2010 Thematic Structure

This year the World Affairs Challenge will be asking students and teachers research the Millennium Development Goals.  The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals adopted by 189 nations (signed by 147 heads of State) during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.  These goals are to be achieved by 2015.

WAC teams will pick one of the eight MDGs on which to focus their research.  Teams will subsequently determine a specific issue or set of issues which is pertinent to your chosen goal.  For example, if you chose MDG "Achieve universal primary education," an appropriate presentation issue could be, "Challenges to young girls obtaining an education in Chad." 

Each presentation will need to address concrete strategies to help solve their international issue, thereby contributing to the world-wide effort to achieve these 8 Millennium Development Goals:

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

Goal 5: Improve maternal health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Download additional information about the 2010 structure here

Download the 2010 Registration Form here

Past Themes:

In 2009, teachers and students worked together to determine which of the three main areas they were interested in exploring: Social Sciences, Economics/Global Marketplace, or Hard Sciences.  Within those main categories, they chose a sub-heading, such as Human Rights or Energy. 

Social Sciences:

Human Migration

Human Rights

Research It!

Economics / The Global Marketplace:

Global Trade

World Agriculture

Explore It!

Hard Sciences:

Energy

Water

Investigate It!

Download additional information about the 2009 structure here

For the 2008 Challenge, participants looked at issues related to Global Health. Students examined the obstacles to and opportunities for providing adequate health care for people around the world, including the many related political, economic, social, and cultural issues.

In 2007, participants will discover The Global Marketplace. Students studied and analyzed the various dynamics of our global economy and the world’s increasing interdependence.

In 2006, World Affairs Challenge participants investigated Conflict in the Contemporary World . Participants acquired a greater understanding of the dynamics of conflict: the reasons that conflicts begin, the consequences that follow, and the organizations that seek to prevent or resolve disputes.