IVECA International Virtual Schooling

08/20/2026

🌎🤓🥳

"We are not just giving them answers. Step by step, we are helping them ask sharper questions. Effective mentors do more than provide answers. They challenge assumptions, encourage curiosity, and guide learners toward independent thinking. At IVECA, this principle lies at the heart of mentorship. Mentors become collaborators, catalysts, and facilitators of learning, empowering students to think across disciplines, cultures, and perspectives. Through the IVECA Global Youth Mentorship Program (iGYMP) and the IVECA Global Youth Mentor Internship (iGYMI) this spring 2026, university students worked alongside high school students to tackle real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The iGYMP and iGYMI shared a common purpose: connecting younger learners with university mentors whose academic experiences, perspectives, and guidance motivate them to pursue higher education while developing the confidence and skills to become global changemakers. By engaging with students regularly, mentors supported students' academic growth and demonstrated how intercultural learning can be transformed into meaningful action. They provided diverse cultural perspectives and ways of thinking needed to understand global challenges and co-create innovative solutions.

The IVECA Global Youth Mentorship Program (iGYMP) enabled mentors to asynchronously help students explore how food connects people, communities, and the environment. Students then applied science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) to design projects that make the world healthier and more sustainable. By providing detailed and critical feedback, the mentors guided students to narrow broad ideas into well-defined problems, strengthen arguments with reliable evidence, and develop practical, AI-supported solutions. As one mentor encouraged a team exploring the global kimchi supply chain, "Your project has a very strong topic... The next step is to narrow your focus." Another praised a team's understanding of the issue’s interconnected factors while reminding them that "AI is completely missing from your action plan."

In the IVECA Global Youth Mentor Internship (iGYMI), mentors interacted with their students both synchronously and asynchronously. While the iGYMP mentors developed their own projects to exemplify the research and design process, mentor interns in iGYMI dedicated their efforts entirely to supporting student teams. They also worked closely with the IVECA team to facilitate the program, providing continuous guidance, resources, and feedback throughout the students' project development. On Fridays, mentors attended guest lectures and reviewed students’ project progress. On Wednesdays, they worked directly with teams, facilitating discussions, recommending resources, and helping the teams refine project ideas. Their feedback prompted students to stay curious, think critically, and continue to improve their work.

One mentor inspired a team studying transportation inequality in their city to strengthen personal observations with official data, noting that "Your focus on the transport and infrastructure gaps in Incheon is highly relevant and addresses a very real urban challenge." Another challenged students to look beyond local observations by asking a simple but thought-provoking question: "Are young people leaving older districts mainly because those areas are pushing them away, or because new towns are pulling them in?" Such guidance helped students to investigate the underlying causes of complex issues and develop stronger, practical, and evidence-based recommendations.

Ultimately, both programs showed that mentorship goes beyond sharing knowledge; it builds intercultural relationships that foster curiosity, confidence, and mutual learning. The youth mentors captured this shared growth in their final reflection: "We have learned and gained so much from you as well. The skills and global perspectives you've developed here are going to carry you far beyond the classroom. Always stay curious, continue to embrace diversity, and remember that your voices matter in shaping our future. We are proud of all of you, and we look forward to seeing what you achieve in the future."

08/18/2026

🌐🇺🇳

When Korean students presented their ideas at United Nations Headquarters in New York, they reached a defining milestone in a journey toward global citizenship. Their journey began in Incheon, where ten students selected through the East Asia Global Education Institute (IEGI) of the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education joined the IVECA–IEGI Student-Led Global Exchange Academy (iSGEA).

From May through July 2026, the students exchanged perspectives on global challenges with peers in China while developing team projects focused on sustainable cities and communities. Youth mentors from the United States guided their work virtually before meeting them in New York, where the students explored the city and collaborated with their mentors face to face.

