FAQs
What is the Compassion Summit?
On the surface the Compassion Summit is a way for students throughout the region (and the world) to come together to share stories, learn from each other, develop deep knowledge of and plan for compassionate action. The 'deep dive' allows students to contextualize their role within their communities as leaders of compassionate change. In a deeper sense, the Compassion Summit is a venue for bringing the world together to speak of things that matter and, through collaboration, sharing and collaborative planning, create a more just, compassionate world, within out school communities and between them.
What will the schedule look like this year?
We are excited to work with a hybrid schedule that looks like this:
Feb 29- Mar 2, 2024 - In Person Compassion Summit hosted by ACS, Amman including Keynote addresses, Workshops, Community Connection Sessions, Connection Sessions, and Compassionate Action Planning.
What do you mean when you say "compassionate action plans"?
Keynote Address: Is an address given by three distinguished guest to help students better understand the real life work being done around the world related to compassionate action.
Workshops: Sessions related to skill building or collaboration typically completed by a variety of students from different schools.
Compassionate Action Plans: Plans made by the school-based delegations that are intended to be put into action when they return to their campus.
Connections: Opportunities for school delegations to collaborate with members of other schools.
Community Connections: Opportunities for students to engage with children outside the Summit.
What is the potential impact on schools after the Summit?
One of the major goals of the Compassion Summit is for schools to create Compassionate Action Plans that they will implement in their schools after they return. These could focus more directly within the school community or outreach to larger SDG challenges within the local community. As a result, compassionate action will become continuous and systematic within our cultures and school systems. This vision demands active engagement by all stakeholders.
How do schools select students to attend the Summit?
We hope to inspire compassionate action among our students. Therefore, there are several possibilities for student selection, including selecting from existing clubs and organizations such as Student Council and NHS/NJHS. Other schools are starting compassion clubs (Me to We) and selecting from within the club. Others are promoting the Summit across the school and selecting students via an application and/or interview process. We do hope schools will select students who have the desire to return from the Summit committed to implementing their Compassionate Action Plans in their schools.
Can students who attended the Compassion Summit in previous years return to the Compassion Summit?
YES! We welcome returning students. We welcome new students. We hope that returning students will share with us what they were able to accomplish in support of compassionate action.
How do schools promote the Summit to students?
Schools are promoting the Summit in various ways. Some are advertising broadly via their Advisory Program, others through their organizations, clubs and/or activities, and still others through lunchtime awareness booths/activities. Previous student participants can also be involved in spreading the word for this opportunity.
How can we involve our younger students?
The Summit welcomes students in grade 7 and above. A key outcome of the Summit is the development of a Compassionate Action Plan relevant to the context of their school community. This Action Plan often offers the opportunity for participant delegations to reach out to their own school community through hosting a similar event or appropriate outreach within their schools for students as young as their littlest community members!
Can teachers facilitate workshops?
Absolutely! Teachers from any participating school and partners of the Compassion Summit community are invited to submit proposals to facilitate workshops as these are a key feature of the event. The goal of the workshops is to deepen understanding of compassion as action, examine the concept of compassionate leadership and provide student participants with tools and processes to act through compassionate action. Teachers who are interested in facilitating a workshop (or more!) are welcomed to contact us at compassionsummit@gmail.com. All ideas are welcome!