The Teen Summer Program, now in its 4th year, held June 29 through July 16, 2009, in cooperation with the family associations of the IMF and the IADB, once again proved that a few creative volunteers with very limited resources but enormous dedication and commitment, can successfully provide a life-turning experience for our next generation. Thirty-two teens, sons and daughters of WBG, IMF, or IADB staff, ranging from 16 to 18 years of age, gathered 4-days-a-week for a crash initiation into the world of international institutions of global development and finance. Thanks to the joint effort of many WBG, IDB and IMF staff, the teens learned about governance reform in Asia and Africa, the history of the WBG, the life cycle of a “mission” from inception to conclusion, rules of ethical behavior, IFC’s collaboration with the private sector, HIV/AIDS, Integrity investigations, and much more.

It was a chance for the teens to discover the working environment that absorbs so much time from their parents. It was also an opportunity to add an eye-catching entry on their CV for those looming college applications. But most of all, it was an occasion to meet other “third-culture kids,” to discover an immediate affinity with other youngsters who, like them, are global nomads and are straddling many cultures and hopping from one country to the other every so many years.

WBFN sincerely thanks all of those who contributed to this program, especially its chief coordinators, WBFN volunteers, Georgine Ahmad and Miren Fernandez.

The article below, written by teenager Arjun Awasht, is the first in a series of articles written by the teens for Mosaic about the program. Watch future issues of Mosaic for more.

On the morning of June 29, 2009, a group of 32 teenagers - nervous and anxious – met at a small conference room at the ground floor of the H building. They searched around the room with inquisitive eyes; they wanted to know these new faces they were seeing, they wanted to make a new beginning and most of them wanted to just do something for summer. All of this, as I observed, was happening whilst schedules and maps were being distributed and introductions were being made by the President of the WBFN as well as by other compassionate and diligent members of the WBFN. The Teen Summer Program began like this. It was rather interesting to see the various cultures that most of the participants came from. Albeit, such was expected, however, there were differences in heritage, lifestyle, languages and the like. What always amazes me about such multi-cultural programs is that no matter where in the world one comes from, one always finds something in common with the other person! While interacting and meeting with the participants myself, I learnt just how easy it was in today’s world to just go up and start a conversation with someone who might live 6000 miles away from you. The internet and other electronic media fascinate me at how they tie teenagers together more than anything.

After we shared a few laughs and had a few interactive ice breaker conversations regarding ourselves, it was time to head on for the photo session. There we met the warm and very inspiring Managing Director of the World Bank—Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She was very passionate about the work of the World Bank and was very happy to see so many teenagers enthusiastic about getting to know the World Bank more. The photo session gave the students another chance to share a common experience, one they’d all had since the beginning of their school years—long group photographs!

The lunch was where it became informal and everyone really started getting acclimatized to the ways of the program. They started to talk more over a delicious and appetizing meal of pizzas and fried chicken (the best kind of food that there is). Lunch was where discussions ranged from music to political issues. It was a time where everyone got an opportunity to connect with one another.

The orientation program began after the lunch and it was there that the participants and others present alike were introduced to the history of the World Bank—what it was, and is today, along with facts about how it is run and how it really works to alleviate poverty, its main mission. Everyone listened intently and tried to understand the different departments mentioned and some even finally understood what their parents really do.

It was an educational and a productive way in many senses. I think the key word to describe the basic nature of the day’s program was—relationships. How they were created in a short span of a few hours and how they may hopefully sustain for a much longer period.

by Arjun Awasht