The students investigated challenges affecting Incheon and the wider world, analyzed their causes and impacts, and developed practical action plans. They interviewed experts, built project websites, created AI-powered chatbot consultants, and refined their proposals with international peers and mentors. These activities challenged them to think critically, use AI ethically, and develop innovative yet feasible solutions that place humanity at the center of technological advancement.

Their reflections revealed how the experience broadened their perspectives and strengthened their confidence in communicating across cultures. One student shared: “Through this program, I learned to see the world from a wider perspective. I also realized that people from different countries can work together to solve global problems. This experience made me want to live as a responsible global citizen.” Another student described a new understanding of young people’s ability to create change: “Before this program, SDGs felt like something only adults or politicians deal with. IVECA completely changed my school life by proving that students can build real, meaningful projects that can change our cities and even the world.”

In New York, the students connected their local research and intercultural learning with the wider international community. They met experts from diverse fields and presented their projects at the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum Side Event. For one student, the experience became a turning point: “Presenting our work before an international audience and discussing urban challenges allowed me to truly appreciate the value of international cooperation. Seeing our ideas respected on a global stage broadened my perspective and became a turning point in shaping my future aspirations. It strengthened my determination to become a diplomat… I am now more motivated than ever to continue studying international affairs and international organizations.”

Through iSGEA, the students came to see themselves not simply as learners, but as young people capable of contributing to sustainable development and international cooperation. Although the program has concluded, their journey toward becoming responsible, interculturally aware, and respectful global citizens continues. IVECA will continue working with diverse partners to create opportunities for young people to engage across cultures, address shared challenges, and turn their ideas into meaningful action for a more sustainable future.

Watch highlights from the students’ iSGEA journey at the link below.

👉 https://youtu.be/2pjkMqS-X-E

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08/08/2026

💡

08/03/2026

📣 🌎

“Even though we come from different countries, we all can learn from each other and become good friends.” For one Hi-Tech World School student from India, this was the lasting lesson of a semester spent exchanging ideas with students from Osung Middle School in Korea. On July 14, that spirit of friendship and mutual learning came to life during the Live Class “Youth Voices, Sustainable Cities,” as students shared months of research and discovered how challenges in their own communities connected across borders.

Over the semester, students in both countries turned their research into solutions of their own before presenting to one another. Four Korean teams explored challenges affecting sustainable and inclusive cities: the digital divide between generations, regional disparities, AI overdependence and digital exclusion, and the environmental effects of rising temperatures in Daegu. Drawing on existing initiatives, including digital-literacy programs for older adults, they suggested practical ways to strengthen current efforts, from helping older community members navigate technology and promoting regional culture online to advancing accessible digital design, recycling, and renewable energy. As the Korean students later reflected, “Even small actions can create meaningful change when we work together.”

Indian students brought their own research to the class, presenting on healthcare and education access, digital awareness and online safety, the environmental toll of single-use plastics and habitat loss, and gender equality, each grounded in a national initiative already tackling the issue, from the public health scheme Ayushman Bharat to the girls' education campaign Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. One Korean student, reflecting on India's gender equality presentation, came away with a new sense of how much everyday behavior matters, realizing that even students can help build a fairer society simply by respecting others and challenging stereotypes. Beyond the individual projects, one Indian student reflected that the exchange had taught her to “communicate with confidence” and appreciate “the diversity that makes our world so beautiful.”

That same spirit of discovery carried into the cultural performances that closed the session. Korean students shared a K-pop dance cover and a Nanta drumming routine, while Indian students presented a semi-classical dance. Through these performances, students encountered their partners’ traditions firsthand while taking pride in sharing their own. As one Indian student reflected, “Every conversation, activity, and cultural exchange gave me new knowledge and wonderful memories that I will always treasure.” Hi-Tech World School’s principal praised the “exceptional dedication, creativity, and teamwork” the students had brought to the project, noting that their collaboration had transformed their research into thoughtful and practical solutions.

