By Rosa Medina & Tina Harlow, Co-Producers of the World Hope Project

Gifted children in other countries have similar experiences to those in the U.S. Recently, a collaborative effort between the THE G WORD and the World Hope Project (WHP) opened a window into the experiences of seven gifted children from six different countries who conversed in a panel discussion moderated by Marc Smolowitz.

The co-producers of the World Hope Project reached out to some of the teens in the group who had previously expressed an interest in having conversations around giftedness. Time zones limited representation of eastern countries.

Those in attendance were:

  • Alberto (11) Chile

  • Anna (13) Australia

  • Joseph (13) New Zealand

  • Malik (17) Jamaica

  • Marco (12) Italy

  • Oda (15) Germany

  • Stella (14) Italy

Once we solidified participants, preparations were under way! We contacted our Italian interpreter, Lynne Romeo, who joyfully volunteered to join in the meeting. Each participant showed up on time, eager for this intriguing opportunity. They answered questions sent to them in advance allowing them to be thoughtful in their responses.

The children discussed the joys and challenges of being gifted in their own countries. Some disclosed painful experiences that they had endured as a result of their intense desire to learn and their impulse to ask many questions. They all longed for an educational setting that would honor their interests and desired ways of learning. They appreciated having opportunities to interact with like minded peers and adults who accept them for who they are and encourage them to pursue and explore their interests at their own pace.

After two and a half hours together, some of the kids did not want to leave. One asked if we could all stay on and talk longer. The greatest takeaway is that gifted youth need opportunities to talk freely with one another, share their experiences and be supported.

Learn more about the World Hope Project, visit: https://worldhopeproject.com

Rosa Medina is a bilingual educator with a B.A. in psychology and a Master’s in education from the University of Colorado at Boulder. For the last 10 years she has been involved in gifted education working to increase the identification of Latino students in gifted programs in the Boulder Valley School District and advocating for the inclusion of Latino families at gifted events in Colorado. Rosa is the past chair of the Special Populations Committee for the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT) and has been a general board member since 2015. She is also the mother of two profoundly gifted children.

Guiding Bright founder, Tina Harlow, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience in working with children and families. Her professional journey has traversed a variety of settings including outpatient, day treatment, residential programs, intensive family treatment, child welfare, private practice and a performing arts camp. Tina’s personal journey has ignited a passion for enriching the lives of bright children and their families.

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