
Voices Against Indifference

A curriculum-based educational program, Voices Against Indifference (VAI) CONNECTS high school students with GLOBAL HUMANITARIANS who exemplify the POWER of the individual to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Each year, VAI addresses critical issues facing humanity from the perspectives of our participating humanitarians with the underlying goals of shifting attitudes, fostering global awareness and promoting personal responsibility among youth. Simultaneously, VAI builds bridges across cultural divides by bringing students from all corners of the region together for dialogue.
Echo’s curriculum serves as a substantive tool for learning for teachers and students. The curriculum is developed by students with input from expert advisors and shared across the region and online free of charge.
Our Curricula
-
Reinventing Diplomacy
This curriculum is a comprehensive study of diplomacy—its history, its various forms, and its contemporary relevance—focusing on modern global challenges: current wars, the disparities in diplomatic representation and the critical need for diversity in seats of power.
-
Ukraine: The Price of Freedom
This curriculum examines the history of Ukraine, the development of the war following the 2022 Russian invasion, and the implications for global resources, cultural dynamics, and international politics.
-
Living Science: The Aaron Ciechanover Project
This curriculum explores the life and discoveries of the extraordinary scientist Dr. Aaron Ciechanover whose joy in the mysteries and evidence of science is infectious. A 2004 Nobel Prize recipient in chemistry, his discovery of ubiquitin’s purpose has led to bio-medical advancement in many fields.
-
Ukraine: Calculus for Democracy
This curriculum offers an academic program covering the current situation in the Ukraine. It is a bold look at Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the history that led up to it, its impact and tragedy, and the involvement of International Actors.
-
Echologic: Our Planet. Our Opportunity
Focused on the environment and global warming, ECHOLOGIC is a unique curriculum that investigates the urgent issues that threaten our planet. It explores the impact of climate change, environmental racism, corporate and governmental challenges, public responsibility, the work of UNC Center for Galapagos Studies, and more.
-
Social Justice & The Media: The Nicholas Kristof Project
Including an array of articles that showcase the power and influence of the media, this curriculum shines a light on Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and author, Nick Kristof’s urgent and unrelenting call for human dignity – here in the USA, or anywhere in the world.
-
Justice is Not Negotiable: Dr. Denis Mukwege & The Panzi Hospital
This curriculum includes the history of Congo (DRC) and a comprehensive unit of Dr. Mukwege’s tireless commitment to humanity through the Panzi Hospital, with an emphasis on his work to heal victims of sexual violence as a tool of war. In addition, it includes information on the current conflict; student activities and discussion questions; chapters on global responsibility to intervene; filmography, bibliography and relevant web links.
-
Charlotte: A Tale of Two Cities
This curriculum focused on the economic opportunity divide in Charlotte and was inspired by the Opportunity Task Force Report, in harmony with Leading on Opportunity. Serving as the basis for a multi-year educational initiative, this material was taught across the region with the goal of 1. Sharing knowledge, 2. Engaging students across zip codes, and 3. Inspiring our young people to bring their well-considered solutions to community leaders.
-
The Samantha Power Project: State of the World Challenges & Opportunities
This curriculum studied the capacity for an individual to reshape the world against systemic indifference. Inspired by Samantha Power’s relentless dedication to securing human rights for the most vulnerable populations and nations, State of the World honors the rights endowed to every human life. This guide offers educators and students alike a user-friendly tool with which to understand global atrocities, as well as what we, as a nation and as individuals, can do to stop them.
-
The Cuba Project
This curriculum offers educators and students a tool with which to access a view of Cuba; its history, culture, people, and more. Our collection of articles represents an effort to educate about, and to highlight, multiple viewpoints of past and current events of this tiny island nation, 90 miles off the United States coast.
-
Ideology, Conflict & Hope: The Bosnia Project
This curriculum offers an academic program covering Bosnia and Herzegovina. The juxtaposition of the rich culture, beautiful landscape, and welcoming people, to strong nationalism and the needless loss of thousands of lives, adds urgency to the study of this historic land and its challenges and possibilities today. This collective effort does not presume to be the definitive word on Bosnia, but rather it is a gesture of friendship, a seeking to understand, a recognition of the enormous complexity of the region, and an effort to honor those who lost their lives there.