As the session drew to a close, Osung Middle School’s principal offered a single image to capture the exchange: everyone gathered was a “global bridge” connecting different cultures, with India and Korea coming together to contemplate a shared future. The students had spent a semester exploring sustainable cities, but what they carried away from the session transcended their projects. As the Korean students expressed, “Friendship and cooperation can connect people beyond borders.” Through their research, dialogue, and cultural exchange, the students had begun building that bridge themselves.

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07/26/2026

🇺🇳 🎊

The first part of IVECA and UNOSD’s HLPF side event was a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when humanity remains at the center of innovation. From smarter solutions to flooding and sustainable cities to cleaner energy and stronger food systems, students’ ideas proved that innovation is already within reach. To make this a reality, we need strong partnerships and collective action to drive meaningful progress. Convening in the Ban Ki-Moon Hall at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, Part 2 of the side event on Humanity at the Center asked the deeper question: How do we turn possibility into progress, and make sure humanity remains at the heart of AI?

Moderated by Ms. Ediola Pashollari, President of the Global NGO Executive Committee, the session brought together leaders from the United Nations, academia, industry, education system, and youth affairs to explore the values, partnerships, and coordinated actions needed to turn innovation into sustainable impact.

Opening the session, H.E. Ambassador Agnes Mary Chimbiri-Molande, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malawi to the United Nations, reminded participants that technological progress must ultimately be measured by its impact on people and the planet. In a world facing interconnected challenges, from climate change and food insecurity to water stress and energy deficits, she emphasized that AI must be guided by “sound governance, international cooperation, ethical principles, and a steadfast commitment to leaving no one behind.” Her message set the foundation for the conversation ahead: technology alone cannot solve our challenges; it is how we choose to use it that matters.

Building on this, Dr. Hod Lipson, Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia University in New York, highlighted AI's extraordinary pace of development and its potential to address humanity's greatest challenges. While acknowledging the uncertainty that accompanies such rapid technological change, he urged participants to respond with informed and purposeful leadership rather than fear. His call was clear and memorable: “Don’t fear—steer.” Rather than fearing the future of AI, humanity must understand how AI works, guide its development with human values, and harness its capabilities to build more sustainable and inclusive futures.

However, steering AI requires more than technical knowledge; it requires values. Mr. Felipe Queipo, Communication Officer in the Outreach Division of the United Nations Department of Global Communications, challenged participants to consider a powerful question: “What are we showing AI to replicate?” As AI learns from the data and systems created by society, it can also reproduce existing inequalities and biases. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that diverse voices, including young people, women, citizens of developing countries, and members of civil society, are not simply represented, but genuinely included in the decisions shaping our technological future.

From values, the discussion moved to action. Mr. Juan Fernando Martí, Corporate and Public Affairs Manager of the Guatemalan Sugar Producers’ Association (Asazgua), demonstrated how innovation can strengthen resilience through the Water–Energy–Food Nexus. His presentation highlighted how sustainable production can maximize the value of available resources, emphasizing the importance of “efficient use” and the potential to transform agricultural by-products into renewable energy and other valuable outputs. He also explored how AI can support sustainable agriculture through climate data analysis, early warning systems, irrigation optimization, and data-driven decision-making, showing how technology can move from the digital world into practical solutions for communities and economies.

For innovation to create lasting impact, however, humanity must be prepared not only to use AI, but to lead it with wisdom, critical thinking, and purpose. Ms. Keunhye Park, Supervisor at the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education’s East Asia Global Education Institute (IEGI), brought this idea into the classroom, underscoring education as the foundation for responsible AI use and global citizenship. Through Incheon's Read (Explore), Walk (Experience), and Write (Engagement) Educational Framework and its AI literacy initiatives, she emphasized a simple but powerful principle: “Humans think, reason, and write first, and AI supports the practical process. Then humans verify and complete the task.” Her message offered a compelling vision for the future of education, one where AI does not replace human curiosity or judgment, but strengthens them, empowering young people to observe the world with genuine concern, ask critical questions, seek answers independently, and ultimately turn knowledge into responsible action for the global community.

