PROGRAMS OF CROSSCURRENTS

THE PROGRAMS

Since the founding of Crosscurrents, the goal of all programs and projects has been:

• to build connections and break down boundaries between people around the world
• to raise the level of awareness about critical world issues
• to promote peace and human development

All projects sponsored by Crosscurrents are evaluated against these criteria. The geographic location of projects is not a primary criteria. We believe that geography is secondary to fresh opportunities that may open doors to fulfill our mission.

Examples of Past Projects

• Crosscurrents has sponsored concert tours in USA and in Russia and produced three music CD's. The purpose has been to help people in both USA and Russia to become more aware of the rich history, culture and traditions of the two countries through the medium of folk music. Grenada, the Russian National Folk Ensemble, has made 3 tours to USA and Jim McCutcheon and Mark Tweheus, two American musicians, have toured Russia. These exchanges were arranged by Crosscurrents.

• Crosscurrents has sponsored a series of professional exchanges between regional newspaper journalists from Japan with their counterparts from USA. The purpose of these exchanges was to provide newspaper readers in USA and in Japan, a closer connection with each other, through the writings of their "local" news journalists.

• Crosscurrents has sponsored citizen exchange programs between USA and other countries. Hundreds of people from USA have traveled to countries around the world under the auspices of Crosscurrents and many people from other countries have visited USA. These exchanges have included students and professionals in specialized fields including medicine, agriculture, religion, journalism, banking, education, and business. In all cases, the purpose has been the same: to help promote an international climate for peace and human development.

CURRENT PROJECTS

It is common for Crosscurrents to have 3-5 active projects each year and to have another 2-3 projects in the "pipeline" of development. At present, active projects are underway in USA, Kenya, Sudan, Chile and Russia. We are exploring new projects in S.E. Asia, specifically in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.

• Kenyan project---Crosscurrents has been assisting the Maji Mazuri Center Children's Orphanage in Maji Mazuri, located in the Mathare Valley slums of Nairobi (Wanjiku Kironyo, Director) since 2000. The primary role of Crosscurrents has been to "network" the project in USA, raise funds for the work in Kenya, and help create new opportunities for future development. Over the years, Crosscurrents has played a key role in the completion of a deep water well for the Center, the development of a micro-finance program for over 400 small business loans, support for orphan children (Maji Mazuri Children's Home), and an HIV-AIDS education program. The Director of the Center has toured the USA as a guest of Crosscurrents, for the purpose of learning and sharing about the work of the center.
  

 

• Sri Lanka---Crosscurrents has developed strong networks with many people and organizations in Sri Lanka since the 1970's. Among these networks is the Subodhi Institute (Dr. Fr. Mervyn Fernando, Director). The Director of Subodhi has made multiple visits to USA for the purpose of helping people in USA to learn about Sri Lanka. He has taught an intensive course at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, on religion in Sri Lanka. He has written and published a book on Buddhism and Christianity in Sri Lanka.

• Russian projects---Crosscurrents was originally founded in the 1980's to promote non-governmental exchanges between USSR and USA for the purpose of promoting peace between the 2 countries. Over a period of years, Crosscurrents sponsored over 1,500 "Citizen Diplomats" from USA to USSR and 200 "Citizen Diplomats" from USSR to USA. Since the breakup of the USSR, the work of Crosscurrents in Russia has been more limited in scale. Projects have included the exchange of musicians for national tours in USA and Russia, hosting Russian scholars in USA for sabbatical research, arranging for small groups to travel to Russia on special visits, and professional translation of "official" peace-keeping efforts between the governments of USA and Russia.

• USA projects---Crosscurrents is based in middle-America. As a result, many visitors from around the world visit each year and experience another part of culture in USA, outside the major metropolitan areas of New York, Washington, or Los Angeles. Crosscurrents has a small facility for hosting international visitors, sponsoring seminars on different international topics, translation services, teaching ESL and Russian language, and supporting international students who attend Olney Friends School, a Quaker boarding school located in Ohio.
  
