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:

• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) meeting in Milan, Italy (March 2003)
• National Council for Science and the Environment in Washington, D.C., USA (January 2003)
• United Nations Committee on Sustainable Development (CSD–11) in New York City, New York, USA (April 2003)
• ESRI International User Conference in San Diego, California, USA (July 2003)
• Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (March 2003)

MyCOE 2003–2005 Program

In the second phase of the MyCOE program (2003–2005), a variety of activities are being conducted including programs that focus on youth programs and activities that support global partnerships about geographic learning for sustainable development. These activities build upon the first phase and are geared toward more meaningful outcomes for participants and communities. Program activities also are focused and targeted toward addressing the linking sustainable development, youth, and geographic learning with the various missions of the sponsoring organizations.