The conversation ultimately returned to the youth at the heart of the event. Ms. Sudha Balakrishnan, Chief of UN System Coordination and Accountability at the UN Youth Office, emphasized that “young people are already developing and using AI” and therefore must be treated not simply as future leaders, but as equal partners today. Meaningful youth engagement, she explained, means involving young people in co-designing solutions, supporting implementation, and evaluating outcomes together. Her final message brought the entire session together: “AI is a tool, not the end goal.” Its purpose must be to improve lives, accelerate progress toward achieving the SDGs, and ensure that no one is left behind.

As the session concluded, a defining insight emerged: the real question is not simply what AI can do for humanity, but what humanity will choose to do with AI. From the possibilities demonstrated by students in Part 1 to the global call for partnership and collective action in Part 2, one message stood out: the future of AI will not be determined by technology alone. It will be determined by our values, our choices, and our willingness to work together.

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07/22/2026

🌐 🏙️

When young people from different communities come together with curiosity, purpose, and a shared vision for a better future, meaningful change begins. The IVECA Student-led Global Exchange Academy (iSGEA) created a unique space for students from high schools across Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea, and Shenzhen, China, to connect beyond borders and learn from one another through the shared language of global citizenship and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( ). More than an international learning experience, the program was an opportunity for students to exchange ideas, discover new perspectives, and see how their voices and actions can help build a more sustainable and inclusive world. Throughout the program, students explored pressing local challenges, conducted research, and collaborated with their peers and mentors to develop innovative and practical solutions for more sustainable communities.

As part of the program, Korean students participated in both in-person and online collaborative sessions, working closely with Youth Mentors from New York University and high school partners from Shenzhen to strengthen their research and transform their ideas into feasible, human-centered AI projects. Students engaged in weekly sessions where they shared lessons learned, exchanged feedback on the IVECA platform, and continuously refined their projects. The iSGEA provided students with a series of expert lectures and personalized guidance throughout the program, with mentors working closely with each project group. Supported by experienced youth mentors, students took the lead in refining their problem statements, analyzed multi-stakeholder perspectives, and developed action plans that addressed real community needs. Through the purposeful use of AI as a problem-solving tool, students advanced their initial concepts into practical, human-centered solutions while fostering critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, global citizenship, and applicable solutions for building more sustainable communities.

The program culminated in a virtual Live Class on June 20, where students presented four outstanding projects showcasing their creativity, innovation, and commitment to sustainable cities. The Korean teams proposed an AI-powered chatbot and website to support youth entrepreneurship and revitalize Incheon's downtown area, as well as a child-friendly redesign of public parks to create safer and more inclusive green spaces. Meanwhile, the Chinese teams introduced an AI-based water quality monitoring system to improve environmental protection and a sustainable resource circulation system designed to recover waste heat from AI data centers, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. Together, these projects demonstrated how young people can combine innovative thinking and artificial intelligence to design feasible solutions with lasting local and global impact.

During the Live Class, Korean and Chinese students and youth mentors actively interacted, sharing opinions on their solutions for sustainable cities. One of the Korean Students expressed, “To implement and apply our solution to reality, government solutions and advocacy should be supportive of the solution’s sustainability.” Also, Chinese students expressed that AI has developed rapidly nowadays, and it’s essential to create more diverse and contextualized AI by considering local matters. The Youth mentors shared their impression of the innovative works and solutions developed by students. One mentor reflected, "It was inspiring to see each team take a real problem in their own community and turn it into a thoughtful, workable solution." Another added, "What stood out most was how much the students grew as researchers and as collaborators, learning from peers across different cultures."

Building on the research and solutions they have developed throughout the program, participating students had the opportunity to showcase their projects on the global stage during IVECA's 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) Side Event at the United Nations Headquarters on July 10, 2026. By presenting their ideas to an international audience, students demonstrated the power of youth-led innovation and cross-cultural collaboration in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and the potential to become thoughtful leaders and active contributors who can shape the future they will inherit.

