Although the year 2020 brought immense challenges, there were several bright spots for the Global Youth Advancement Network (GYAN).  One of these was partnership with the Sunwah Foundation—the philanthropic arm of the Sunwah Group, a Hong Kong based international conglomerate. Key outcomes of the partnership in 2020 include: 

1. Establishing the first USA-based chapter of the Global Young Leaders Network (GYLN), and 
2. Developing the design framework for an interactive, student-led and digitally enabled Global Youth Center on MSU’s campus.

GYLN is a diverse, global community of outstanding young leaders between the ages of 18 and 25 who volunteer themselves to grow and develop global awareness, leadership skills, and commitment to public and social services. MSU’s chapter is open to all students who seek to improve their global competence. Through the network, MSU students are connected to other GYLN chapters in Cambodia, Canada, China, Japan, United Kingdom, and Vietnam. Achievements of the MSU chapter of GYLN include:

• A student-authored charter to establish by-laws and governance of the student organization for years to come
• Two student-led service projects—a video production on Digital Footprints to guide Lansing area teens in building a professional online network; and a health campaign providing education and feminine hygiene products to girls and women in rural Uganda
• Election of the inaugural GYLN Executive Board

The E-board election, along with the ratified charter, is an exciting signal that MSU students are eager to carry the chapter forward in 2021.  Below are the elected officers:

• Natalie Kagole – President
• Tomas Keck – Vice President
• Peyton Naragon – External Affairs Coordinator
• Isaiah Daik – Secretary
• Jason Choi – Treasurer

MSU freshman Peyton Naragon commented: "I love that GYLN is grounded in student leadership. This is unique because members have the ability to use their creativity to propose their own projects. From the planning to finance to public relations, there are so many marketable skills that can come from GYLN through our projects."

The Global Youth Center (GYC), the second major collaboration with the Foundation, builds on the aspirations and talents of the GYLN student members and is being designed as a place where MSU students can regularly encounter new cultures and perspectives. It provides both digital and physical spaces where international and domestic students can acquire global career competencies and come together to co-design, create, and lead intercultural learning experiences and projects.

GYAN, MSU’s Hub for Innovation in Learning in Technology (Hub), and students are jointly leading the research and design work for the GYC. To date, the team has conducted numerous information interviews and focus groups with key campus stakeholders and has completed the first of a series of participatory design workshops, which place MSU students at the forefront of the GYC design. 

According to GYAN’s Assistant Dean, Chinwe Effiong, “the global youth center is a positive step in the right direction that will enable MSU students, faculty, staff and partners to increase their global sensitivity and competence through cultural events, thought provoking dialogues, social entrepreneurship projects and collaborative cross-cultural research. We are grateful to the Sunwah Foundation for enabling this opportunity!”