at one of the two animal refuges and rehabilitate injured or abandoned animals. If you love children and education, there are centers that provide tutoring, a meal program and a safe and loving environment for children to play, do their homework and learn. All of these places will help you achieve new skills and a more global perspective on how Peru addresses the challenges related to poverty, access to healthcare and more that many countries around the world face.
3. Ghana – Virtual Volunteer Quest
In Ghana, you can work with a very special organization dedicated to brightening the future of the next generation, alleviating poverty and creating better opportunities for underprivileged children and disadvantaged communities through projects in the areas of health, education and sports. Virtual volunteers can leverage their creativity by designing promotional and educational materials, games and activities. Graphic design or artistic abilities are always in demand but this site really loves volunteers that think outside the box and create their own projects. If you have a knack for creating youth-engaging educational materials and activities or want to develop your skills in that area then this is the Quest for you.
4. Colombia – Virtual Volunteer Quest
Colombia’s education programs provide learning services in English and Spanish. They focus on bringing quality education to people in situations of vulnerability, which positively impacts the community. They work in a community that focuses on different areas, such as language learning, social projects, volunteering, and cultural events. Virtual volunteers help in the language area by tutoring English to youth. Before starting, volunteers can be trained by a social worker and supervisor to learn about needs and the areas of improvement that the organization wants assistance.
5. Costa Rica – Virtual Volunteer Quest
In Costa Rica, there is a lovely health program. This project is dedicated to supporting oncological patients by offering information related to medical services they can approach when they need it. Currently, the focus is on prevention. Volunteers can create unique ways to inform, educate and alert the community about different types of cancer and how to reduce your risks.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
