A macro view of the Inspire Citizens’ Global Citizenship Certificate

Emmett with his wife Shelly and two daughters.

Emmett Kelly is in a unique position to understand the depth of learning and reflection that is developing in part one of this year’s Inspire Citizens’ Global Citizenship Certificate (GCC). 

Emmett collaborates with Frankfurt International School (FIS) as a writer and media specialist, and is taking the GCC this year with the intention of observing and writing about what is happening. 

“My intent in taking the GCC this year is to document and write about the experiences that educators are having,” says Emmett. “I have gone back and read everything from the first three modules this fall and have created folders for each teacher with copies of their work. It’s so interesting to see themes and trends emerging, and to witness the learning journey of these teachers.”

In taking time to create this macro understanding of the GCC experience, Emmett is identifying and observing things that reveal how impactful the GCC course material can be.

“I’m surprised at how intimate it (the teachers’ reflections) can be,” he notes. 

Emmett moved to Germany 12 years ago from the U.S. with his wife Shelly and two daughters. His wife was offered a job in Germany at the Deutsche Bank headquarters and when his daughters started school at FIS, the school became a focal point for the whole family. 

“The school became the most important thing for us,” reflects Emmett. “Our daughters are now 18 and 15 and we decided to stay here because of the experience they were having at FIS and the community that exists in and around the school.” 

Emmett is a journalist and worked for NBC television for several years, even while he was completing a masters degree in journalism from Columbia University. In his late 20s he was working for CNBC in Hong Kong when he decided to focus on studying mandarin, which led to a communications and marketing job in Beijing before his return to the US. Since 2009, Emmett has been the primary caregiver for his daughters, and his flexible schedule opened up opportunities to take on media work with FIS. 

“Earlier this summer, Steve was here at FIS and presented at a sustainability committee meeting; my wife learned he was moving to The Hague and I met Steve there to talk about my interest in sustainability,” explains Emmett. “I’m very interested in sustainability and in being a better global citizen, and FIS is on this journey, too, with sustainability and storytelling.” 

Emmett feels like he is learning a lot, personally and professionally, through the GCC modules. 

“There’s a lot to think about with the GCC course material,” says Emmett. “I’m keen to write something about each module, which hasn’t been done before in terms of reflecting on the curriculum and the experience of the learners.” 

This past month, Steve and Ivy were at FIS and Emmett had a chance to shadow them as they worked with educators and students. He was even able to engage in a nature walk at the smaller FIS-W (Wiesbaden) campus and was partnered with sustainability educator Donny Hansen for a reflective activity. Donny is also taking the GCC this year and is a champion for innovation for sustainability at FIS. 

“It was a powerful experience, and I am doing some deep thought work around everything I am learning through the GCC and my work with Inspire Citizens,” says Emmett. 

Course 2 of the GCC begins on February 1, 2023, and is open for enrollment. If you missed Course 1 this year, don’t worry; you can dive in with course 2 and 3, or one of those options. Enrollment is flexible so educators can engage with the course in a way that matches their schedules and availability. 

In course 2, the focus will be on educating for sustainability, and will focus on things like community assets, student-centered learning, unpacking the climate crisis, living in harmony with nature, the economics of happiness and holistic well-being and inter-being.