United Nations Educational Pilgrimage

 

It is an educational program for High School Sophomores and Juniors. In order to be eligible you must be 16 or 17 with one year of High School remaining. The UNEP program began Oct 24, 1949, and in 2009 we celebrated our 60th anniversary.

 

Odd Fellows and Rebekahs (the women's auxiliary of I.O.O.F.) from all across the world select young people in their communities to participate in this program. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee for evidence of leadership, character, concern for community welfare, interest in world affairs and general fitness. The youth receive an all expenses paid trip which includes airfare, hotels and meals while participating in the program. The youth only need to bring spending cash for souvenirs, acquire their US Passport, and follow the rules. After participating in the program, all the local sponsoring lodges ask; is for the youth to give a report on their experiences.

 

We would like to highlight the fact that the IOOF does not advocate any political or sectarian belief system rather we believe in the diffusion of the principles of benevolence and charity. We would like to stress that this is an educational program and does not endorse any system of political ideology.

 

While the program bears the name UN Pilgrimage only 3 days of the 12 day trip is actually spent at the United Nations. The other 9 days are spent at US Historical sites and a few days in Ottawa, Canada. You can view the links below for more detailed information.

 

While on the UNEP trip the youth are given a speech topic and they participate in a speech contest. The winner of the competition receives a $1,000.00 scholarship to go towards their college education. For this reason during the selection process for all lodges the youth are asked to write a paper on any UN program or area in which they have provided aide. In some cases they are asked to give a speech as a way to help prepare them for the speech contest they will participate in on the trip. The speech competition is mandatory for all participants of the UNEP program. 

 

There is no cost to the student for the trip, they are only required to pay for their baggage, passport and spending money for incidentals. It is a fully paid scholarship however, we welcome donations; it costs us about $2,000.00 for each delegate we send. We would like to make this opportunity available to as many youth in our area as possible; please help us by making a small donation to the UNEP fund.  

 

Polytechnic Lodge 148 Selection Criteria