Student Spotlight: Yasin

Across all of our programs, One To World’s goal is to bring people of different backgrounds together. We know that each face-to-face experience creates an opportunity for a meaningful relationship, a valuable lesson learned, and so much more. No one can better share how our programs accomplish this than our participants – so we’re pleased to share the following highlight of Yasin, and his recent experience as a Global Guide!

 

My name is Yasin, and I am from Islran, Kurdistan. I’m a first-year PhD student at Stevens Institute, studying Mechanical Engineering. I recently got involved with One To World after hearing about it from one of my friends who had graduated.

 

I recently was a Global Classroom Global Guide for the first time at a middle school program in Queens, where I had the chance to talk about Iran and the culture of Kurdish people living there.

 

Being a Global Guide was a great experience, especially seeing the structure and the education methods of the school. So many of the students are smart!

 

I explained the history, geography, and culture of Iran, and at the end I talked about the Kurdish people. I also had the chance to highlight a traditional dance, with the students joining me!

We also talked about the Urmia Lake crisis in Iran. This important saltwater lake has shrunk by nearly 95% because of water diversion for agriculture, drought, and other issues. As a result, there’s been significant ecological and economic impacts on the people living there. Through this conversation, we highlighted how much humans can impact the world around them.

 

My favorite part of meeting with the students was talking about my culture, and really teaching them a lot about the Urmia Lake Crisis, because it was so new to them! By talking about other countries’ problems, we were able to look at how we can prevent something similar happening here in the United States, or somewhere else around the world.

 

Learn more about Global Classroom and its impact by visiting our program page!

Student Spotlight: Building Connections

Across all of our programs, One To World’s goal is to bring people of different backgrounds together. We know that each face-to-face experience creates an opportunity for a meaningful relationship, a valuable lesson learned, and so much more. No one can better share how our programs accomplish this than our participants – so we’re pleased to share the following blog written by Shaheryar Hussain, a Fulbright grantee, about his experiences so far:

Shaheryar with his colleagues
Shaheryar and Enda with Sprintax colleagues

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern with Sprintax, a tax preparation service that specializes in helping non-residents in the U.S. The connection began through my involvement with One To World, where I volunteered at the Annual Fulbright Awards Dinner and met Enda Kelleher, a board member at One To World and Vice President at Sprintax. Enda generously introduced me to the Sprintax team and encouraged me to explore how my background in economics and data could align with their work.

 

During my internship, I was able to contribute to projects that focused on understanding the needs of Sprintax customers and improving their experience with tax filing. The work allowed me to strengthen my analytical skills, learn from a professional team, and see how data-driven insights can support services that have a real impact on the client base.

 

My experience with One To World has been invaluable in broadening my perspective, strengthening my ability to connect across differences, and reminding me of the importance of global collaboration in solving challenges. Conversations with leaders and fellow international students alike have deepened my understanding of how policy, culture, and education intersect, and they’ve also given me the confidence to share my own story in diverse settings. This openness to dialogue and exchange has not only enriched my time in New York but has also prepared me to approach academic and professional opportunities with curiosity, empathy, and a truly international outlook. Apart from interacting with Enda, I also had the pleasure of meeting with several world leaders through One To World, including Aaron Sack at Morgan Stanley, Omer Farooq at the Bank of America, Raj Seshadri at Mastercard, and Georgia Levenson Keohane at the SOROS Economic Fund.

 

I’m grateful to One To World and Fulbright for the opportunity, to Enda Kelleher for his guidance, and to the Sprintax team for their mentorship and support throughout this experience.

I’m the Map: Global Classroom Zoom-In Part 1

Now Boarding: Global Classroom Airlines Flight 2024-2025 with stops in Russia, Zimbabwe, Japan, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic!


As we mentioned in our last blog post, during the 2024-2025 school year, Global Classroom transported NYC youth to 49 countries across 6 continents (Antarctica is a toughie), all without ever having to leave their classrooms. We ran 338 workshops from September – June, with our 101 trained global guides making a lasting impact on our 467 unique youth participants. Our goal in this blog series is to take you on a similar journey!


Fasten your seatbelts, we’re now beginning our initial descent into our first destination: Russia!


During Kirill’s Global Lives workshops at the Facing History School and PS 303, students got a mini Russian language lesson, which means you’re about to get one, too!

 

Hi is “Привет” [pree-VYET]

How are you? is “Как дела?” [kak dee-LA]

I’m good is “Хорошо” [ha-ra-SHO]


Did you know that Russia has 11 different time zones? Or that there are over 100 different ethnic groups in Russia? 

Bonus language lesson: “Matryoshka” means “little mother” in Russian. Russian nesting dolls or “Matryoshka,” which Kirill made for his activity with the students, represent family, tradition, and storytelling!


