Home | Press Release | Participants | Evaluations | Kilimanjaro | Photo Gallery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Stuart C. Ross
ross+price communications
(212) 869-7323
stuart.ross@ross-price.com

WHAT IF TODAY'S WORLD LEADERS FIRST MET AS TEAM MEMBERS ON AN OUTWARD BOUND EXPEDITION?

* * *

OUTWARD BOUND INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES "GLOBAL LEADERS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW" INITIATIVE TO FOSTER GLOBAL COLLABORATION THROUGH SHARED CHALLENGE

* * *

INITIAL PROGRAM TO SCALE MT. KILIMANJARO IN LATE JULY; 14 EMERGING LEADERS FROM 12 COUNTRIES SEEK SUMMIT TOGETHER

NEW YORK, July 6 - Outward Bound International (OBI), the world leader in experiential, adventure-based education, has announced the first in a series of innovative programs designed to foster cross-border understanding, compassion and collaboration among next generation world leaders. The program, named "Global Leaders for a Better Tomorrow," was developed over the past two years by several Outward Bound schools and the Global Leadership Network (GLN), an Outward Bound alliance partner.

According G. Kelly O'Dea, OBI Chairman: "As our world continues to flatten, tomorrow's leaders need a truly global perspective, tempered with respect and understanding of other cultures and societies. Outward Bound has successfully fostered these values since its inception and we believe we have a unique way to help develop them with lasting effect."

The intensive three-phase, two-week program will kick off on July 19 in Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro region. The participants, emerging leaders representing every region of the world, will face a host of challenges together. They were recommended to join the expedition by senior members of several international organizations and OBI country leaders. Participants include:

• An Omani entrepreneur who is the managing director of the Fund for Development of Youth Projects;
• A Canadian program advisor to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), focused on democratic dialogue and conflict prevention;
• The former leader of Save the Children in Afghanistan, now working in employment creation in Kabul;
• A Philippine provincial administrator in charge of assisting an impoverished zone recover from years of civil war;
• The Executive Director of the Women's Aid Society of Liberia;
• A senior official in the Slovenian Governmental Institute working on issues of competitiveness, good governance and transformation management.

In all, the group consists of 14 participants from 12 countries, four OBI staffers, two GLN project leaders and two documentary filmmakers.

Ascent to Uhuru
Phase 1 is a three-day exploration and discussion of global leadership issues, principles and challenges, led by Mark Gerzon, founder of the Mediators Foundation and co-director of the Global Leadership Network, an international organization whose members are leadership practitioners from every region of the world. The seminar will be held in Arusha, Tanzania, at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Said Gerzon, "We believe that leadership in the 21st century will be built on the premise of synergy - that all peoples, regions and cultures offer vital elements to forging global solutions. Cross-border leadership, which embraces diversity and fosters collaboration, enables us to recognize our common connection, envision new possibilities and innovate new solutions."

The team will then proceed to Phase 2 with the ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro's highest peak, called Uhuru (meaning, appropriately, "freedom" in Swahili), applying those leadership principles. The trek will be led by Outward Bound International Executive Director Ian Wade, a well-known mountain climber and climbing leader of the successful Everest Peace Climb of 1990. According to Wade, "We chose Mt. Kilimanjaro as the first site for the program for its physical challenge as well as the symbolic value of its rapidly receding summit glaciers that are visible evidence of a major world issue - global warming - that we all must face together."

After their descent, Phase 3 of the expedition will feature a collaborative service project between the team and Tanzanian government leaders to benefit the local community. The entire program will be the subject of a documentary film to be shot during the two-week course. During the program, the group will also post regular updates on the Internet at www.outwardbound.net.

Towards the future
Following the Mt. Kilimanjaro ascent, a series of Global Leadership programs are envisioned around the world. These programs will be global, regional and local in nature. Graduates will form a growing group of enlightened leaders who will continue to interact with each other as Outward Bound Global Leadership Fellows.

The A.K. Watson Foundation has supplied funding for the initial program, but OBI is looking far ahead. "The potential of this new program is limited only by our ability to support succeeding expeditions," said O'Dea. "We will be looking to a few additional corporations and philanthropic organizations as partners to share OBI's vision and to help develop enlightened leaders for the next generation."

About Outward Bound International
Outward Bound International is a non-profit, global organization dedicated to experiential education. Its mission is to help people of all ages to discover and develop their potential to help themselves, others and the world around them by engaging in challenging experiences in new environments. Since its inception 65 years ago, OBI has become the premier adventure-based educational organization in the world. Last year, more than 200,000 individuals and over 150 corporations, governments, non-governmental and international organizations experienced Outward Bound in one of their 100+ locations in 32 countries across all continents. For more information, please visit the OBI website at www.outwardbound.net.

About Global Leadership Network
The Global Leadership Network (www.mediatorsfoundation.org) develops, supports and connects leaders who cross geographical borders, embrace cultural differences and social divides in order to create a peaceful, just and sustainable world. The network consists of twenty-two high level practitioners of collaboration, organizational development, dialogue, and conflict resolution. They come from all five continents and have worked in government, academia, and the civic and corporate sectors. Each member has made significant contributions to their field and to many challenging global issues. The GLN is a:

• learning community that supports practitioners from around the world who catalyze global leadership in their regions.
• development team for books, curricula, articles, training programs and support networks for emerging leaders around the globe.
• consulting collaborative that assists and advises individuals, projects and organizations seeking a more global, cross-border perspective.