The Global Ambassadors Club has recently been demanding a lot from its members as they tirelessly prepare for the 2016 International Summit. With an approximate 20 delegations expected to be in attendance and seven Loudoun County schools in participation, this year’s summit could be the best one the Global Ambassadors Club has experienced.

 At the summits, international students from four different countries around the world (and counting) travel here to stay with some host families. The ultimate goal of the summits are for both the international students and the local students to learn the differences between multiple cultures and be able to connect with them.

 “I think… that it’s very, very, very important for everybody to connect individually and globally because that’s the only way that we’re going to erase stereotypes and stop thinking of people as strangers and start realizing that everyone is the same,” said Meg Seling, sponsor of the Global Ambassadors Club.

 “I mean, different languages, different religions, different cultures… those are side things. There’s always the funny kid, the prankster, the serious one, the studious one, and those go over any culture, any religions, and I think that’s really the most important thing to get out of [the summits],” said Seling.

 A lot goes into the summits, so the preparation process is vigorous. With meetings every Monday after school and occasional additional meetings on Saturdays throughout the entire school year, the members of the Global Ambassadors Club dedicate their time and work hard to make sure this year’s summit runs smoothly.

 “[Preparing for the summits] requires a lot of coordination. It comes with a lot logistics, planning, and it’s a lot of getting together with the other schools from Loudoun County,” said Seling.

 “Basically, right now we are fundraising in preparation for the summit… and trying to arrange places for the [international] students to stay,” said junior Amanda Bisnath, a Global Ambassadors club member.

 The club’s meetings focus primarily on fundraising; money is needed to house the delegates from other countries and to simply host the summit in general. The club is currently planning to hold a “rockathon”, where club members will get sponsors for rocking in rocking chairs for hours.

 The Global Ambassadors Club hosted a “rockathon” and raised over $300 last year. They hope that this year the fundraiser will be just as successful.

 This year, the Global Ambassadors Club will focus on multiple issues around the globe and how they compare at the summit. Ranging from gender roles to the education system, the members of the club are planning topics of discussion to ensure communication never stops.

 “A big part of Global Ambassadors is that we actually discuss different issues, so I think this year’s topics include gender roles in different countries as well as what they think the education system is like and what the should emphasize,” said junior Naqia Zaveri, a Global Ambassadors club member.

 The biggest reward from experiencing the summits is how much is learned about the different cultures. It opens up connectivity and diminishes predisposed stereotypes about other cultures.

 “I’m hoping to gain a higher view of the world and just know what’s going on in different countries,” said Zaveri.
 The members of the Global Ambassadors Club hope their hard work will soon pay off at the 2016 International Summit. According to Seling, their dedication and motivation comes from their eagerness to “gain a fresh perspective of the world.”