Classrooms for Peace recruits teacher

OUTDOOR ED- Students gather under a walkway in Fiji. Gina Bryant, who teaches in an alternative education program in the Las Virgenes Unified School District, will be working in high schools in Fiji this summer as part of the Global Classrooms for Peace program. Teacher Gina Bryant won't be taking the whole summer off, although her teaching gig will have a different backdrop than the Calabasas hills. Bryant is one local teacher who will be traveling to teach in Fiji as part of the Global Classrooms for Peace program.

Global Classrooms for Peace is an educational exchange program that builds understanding between cultures and invests in neighborhood economic development through tourism.

The goal is to share educational challenges, help the schools become more established and bridge the differences in cultures, said executive director Lori Hall.

Bryant's neighbor, Katie Sanchez, went to Fiji with Hall last year. When Bryant heard about Global Classrooms for Peace, she started attending meetings, and before she knew it she was a board member and a teacher signed up for the Fiji trip this summer.

Gina Bryant "It just sounded awesome," Bryant said. "It's . . . an interesting, great opportunity beyond just regular teaching in the states."

Bryant teaches a high school program in alternative education in the Las Virgenes Unified School District. In Fiji she'll be going into high schools and working along with Fijian teachers. She's planned environmental awareness lessons to help the students understand conserva

tion and preservation.

"Fiji is becoming more and more built up with all the tourist activity," Bryant said. "They are just now starting to see issues with waste. They want to make the kids aware because it's much easier to teach them than to teach adults. We have lessons that deal with ocean pollution and keeping the reefs clean."

Hall said the teaching style would be noticeably different than what the kids are used to.

"Part of the difference between our culture and theirs is the way we learn," Hall said. "In a lot of developing nations, they learn by repetitive teaching. Here we teach many different methods, and we learn to teach more project-based learning. It expands our confidence in ourselves in order to do better."

Bryant agreed.

"We are not only going to teach kids," Bryant said. "We are also going to teach Fijian teachers, to demonstrate our techniques."

Bryant said she's most looking forward to meeting the people of Fiji.

"I hear they are really enthusiastic and welcoming," Bryant said. "I'm looking forward to working with the teachers over there and learning about Fijian culture."

Bryant has a love for tropical climates and island living.

"The stork dropped me off at the wrong place," Bryant said. "I have a real love for anything on an island. I'd like to dive (while in Fiji) and explore coral reefs. And Lori promised me I could jump off a cliff into the ocean. I'm looking forward to doing as much as I can do in the little time I'm there."

Bryant has been teaching for more than 20 years. She's a mentor teacher, providing support for beginning teachers. Bryant lives in Calabasas with her husband and three children.

During Teachers Appreciation Month in May, people can visit www.givepeacenow.org and donate to help send another teacher to Fiji.

The program is supported by the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Millennium Challenge Organization, the Conejo Teachers Association and Rotary International.

The trip is all expenses are paid, including airfare and accommodations. Trips are usually between June and September, but there will also be opportunities to go during Thanksgiving and spring breaks.

Bryant will be joined by about 11 other teachers, some from Tarzana Discovery Preschool and Taft High School.

Calabasas Mayor Mary Sue Maurer is also planning to go on the trip. The group will be bringing 200 computers to Fiji for the schools.

Global Classrooms for Peace has made a commitment to continue the program in Fiji for five years. They are also expanding into Tanzania and the Philippines.

"It's a great opportunity for the teachers to get to know the developing world and bring that back," Hall said. "It's important to expand our view of what other cultures are and to introduce our culture to the world."

For more information, visit www.globalclassroomsforpeace.org.