Final call – now departing for the second stop in our zoom-in tour: Zimbabwe!


Zimbabwe, located in sub-saharan Africa, is home to 16 official languages, including American sign language, and to the largest waterfall in the world – Victoria Falls! You can also find the big 5 animals in Zimbabwe (lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo), so get your camera ready!!

Watch the above video for an inside look at a popular Zimbabwean childhood game that was a huge hit with our program participants.


We have reached our cruising altitude of 35,000 feet in the Japan leg of our journey!

During Hikari’s Global Lives workshop aboutJapan, students were beyond excited to see some of their favorite anime characters and video games, including Mario, Pokemon, and Animal Crossing! Did you know that origami originated in Japan? Our  students had a blast making their own original origami cats!


For her Global Citizenship workshops, Hikari’s issue of choice was food waste, focusing on SDG 2: Zero Hunger, and discussing potential solutions with students. 


We are first in line for departure to Amsterdam, the Netherlands!


Don’t forget to wear orange on April 27th, because in the Netherlands it’s King’s Day! 


Did you know that the Netherlands has a king and a queen? Or that there are more bikes than people in Amsterdam (crazy!)?! These are just a few of the facts that Sacha shared with participants while playing true/false and trivia games. 


For her Global Citizenship themed workshops, Sacha focused on a topic close to home: the impacts of climate change. Due to rising sea levels, Sacha explained that her home city of Amsterdam is at risk of flooding Students made climate protest signs Greta Thunberg style as their final solution-oriented activity!


Welcome to our final destination, the Dominican Republic! The weather outside is currently 88 degrees and sunny!

Batter up: the Dominican Republic! Did you know that the DR is the home of 100 MLB players across 30 different teams, including the Mets’ very own Juan Soto?! The DR is the lead foreign country in terms of MLB representation!


For her issue and solution-based discussion, Isselle looked at SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. She had students engage with tough topics through activities like checking the tags on their clothing to see where items were produced, and discussions about what we can do to create decent work at the local and global levels, including addressing informal economies and upping foreign investment!


Make sure to pack up all of your souvenirs and add your favorite memories to your scrapbook – we can’t wait to welcome you for our next Global Classroom journey!

Thank You to Jen Clarke

On behalf of the entire organization, One To World extends our deepest thanks to Jen E. Clarke, our former Executive Director who recently concluded a year of service on our Board of Directors.


Jen originally connected to One To World as a supporter in 2015, when a friend of hers served as a Fulbright Awards Dinner honoree. From that moment forward, Jen grew to know and love our programs, and was selected to serve as our Executive Director just over one year later, effective June 2016.


Jen’s international experience, including service at the Canadian International Development Agency, combined with her extensive fundraising expertise contributed to a number of major successes at One To World. This includes managing two of the organization’s top three most successful galas in the event’s 30+ year history, leading the staff through a logic model and impact data overhaul (resulting in a significant increase in foundation funding over the last several years), building the foundation for the brand new J-1 visa program (which was just launched in May 2025), and guiding the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic (including a rapid and successful transition to remote programming, followed by a return to in-person programming that reached pre-pandemic levels within less than two years).


Though Jen left the organization as Executive Director in February 2023, she returned briefly from March 2024 to June 2024 as Interim Executive Director, playing a vital role in continuity for the organization during a transition period. She continued to be a steady hand at our helm for the last year, agreeing to serve on our Board of Directors, as well as the Executive Committee and J-1 Committee.


Jen’s remarkable commitment to the mission, as well as her care for our staff and participants, is present in all that she has done for more than ten years of being connected to One To World. We are so appreciative of her vast efforts, and are grateful to count her as a core member of the OTW family.

 

We’ve put together a gallery of photos celebrating Jen’s legacy at One To World:

Expanding Global Classroom with a New Funder

One To World is thrilled to announce that we were recently awarded grant funds from the prestigious New York Community Trust (NYCT), including support from their Wheaton B. Kunhardt Fund and Edna and Frederick Weingarten Fund. Through this generous award, we will be expanding our Global Classroom program to two new public schools in New York City.
 

The New York Community Trust was founded in 1924, and their mission is to foster and engage in enduring and innovative philanthropy. With a vision for equitable and thriving communities throughout New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, their grant funding promotes collaboration, integrity, equity, and justice. We are tremendously grateful to join NYCT’s list of grantees and to have our work recognized as a valuable asset to New Yorkers in need by one of the most prestigious funders in our area.
 

