Congratulations on the extension of the longstanding contract between your organizations! What do you think has been the most important aspect of your success?
Peg:
Thank you! I feel fortunate to count Mary as one of my dear friends, and I know she shares my pride in our long relationship, from both a professional and a personal perspective.
There are so many reasons that the partnership works, but if I had to pinpoint just one reason, I'd say that our goals align. Our common goal is to educate student travelers to help turn them into global citizens of the world—citizens with a deep understanding of issues and cultures and a connection to people of other nations that will serve them well into the future.
Mary:
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. Our two organizations share a common goal and bond that has withstood the test of time, moving ahead with the premise my grandfather, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, began so many years ago. He believed in the idea of "peace through understanding"—that knowing each other as individuals leads to the understanding of each other as people, cultures, and nations. It is by this understanding that we all learn how small our world really is.
Can you tell us a little about how your organizations are involved in making the world better?
Peg:
We believe in teaching the importance of giving back from an early age. Our Student Ambassador delegations meet together monthly to prepare for their journeys, learn about the people and culture of their destination, and select and complete a local service project. The end result is that our students grow closer to each other, learn more about themselves, and learn what it feels like to give back to their community.
Service is also an important aspect of our programs during travel. Students might help rehabilitate sea turtles in Greece; clear fields and cut peat in Ireland; or assist with dolphin behavior research in the South Pacific. In the United States, we work with organizations like MillionTreesNYC, Feeding America, Chicago Cares, Washington, D.C.'s Share Food Network, and many others to connect our students with local needs.
Mary:
People to People International (PTPI) operates a variety of worldwide educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs for both students and adults. Since 2002, we have been involved in the effort to eradicate landmines around the world. Due to the outpouring of aid from around the world, PTPI has supported the removal of more than 1,500 mines and UXOs [unexploded ordnances] in Sri Lanka and Cambodia. We also have a program, the Peace Camp/Global Peace Initiative, that brings people from all around the world together to discuss and understand current events and how they affect different cultures; there is a service component to this camp, along with conflict management.
We administer
Operation International Children, an organization founded by actor Gary Sinise (
Forrest Gump, CSI: New York) and author Laura Hillenbrand (
Seabiscuit: An American Legend). To date, more than 250,000 school supply kits have been distributed to the children of Iraq, Djibouti, Afghanistan, the Philippines, the United States (post-Katrina), and other countries. Our organization also gave support to Sri Lanka after the tsunami of 2004, providing donated funds that rebuilt three schools and paid the salaries of the teachers employed at the schools.
How do you go about selecting the community service projects and larger-scale programs to become associated with, at home and abroad?
Mary:
We have many ways that we learn about needs around the world. Our teacher leaders tell us what they see and hear as they travel abroad, and we also rely heavily on our chapter network and program contacts. Mainly, we ask that people associated with our organizations look to find causes that they are passionate about. In my own travels across the world, for example, I've seen firsthand what landmines can do to people and communities and have become passionate about supporting this important cause.
Peg:
I agree with Mary—we look for issues and programs that our people are passionate about. It is so impactful when we show people how to connect with causes, and what can happen when you really make a difference. That is the goal with all of our programs.
Mary, what do you think your grandfather would think of his vision today?
Mary:
Oh, I think he'd be very proud! He wanted so much for us as citizens of this world to understand each other and live in peace, realizing that we are so much more alike than different. He would be gratified with the community service that each of our organizations embraces, as he saw that as a true bridge of connection. My grandfather saw many parts of Europe after World War II, and it changed him forever. He established People to People to create tools for people to be good to one another, as opposed to what he saw. We have a proud legacy to live up to, and while we have work to do, I'm happy with what we've been able to accomplish so far. In summary, I think he would be amazed at both groups and would recognize that our very simple mission is more important now than ever.