07/19/2026

🎉🎊

The international community faces new challenges and a defining paradox of artificial intelligence and digital technology. Advancing faster than our governance systems can manage, the world needs direct, collaborative, and proactive responses to the use of AI to put humanity at the center

On July 10th, ’s action-oriented High-Level Political Forum Side Event, "Humanity at the Center: Global Citizenship, Ethical AI, and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus for Transformative SDG Action" moved to examine scalable solutions. Organized in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations 주유엔대한민국대표부 and a robust multi-stakeholder partnership, including the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education’s Incheon East Asia Global Education Institute ( ), United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ( ), the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the UN ( ), and the Global NGO Executive Committee ( ), this event embodied the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by uniting education, technological innovation, and integrated resource governance to safeguard human dignity in a rapidly evolving digital age.

The first part of the event, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, highlighted actionable and glocalized solutions developed by youth leaders around the world. Participating in IVECA virtual global exchange, young innovators from China, South Korea, and the United States presented AI-enabled projects that addressed the key SDGs of this year’s HLPF– water efficiency ( 6), clean energy adoption ( 7), and urban resilience ( 9 and ). In their opening remarks, esteemed speakers emphasized the necessity of youth-led initiatives and the significance of their participation in events on the world stage at this critical time.

Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head of the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) opened the event with welcoming remarks, saying that “technology must be guided by human values.” Mr. Park underscored the importance of ethical AI, global citizenship and cross-sector partnerships, while acknowledging AI’s potential to support sustainable systems. Ms. Mi Young Jin, Director of the East Asia Global Education Institute (IEGI), spoke on behalf of Mr. Sunghoon Do, Superintendent of the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education, welcoming attendees and student delegations. Ms. Jin noted, “Even small ideas can make a meaningful difference when we cooperate,” setting the tone for the event’s meaningful discussions and impressive work students would present.

Echoing the welcoming remarks. H.E. Ambassador Sangjin Kim, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN, spoke on the importance of empowering youth as global citizens and active contributors to solving today’s complex challenges. Reflecting on the role of technology, he stressed that innovation must remain guided by shared values and human dignity. “The tools exist, and they are working. Now, what remains open is not whether we use them, but how, by whom, and according to what values."

The keynote speaker, Dr. Kaveh Madani, Director of the UNU-INWEH (Water, Environment and Health), highlighted the event’s focus on the interconnectedness of water, energy, food, health and environmental systems. Dr. Madani called for responsible innovation, data-driven decision-making, and global cooperation to ensure that technological progress benefits both humanity and the planet. He concluded the address with a positive sentiment, “With your help and all of us together, we can make AI and Nexus Thinking our good friend, the friend of humanity, the friend of future generations, and the friend of nature.”

Providing the conceptual foundation of the event, Rev. Dr. Brian K Muzas, Assistant Professor at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University, reflected on the 10th anniversary of the Gyeongju Action Plan for Global Citizenship Education. Dr. Muzas stressed that ethical AI must be guided by shared human values. Underscoring that “Our primary identity is human,” he called for renewed commitment to global citizenship education to ensure technology serves humanity with accountability, equity, and compassion.

These striking opening remarks drove home the importance of the students’ inclusion as future leaders in global discussion and their efforts in developing their projects from abstract theories to actionable plans. Representing their countries, the students were welcomed into the spotlight to share their inspiring work by Dr. Eunhee Jung, President of IVECA International Virtual Schooling.

Students of Shenzhen Middle School (China) addressed the significant environmental toll of rapid AI expansion. Their project focused on innovative engineering solutions, including a financial roadmap and actions individuals can take to support SDG 7, Clean and Affordable Energy. “Particularly in Shenzhen, the AI economy and infrastructure construction have become primary economic drivers affecting most industries and individuals in the city,” reflecting on both large and small-scale impacts. Student suggested “closed loop liquid cooling systems”, transferring waste heat generated by data centers to local residential houses and equitable, shared public-private investments.

