The History of MyCOE

The MyCOE program was developed in concurrence with the global ideas championed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa. MyCOE organizers aimed to involve secondary school, college and university students worldwide and bring down to earth the ideas of sustainable development by using geographic tools and concepts. Slated as follow-up ten years after the Rio conference in 1992, the WSSD presented the opportunity to showcase progress made in many communities as a result of earlier environmental efforts. The MyCOE organizers desired to create an international program that would bring these themes to light in local contexts, involve youth in geographic learning, and showcase positive results to the international community at the WSSD.

The result was launching of the MyCOE program in 2001 with the support of numerous organizers and sponsors.

The MyCOE sustainable development themes were selected from the 40-chapter programme of actions developed at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These 40 chapters, referred to as "Agenda 21," were identified as the environmental and sustainable issues that need to be addressed in the 21^st century.

MyCOE 2002–2003 Program

In the first phase of the MyCOE program (2002–2003) a global contest for student projects was conducted. MyCOE provided resource materials and mentors for the projects. Projects were solicited to be showcased at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, Africa (March 2002).

The MyCOE organizers have also presented student projects and the results from the first phase of the program at other important international venues.

Ongoing MyCOE Programs

In the subsequent phases of the MyCOE partnership, new programs are being developed and a variety of special activities are being conducted. These include programs that focus on youth and activities that support global partnerships about geographic learning for sustainable development. These activities build upon the first dawning phase and are geared toward meaningful outcomes for participants and communities. Program activities also are focused toward linking sustainable development, youth, and geographic learning with the various missions of the sponsoring organizations.