GCT 01 – The GCT Institute for Cultural Studies & Global Leadership

“A flagship training division and leadership institute under Global Community Transformation (GCT) – International, committed to advancing intercultural understanding, cultural diplomacy, peacebuilding, global leadership, and international cooperation”

Coordinated by GCT – Norway In partnership with GCT–Africa.

Overview

GCT 01 is the flagship international project of Global Community Transformation (GCT), developed to foster a new generation of intercultural leaders equipped for global impact. Coordinated by GCT–Norway and implemented in collaboration with GCT–Africa, the Institute will be launched in February 2026 in Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda.

This is the first regional centre of its kind in East Africa to combine cultural studies, Scandinavian cooperation, and global leadership training in one interdisciplinary framework.

Youth Peacebuilding & Innovation Exchange is also a dynamic cross-regional initiative designed to empower young leaders from Norway and Africa through structured peace dialogues, innovation labs, and intercultural entrepreneurship. By connecting youth across continents, the program nurtures collaborative solutions to shared social challenges, cultivates leadership rooted in empathy and ethics, and supports peer-driven projects that promote peace, sustainability, and global understanding. Anchored in GCT’s vision for transformative youth engagement, this initiative positions young people as key representatives in shaping peaceful societies.

Vision & Purpose

The Institute aims to:

• Train future intercultural leaders from across continents
• Promote the Norwegian language and Scandinavian cultural understanding abroad
• Advance youth exchange, cultural diplomacy, and ethical leadership
• Create a platform for North–South academic cooperation
• Strengthen peacebuilding and social cohesion through cultural literacy

Defining Pillars

• Norwegian–East African Exchange Cohorts
  Structured leadership, research, and language immersion programs connecting participants from Norway and Africa.
• Scandinavian Integration Track
  Specialized modules covering language, culture, social values, diaspora engagement, and input from international scholars.
• Leadership for Peace
  A values-based approach grounded in civic ethics, intercultural engagement, and peacebuilding.
• Volunteer & Study Abroad Pathways
  Opportunities for Norwegian students, interns, and volunteers to participate in short-term cultural exchange or gap-year placements.
• Cultural Heritage Tourism
  A curated intercultural experience linking Norway’s diplomatic legacy with Africa’s cultural resilience and storytelling.

Focus on:

• Norwegian & Scandinavian language education
• Youth-led forum, projects and peacebuilding
• Creative media, cultural events, and leadership
• Intercultural learning and reconciliation

Target Groups

• Young professionals and university students
• Community leaders and civil society actors
• Diaspora youth
• Academic and cultural institutions in Norway and East Africa

Strategic Partners & Next Steps

We are currently engaging with:

• Academic institutions in Norway and Uganda
• Ministries of culture, education, and foreign affairs
• Civil society, municipalities, and cultural centres
• Volunteer agencies and diaspora associations

How to Get Involved

• Partner with us as an institution
• Sponsor a cohort of youth leaders
• Volunteer or apply for the first exchange
• Nominate participants or faculty mentors
• Contribute financially towards project development
• Donate language books and related items towards the projectt

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