FIRST Global is the world’s response to urgent challenges that require a global solution. Today’s challenges do not stop in one community, one province, or one country. Global problems call for international efforts to develop innovations and the will to apply them. There is a needed role for every citizen in every country. FIRST Global is leading a movement to promote global collaboration and interdependence.
Below are FIRST Global’s Declaration of Interdependence and its accompanying Bill of Responsibilities. Together, these documents represent the foundational credo of FIRST Global: we are a community dedicated to the cooperative pursuit of a more peaceful world, achieved by innovating together to ensure the life, liberty, success, advancement, and happiness of all who share our planet.
We ask that all FIRST Global students, mentors, volunteers, and supporters read these documents and recommit themselves to the values they uphold. They are more than just words on paper; they are a visible commitment to interdependence and the responsibilities we all have to one another.
Watch the video below to see the next generation of STEM leaders commit themselves to these principles and the pursuit of Coopertition®, Gracious Professionalism®, and STEM education for a better world.
We the people of FIRST Global – the students, teachers, the mentors, the sponsors, and their supporters – declare that the time has come for the world to recognize our interdependence on one another, and accordingly invite our fellow human beings to join us in working together to improve life on our planet for ourselves and future generations.
FIRST Global believes that all people have special gifts that make them innovators. Planet Earth’s problems cannot be solved by one individual or one nation. But when we work together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish – and we can share the benefits of our new inventions with the world.
By sharing and celebrating our common understanding of science and technology, FIRST Global is devoted to cooperative pursuit of a more peaceful world by innovating together to ensure the life, liberty, success, advancement, achievement, and happiness of others.
To secure the pursuit of these goals, the people of FIRST Global now declare the following guiding principles:
Therefore, we proclaim this Declaration of Interdependence, and, with common understanding and appreciation of the urgent need for one another in the quest to improve the human condition today and in the future, formally recognize our dependence on each other – and invite others to join us.
In furtherance and support of the Declaration of Interdependence adopted by the people of FIRST Global – and appealing to our best natures and biggest dreams – we enthusiastically and confidently announce that with great power comes great responsibility. All of us have responsibilities: to ourselves, to each other, and to future generations. Accordingly, we mutually pledge to each other our inspiration, our empathy, and our understanding of the responsibilities set forth below.
Gracious Professionalism®Professionnalisme Gracieux) est une façon de faire les choses qui encourage le travail de qualité, met l'accent sur la valeur des autres, et respecte les individus et la communauté. Avec le Gracious Professionalism®, la concurrence féroce et le bénéfice mutuel ne sont pas des notions distinctes. Les professionnels courtois apprennent et rivalisent d'ardeur, mais se traitent mutuellement avec respect et gentillesse. Ils évitent de traiter les autres comme des perdants. Il n'y a pas de mots durs, mais pas non plus de platitudes douces et collantes. Au contraire, la connaissance, la compétence et l'empathie se mélangent confortablement. À long terme, le Gracious Professionalism® fait partie de la quête d'une vie pleine de sens. On peut contribuer à la société et avoir la satisfaction de savoir que l'on a agi avec intégrité et sensibilité.
Coopertition® (concours coopératif) est une façon de faire preuve d'une gentillesse et d'un respect sans réserve face à une concurrence féroce. Les équipes peuvent et doivent s'aider et coopérer les unes avec les autres, même si elles sont en compétition. Nous apprenons de nos coéquipiers et nous enseignons à nos coéquipiers. Nous apprenons des mentors. Nous gérons et sommes gérés. Nous sommes toujours en compétition, mais nous aidons et habilitons les autres quand nous le pouvons.
Nous exprimons les philosophies du Gracious Professionalism® et Coopertition® à travers nos Valeurs Fondamentales: