2022-2023 High School Membership

Why Join?  The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to informing and engaging people of all ages on matters of national and international significance.  The Council’s education programs aim to:

• Expand students' knowledge of and engagement with global affairs topics such as world geography, cultures, economics, languages and international relations.
• Increase students' ability to understand and recognize emerging transnational issues from a range of perspectives;
• Help students develop the critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills, as well as confidence needed to succeed in a competitive global economy; and
• Enhance students' opportunities to work creatively and collaboratively across local and global borders.

Questions? Reach out to Geoffrey Quinn, Director of Education High School Programs, at gquinn@wacphila.org or 215-561-4700 ext. 207

Program Offerings

Signature Simulation Programs

The Council is planning two large-scale simulations (role-playing) programs for the 2022-2023 academic year. Both of these programs will have in-person and virtual offerings, with the ability to adapt all programming to the virtual setting if necessary. 

This Fall, the World Affairs Council will run a Model Senate program with students taking leadership roles as Senators, Expert Witnesses and Journalists! This program will simulate the legislative, debate, and bargaining processes in the United States Senate. 

In the Spring of 2023, the Council's signature Global Economic Forum will return with students creating policy solutions to new threats emerging in the United States and the world.

Citizen Diplomat Academy

The Citizen Diplomat Academy introduces high school students to new friends globally through a live, virtual, international exchange program. Students learn to be a Citizen Diplomat and apply the core skills of diplomacy, cross-cultural dialogue, STEM entrepreneurship, and social innovation from a rotating group of instructors from the top universities, start-up businesses, innovation labs, and cultural institutions in Philadelphia and around the world.

Student Debate Series

Borrowing off both the success of the Council’s first ever virtual Summer Global Leadership Seminar for high school students and the Council’s Great Debates legacy podium speaker series, we will once again be offering Student Debate Series for member high schools. In response to a timely debate prompt, students will be divided and assigned to one of two groups (affirmative or opposed) and hone their research, writing, strategic thinking, and public speaking skills in the form of a debate with their peers. The Council will provide accompanying topic and group-specific resources for students to review prior to the debate.  A panel of judges will utilize a detailed rubric to choose a winning side and students will have the opportunity to earn individual awards based on their debate participation and performance. 

iThrive Sim Programming

The Council, in partnership with iThrive Games Foundation, will offer iThrive Sim Programming: a series of innovative, virtual simulations that are facilitated through a web-based, device agnostic platform.

The Council is now offering three iThrive Sim programs for member high schools:
(1) "Lives in Balance" - Students serve as U.S. government officials who must decide when and how to re-open the economies of four Southwestern United States during a global pandemic 
(2) "Leading Through Crisis" - Students play as members of the Crisis Management Team, a group of cabinet-level executives tasked with responding to domestic and international incidents during a time of presidential transition.
(3) "Follow the Facts" - A media literacy simulation forcing students to parse competing information while informing the public of an ongoing crisis.