  Crosscurrents is also closely associated with the Dayton International Peace Museum that has the mission of education about peace and non-violence locally, nationally, and internationally. There is special interest in teaching children about peace and non-violence. The Peace Museum places emphasis on positive side of making peace, not on the atrocities of war and violence.

• Sudan Project---Crosscurrents has 2 projects related to South Sudan:
  

  • The Sudan TB Project is under the direction of Dr. Jill Seaman, an American physician who has been living and working for 18 years in south Sudan. She is often the only "ex pat" in the village of Old Fangak where there is no infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water, supplies, or access to the outside world. Dr. Seaman, who has been widely recognized for her work, provides medical care to people in the region who sometimes walk for days to get to her small clinic. The role of Crosscurrents is to provide logistical support, raise funds in USA, and help with the administration of the project.
    
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• Crosscurrents, in partnership with Bluffton University, sponsored an important retreat for Sudanese students who live in USA (April 11 - 14, 2008) The purpose of the retreat was to bring together people from mixed tribes who seek unity, peace and future development in South Sudan. We hope to facilitate the future leaders of South Sudan. It is expected that this group will continue to work together for future cooperation in Sudan.
  
  
  
  
  

• Chili Project --- Crosscurrents received a grant from the Thomas Jefferson School in Concepcion, Chile to help identify and send young people to teach at the school in Chile. These are young Americans who are preparing to become teachers in USA. They are selected to travel to Chile, spend 6 months - 1 year at the school in Chile and then return to USA, having had a rich cultural experience to bring back into their American classrooms. The role of Crosscurrents has been to identify and select these young Americans and to pay for their travel to Chile.

FUTURE PROJECTS

Crosscurrents International Institute looks to the future and regularly explores new opportunities for projects. Examples of current exploration include:

• Need to return to our "roots" of sponsoring Citizen Diplomacy. Sadly, there is today a rising tension between the governments of Russia and USA that carries the risk of escalating old Cold War policies. This must be addressed by people-to-people diplomacy. Governments often seem unable and unwilling to promote global unity and cooperation for all people.
  
• Further, there is widespread negative perception around the world against USA, largely due to the war in Iraq. Again, there is urgent need for private citizens from USA to meet with their counterparts in countries like Iran and Syria and other Middle East countries. Citizen Diplomacy relates direct to international peace and understanding. As President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, "I believe that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it."

• Exploration of new program in Vietnam---Crosscurrents has had long association with people and organizations in Vietnam. On a recent visit to Vietnam, many fresh ideas were discussed for new programs. One example of possible program---the quality of current research in biotechnology in Vietnam is on the cutting-edge in the world. The Vietnamese scientists want to connect with their counterparts in USA. Crosscurrents has these contacts in both USA and Vietnam and could facilitate these future exchanges.

• Role of religion in culture and society---Crosscurrents is interested in interfaith dialogue and the impact of religion and culture in society. Religion is important in the lives of millions of people in the world and yet, many academics and journalists and government officials give little attention to religion. Religions help shape values and ethics. Religions shape national culture and indirectly shape national politics. Through history religions have had both positive and negative impacts on society. Religions have caused wars and peace. Religions have supported violence and non-violence. Religions have supported slavery and freedom of slaves. The listing of such opposite values is endless. We need to learn and listen and become better informed about the role of religion in our contemporary global world. How do we work with religious leaders to address issues such as economic poverty, war, health care and food security in the world? Crosscurrents is exploring these questions with the Institute for the Study of Religion, Culture and Peace at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand and with the Subodhi Institute in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  
• Crosscurrents expects to take a small group of participants to Japan in October 2008 to attend the conference for International Peace Museums. This project will be in cooperation with the Dayton International Peace Museum.

Crosscurrents International Institute
7122 Hardin-Wapak Road
Sidney, Ohio 45365
TEL: 937/492-0407 FAX: 937/492-0497
E-mail: cci@bright.net