Global Classroom is a beloved program, now celebrating its 30th year of operations. Learn more about this unique international education program by watching our video:

We can’t wait to bring our unique international education curriculum to new partners, and have a greater impact on local youth as they learn about the world and the wonderful people in it. Learn more about the New York Community Trust and their transformational work in New York City by visiting their website now.

Sharing our Gratitude to Robert, Danielle, and Kaori

From the bottom of our heart, OTW would like to extend our deepest thanks to Robert Lapiner, Danielle Li, and Kaori Uchisaka, who recently ended their tenure on our Board of Directors. They have been tremendous assets to our organization for many years, and have dedicated vast time, energy, and expertise that have helped us thrive.
 

Robert Lapiner was appointed to the board in December 2010 (officially approved by our members in fall 2011), and came to us through our member institution, New York University. In addition to serving as Board Secretary from 2016-2020 and as the most recent Chair of the Staff Liaison Committee, Robert has contributed greatly to our mission through his wisdom and enthusiasm for international education. Robert also has the distinguished honor of being one of the longest tenured board members in OTW’s nearly 50-year history. His dedication and warmth are immeasurable, and his presence will be much missed by our entire OTW family!
 

Danielle Li was appointed in November 2017 (officially approved by our members in fall 2018), and was connected to our work through then Board Member Claudette Mayer (now Board Member Emerita). Danielle also contributed to our work through the Fundraising Committee, and by offering astute legal advice and input. Her kindness and diligence have been a true asset to the organization.

Kaori Uchisaka was appointed in August 2016 (officially approved by our members in fall 2016), and came to us through our member institution, the School of Visual Arts. She has also served with great distinction as Board Secretary from 2021-2025, succeeding Robert in the role. As a member representative who works first-hand with international students, as well as a Fulbright alumna herself, Kaori has contributed vast personal insight that has informed and guided our work for nearly a decade. Her commitment and expertise have been vital to shaping our work for many years.

On behalf of the entire One To World community, we thank Robert, Danielle, and Kaori for all of their efforts and leadership!

I’m the Map: Why Dora the Explorer and Global Classroom Have the Right Idea

Sing it with us, “I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map!” Dora the Explorer has been a cultural staple across the world since her television debut 25 years ago. Although a little bit younger than our Global Classroom program, which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, both share the vision of “establish[ing] the importance of creating images and telling stories that depict the rich heritage of the global community.” Just like how Dora, with her bright pink backpack and, critical to the comparison here, her trusty map, empowers youth through her adventures, Global Classroom has the power to foster greater understanding, curiosity, connection, and community (and we even have a pretty cool map of our own, see above image).
 

 

During the 2024-2025 school year, Global Classroom transported NYC youth to 49 countries across 6 continents (Antarctica is a toughie), all without ever having to leave their classroom. 3rd graders learned Bhutanese scout yells, made paper Russian stacking dolls, and celebrated holidays like Holi and the Day of the Dead. Middle schoolers were exposed to global challenges like smog, rising sea levels, access to safe drinking water, and national sovereignty, all while participating in real-life advocacy activities! When asked what they learned from the program, one 8-year-old said “I learn[ed] about many countries – there is more countries and many cultures! I learn cultures and tell people about it – it make[s] my culture bigger!” 

 

This clear increase in intercultural appreciation, curiosity, and understanding wasn’t just at the youth level. Our international student volunteers (Global Guides) also provide feedback on their experiences in the program, and it is just as heartwarming to read, especially in today’s tense political climate (let’s be real, we’re all feeling the vibes here). Hikari from Japan commented after her workshop that “the most rewarding part of being a Global Guide could be that I could think about my country deeply. I felt it was precious for me not only to make a fun class but also to find my identity in the US as a multi-cultural society.” Every human involved in this program can feel how valuable these face-to-face interactions are in challenging pre-conceived notions and helping to build a more inclusive society.

 

So, to make a few changes to the beloved Dora song for our Global Classroom audience:

If there’s a place you’ve yet to know

I’m the one to help you go

I’m the Map
 

Stay tuned for future spotlight posts highlighting some of the 49 destinations we adventured to this school year!

Celebrating our Board Members

It is with a bittersweet mix of gratitude and sadness that we announce the end of tenure for three luminary board members: Elise van Oss, Dr. Sue Henderson, and Dr. John Allegrante. They have all been invaluable assets to our organization for many years, dedicating their time, energy, and expertise.

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Top Tips for Staying on Top of Your Finances as a Student

Money matters are a top priority for many students heading to university. But for those adventurous academics who decide to study abroad, it’s even more important to properly manage your finances. Not only will you have to navigate the nuances of an entirely new financial system, but there may be additional costs to pay that you never factored into your budget. In this post, we provide you with three top tips to help you stay on top of your finances from the very start of this new, exciting chapter.

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