-
Economics of Democracy: The Ben Bernanke Project
This curriculum offers an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of a sound and just financial system so that all citizens have fair access to employment and the ability to support themselves. It covers Bernanke's life story, the role and purpose of the Federal Reserve, financial literacy for teens and chronicles the most recent economic crisis.
-
The Steel Butterfly: Aung San Suu Kyi & The Democracy Movement in Burma
For 25 years, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi endured house arrest because of her unwavering belief in, and fight for, democracy for all the people of Burma. Through her peaceful yet tireless example, Madam Suu Kyi has demonstrated the power of the individual to change the course of history. This curriculum explores the life of Suu Kyi and the history and culture of the Burmese people.
-
Democracy, Responsibility & Civil Engagement
A nonpartisan tool for teaching about global democracies, researching politicians’ voting records, facilitating classroom activities, understanding the five key election issues, and more. This curriculum was created with the hope that it can be a catalyst for close examination of the privileges and accompanying responsibilities of United States citizenship; and that it inspires the next generation of young Americans to exercise their personal power to make a difference.
-
In the Footsteps of Elie Wiesel: A Documentary Film Project
This curriculum sheds light on a journey of discovery as we follow two parallel stories – that of Nobel Laureate for Peace, Elie Wiesel and, at the same time, the story of twelve young students as they awaken to their own power to bring about positive change. As history and memory coalesce to inform the future, the audience is carried through time and space toward a new dimension of understanding.
-
"One by One by One..." Paul Farmer & Partners in Health
A testament to Paul Farmer’s relentless determination to deliver healthcare to the poorest among the poor, this curriculum explores the world of global healthcare and the work of Partners in Health, particularly in the Third World. It also features student reflections from The Echo Foundation Footsteps Global Initiative: Rwanda.
-
From Rwanda to Darfur: Despair, Hope & Reconciliation
This curriculum explores the urgent humanitarian crisis in Darfur through a comprehensive study of its historical timeline, the roots and consequences of the conflict, and the international efforts toward peace. Students will examine the genocide, geopolitical complexities, climate pressures, and the roles of major players and displaced populations. This resource offers a snapshot of the crisis at a critical moment, concluding with a forward-looking lens on diplomatic and military strategies that offer hope for a more just and stable future.
-
A Decade Inspired by Elie Wiesel
This curriculum pays tribute to Nobel Peace Laureate, Elie Wiesel, whose vision gave life to this organization. His tireless work for humanity and his extraordinary commitment to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Region through his role as Honorary Chairman of Echo, have provided inspiration, knowledge and hope to teachers and students of all ages.
-
Echo Returns: Young Heroes of Hope
This curriculum is a compilation of the stories of 6 Echo Alums who dedicated their life to humanitarian work. Each alum authored their section, detailing Echo’s influence, their humanitarian work and their journey. It is a testament to the power of education to change the course of lives, and create a future we can all be proud of.
-
A Gathering of Nobel Laureates: Science for the 21st Century
A look into the Nobel Prize origin history, and selection process, and a project that brought 6 Nobel Laureate speakers to several area high schools. This curriculum also features a work spotlight on each of the speakers.
-
Compassion Without Borders: The Bernard Kouchner Project
This curriculum is a study of the life and work of doctor and French politician, Bernard Kouchner and his founding of Doctors without Borders.
-
Environment, Poverty & Healthcare on a Global Scale: The Jeffrey Sachs Project
An examination of environment, poverty and healthcare on a global scale, and the work of economist and Columbia University Director, Jeffrey Sachs, to raise awareness and equality.
-
Truth, Memory & Reconciliation: The Wole Soyinka Project
A history of Nigerian politics and struggle for human rights, painted through the works of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
-
The Kerry Kennedy Cuomo Project for Human Rights
A study of the human rights work of lawyer, activist, and author Kerry Kennedy, who led over 40 human rights delegations in more than 30 countries.
-
Harry Wu: A Student Dialogue
A look into the life of Chinese-American human rights activist Harry Wu, who spent 19 years in Chinese labor camps, later becoming a US citizen and founder of the Laogai Research Foundation.
-
Voices Against Indifference: The Varian Fry Project
A look into the life of Varian Fry, an American journalist who ran a rescue network in France, helping 2,000 WWII refugees.