Who Are We?
Global Citizen Journey (GCJ) joins hearts and hands across continents and boundaries. We are a nonprofit organization with a vision of deep, ongoing connections that build understanding and bridge cultural differences with bonds of peace.
Our Mission
Our mission is to answer the question: “How can we create a culture of peace and world stewardship?” We answer that by creating opportunities for this to happen, especially in places that are little known beyond their borders. Take a journey of discovery by:
- Becoming a citizen diplomat
- Being an active peacebuilder
- Meeting your global neighbors
- Developing your leadership skills
- Learning what’s really happening in our interconnected world from a grassroots perspective
Our Philosophy
GCJ fosters journeys of discovery, where people meet heart to heart. We are dedicated to BEING the change – the way we work together is as important to us as the work we do. We invite and treasure the energy and passion of all who join us. We aspire to work in ways that help us each to learn and grow, generate new ideas, facilitate choice-creating and transform. Passion, joy and interconnectedness are our guiding principles.
As a delegate, you will live and work with your host country or community counterparts, sharing your unique cultural gifts, learning from each other and finding the joy of common human ground. Together, you will complete a community service project and take part in dynamic workshops on compassionate listening, conflict resolution and other topics to promote cross-cultural communication and leadership development. As a GCJ sponsor or volunteer, you will be actively involved in the planning, learning and the stories that emerge.
Our ongoing international journey is Kashmir 2018. Other journeys will emerge as dynamic, new volunteer project directors step forward (perhaps you?). As global citizens, it is important to “Think globally, act locally.”
Villages of the Lake
Once you settle in, the fun thing to do is take day trips. There are villages all around the lake. I got to visit a number of them. In each town, the women and girls wear the beautiful and colorful hand woven huipil symbolic of their village. Everyone is very friendly – is considered polite […]
Encounters with Mayan Cosmo-Vision
As is common to human groups everywhere (at least everywhere I’ve visited!) –there is some competition and uneasy trust amongst various schools, factions or groups… So there are multiple answers to many questions about what is the Maya way. Some feel the traditions should be held closely, others feel it is time to share and […]
Second blog from Guatemaya: San Pedro de Lago de Atitlan
Hard to believe tonight is my 10th and last night here at the Lake. Time slows down and yet is also very full. I’ve just felt very present to every moment and reluctant to step away from what is happening to write about it. It has been a blessing to have several friends to connect […]