Approaching the same challenge from a different angle, students from Hanil High School (South Korea) also explored transforming AI data centers into circular water–energy–food systems, emphasizing that we all have roles to play in the solutions. Through their exploration of the heavy environmental footprint of AI infrastructure, the team of high schoolers identified the high resource consumption and waste heat generation. Students thoughtfully suggested a digital solidarity fund to support sustainable communities. They emphasized that “we must harness AI for good while simultaneously acting as responsible global citizens,” linking technological innovation with environmental responsibility and the SDGs.

Similarly, the first team of students from IEGI (South Korea) who participated in the IVECA Student-led Global Exchange Academy (iSGEA) this spring, focused on Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) through their project, Start Young in Jung-gu. Addressing the decline of young people in Incheon's old downtown, they identified a lack of startup information and attractiveness for youth to stay, build their businesses, and contribute to their local community. This primary barrier to youth entrepreneurship inspired their solution: an integrated website that combines startup support resources, an AI-powered consultant chatbot, a policy proposal center, and the youth community. Their project was poignantly summed up: “Today, we choose to believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to build the future they dream of.”

Building on the theme of urban development and the essential role youth play as stakeholders in the future of sustainability, the second team of students from the iSGEA program tackled the challenge of limited green space by redesigning an existing neighborhood park. For the feasibility of their project, the students conducted field visits, community surveys, and expert interviews. Their AI-generated design–reflecting all of their research–aims to replace old-fashioned playground equipment with nature-friendly materials, expand green and ecological spaces, and incorporate AI-powered safety monitoring to create a healthier and more inclusive public space. By combining community input, environmental design, and responsible AI, the project demonstrates how youth can help shape safer, greener, and more livable cities.

Expanding the vision from just more livable to more equitable cities, Ms. Reagin Jones (Seton Hall University, USA) and Mr. Ricky Jang (Georgia Tech, USA) explored how AI, STEAM, and urban agriculture can improve food accessibility in New York. Recognizing that food insecurity is closely tied to transportation, infrastructure, and economic inequality, they proposed an AI-powered planning dashboard to identify neighborhoods where vertical farming investments would have the greatest impact. Rather than creating a new farming model, the project builds on existing initiatives by using data-driven decision-making to guide future expansion. “By combining AI, urban planning, and vertical farming, cities can make more informed decisions about where investments are needed most.”

Mr. Noah Zelkind, Chief of Operations at 80 Acre Farms, applauded and echoed the innovation and determination the students presented. Offering a real-world look at how AI has been implemented into essential systems, he shared the reality of scaling vertical farming from concept to one of the world’s largest indoor farming operations. Reflecting on the challenge of developing answers to modern problems, Mr. Zelkind emphasized that “sometimes improving each step is not enough–you have to come up with a new solution that can change the structure of the entire system”.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Peter Preziosi, President of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO), praised the event as "awesome" and "inspiring”. He highlighted CoNGO's ongoing efforts to strengthen civil society engagement through the launch of its Civil Society Media Desk and CoNGO Learning Institute, as well as a new report showcasing how NGOs worldwide are advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Concluding the event, Dr. Preziosi emphasized the importance of collaboration across sectors and generations to accelerate sustainable development and translate innovative ideas into meaningful action.

The first session of the side event demonstrated that addressing today's interconnected global challenges requires more than technological innovation alone. Instead, it demands ethical leadership, global citizenship, and meaningful partnerships across both generations and sectors. By platforming youth innovators, the discussion reinforced that young people are not simply future beneficiaries of sustainable development, but active contributors to shaping it today. The conversation continued at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, where representatives from across the UN system and other key stakeholders explored how international cooperation, policy, and institutional leadership can help translate these ideas into coordinated global action.

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