The Media Education and Democracy in Action (MEDIA) Youth Leadership Exchange Program represents Project Harmony's first program in the Middle East bringing a blend of Internet technology, cross-cultural learning, and civic engagement to a new part of the world. MEDIA is funded by the US State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) under its Linking Individuals, Knowledge, and Culture (LINC) initiative. Project Harmony is excited to partner with United Palestinian Appeal on this exchange program.

The program is designed to provide students with a general understanding of mass media and how it impacts individuals, culture and important issues such as politics and democracy. It will not only introduce the skills necessary to critically evaluate media messages, but also will empower students with the technology and production skills to make their own voices heard through creating their own media. The MEDIA program will also strengthen the interpersonal, cultural and educational ties among youth from the United States and Jordan.

The MEDIA Program consists of the following activities: reciprocal exchange (April & July, 2006) between US and Jordan for 10 Vermont sophomore and junior students and 5 Jordanian / 5 Palestinian refugee students; extensive media education and technology training during the exchanges and through monitored online work; cultural presentations in host and home countries; a digital media project done in international teams of two and community service projects in Jordan and the US.

Project Harmony welcomes the participation and support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, The Star and Al Ghad newspapers, Action Coalition for Media Education, Champlain College, and others in the implementation of the program.

Vermont Teens Travel to Jordan to Explore Media and Culture Posted: 04/07/2006 On Sunday, April 9, 2006, ten Vermont high school students, together with two chaperones and a PH staff member, will embark on the first Project Harmony exchange program to the Middle East. The delegation will travel to Jordan for a three-week exchange program focused on media education and cultural understanding.

Teen harmony: Peace, technology, and understanding in the Middle East Posted: 04/07/2006 Reposted from the Vermont Guardian April 7, 2006 http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/042006/ProjectHarmony.shtml Two decades ago, the perceived foe of the United States and the free world was the Soviet Union, otherwise known as the Evil Empire. During the 1980s, it was the media that helped to shape the images U.S.