Global Awareness and Advocacy Day

During the month of December Kuyper students put their knowledge on display during Global Awareness and Advocacy Day. The culmination and celebration of students’ poster presentations, Global Awareness and Advocacy Day is hosted by Kuyper every year to promote intercultural learning and understanding.

Students from the Islamics class presented on topics such as Racism in Islam, Indonesia and Dutch Colonialism and Influential Women in the Middle East.
Social Work students’ presentations included: Child Labor in Nigeria, Domestic Violence in Uzbekistan and Sex Slavery in Nigeria. Other poster presentations featured economic summaries of various countries and the sociopolitical effects of different types of music. Through the lens of cultural analysis, some students had the opportunity to study and make presentation on their own culture.

One interesting presentation focused on a generational shift in the United States—Generation Z, or Gen Z—the post-Millennial generation. According to the presentation, Gen Z is characterized by having a connection to the internet since birth, being raised in a post-Christian era, and in a sea of racial and ethnic diversity which makes them very open and accepting of others. In fact, only 55% of Gen Z in America are white. Raise raised during the War on Terror and the Great Recession of 2008-2009, Gen Z values stability and predictability. Gen Z also tends to be highly concerned about social and environmental issues and driven by the desire to make a difference in the world. As a result, they relate strongly to dystopian literature, like The Hunger Games. “Digital natives,” as Gen Z’s are sometimes called, spend most of their time with technology, at times resulting in impaired communication skills, reduced attention spans, and a spike in teenage obesity.

Students, faculty and guests were treated to other presentations during Global Awareness and Advocacy Day. In the coming years, Kuyper will continue hosting this annual event that both celebrates and promotes the College’s aware, active and Christ-centered community of learning.