Reaching Across Our Borders for World Peace A joint initiative of the UNESCO Associated Schools...

Reaching Across Our Borders for World Peace

A joint initiative of the UNESCO

Associated Schools Project

Network and Rotary

International. Ira Udow, Rotary International District 5550 WPP, August 21,

2013

UNESCO Associated Schools Network

UNESCO HistoryCreated in 1946 following World War II;

Meant to embody a genuine culture of peace and prevent

another world war;

Canada was one of first 20 countries to ratify and sign the

UN Constitution

Overarching Goal:

“To build peace in the

minds of men.”

UN Constitution 1945“Since wars begin

in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men

that the defenses of peace must be constructed.”

UNESCO Vision“To promote collaboration among the nations

through education, science, and culture, and

to further universal respect for justice, for the

rule of law, and for human rights and

fundamental freedoms, which are affirmed for

the peoples of the world, without distinction of

race, sex, language or religion.”

UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network

The network provides a forum for the

promotion of UNESCO ideals of

Global Citizenship, Social Justice, Student

Leadership Democracy, Human Rights,

Solidarity, and Mutual Understanding.

Canadian ASPnet is Launched in Manitoba, January 2002

"The Canadian Commission for UNESCO is pleased the Province of

Manitoba has taken the initiative and launched the first network of

Associated Schools in Canada,” (David Walden CCU Secretary General)

"UNESCO has played an important role on the global stage for many years.

By becoming involved in this program, Manitoba youth will have an

excellent opportunity to develop a global perspective and enhance their

understanding of world issues.” (Drew Caldwell, Minister of Education)

UNESCO InternationalNational and Local Network

Director General – Irina Bokova, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris

Secretary General – Myriam Montrat, Canadian Commission, Ottawa

National Coordinator - Marie-Christine Lecompte, Canadian Commission, Ottawa

National Steering Committee – Robert Mazzota, Alberta

Canadian Sectoral Commission on Education – Gareth Neufeld, Manitoba

Provincial Coordinator – Linda Mlodzinski, Social Studies Consultant, Manitoba Education

Provincial Chair – Ira Udow, Manitoba

Manitoba UNESCO Associated Schools

Al Hijra Islamic School

Beausejour Early Years School

Brock Corydon English/Hebrew

Bilingual School

Collège Jeanne Sauvé

Collège Louis Riel

Collège Pierre-Elliot-Trudeau

Ecole Churchill High School

Ecole Laura Secord School

Ecole Golden Gate School

John Pritchard School

Munroe Junior High

Niji Mahkwa Aboriginal School

Onanole Elementary School

River East Collegiate

Stevenson-Britannia Adult Literacy

Program, Inc.

St. Emile Catholic School

St. James Collegiate

Vincent Massey Collegiate

University of Winnipeg Collegiate

University of Winnipeg Faculty of

Education

West St Paul School

UNESCO ASPnet ExpectationsSchools that join the UNESCO Associated

Schools Project Network make a

commitment to support the ideals of

UNESCO through four pillars of learning

and four themes of study, in order to

contribute to a local, national and global

culture of peace.

UNESCO Pillars of Learning

The UNESCO International Commission on Education for

the Twenty-first Century advocated the strengthening of

four main pillars of learning:

Learning to Know - Acquire knowledge and understanding,

and think critically about our complex and changing world.

Learning to Do - Learn to participate effectively in local,

national, and global communities.

Learning to Be – Build self-knowledge and be conscious of

connections to nature and society.

Learning to Live Together - Learn to live peacefully with

others and to care for our common homeland.

UNESCO Study Themes

UNESCO Schools are committed to developing

curricular projects related to these study themes:

Associated Schools Network and UN

Priorities

Education for Sustainable Development

Peace and Human Rights

Intercultural Learning

Student Learning

Often learning is interpreted as the gaining of knowledge, values and

theories but active and participatory learning also encourages learners

to:

Ask critical questions;

Clarify one’s own values;

Envision more positive and sustainable futures;

Think systemically;

Respond through applied learning;

Explore the dialectic between tradition and innovation.

Cultural Diversity ProjectA Partnership of UNESCO Schools

One initiative that has been running for the last 7 years involves

these five Winnipeg UNESCO Schools:

Al Hijra Islamic School

St Emile Catholic School

John Pritchard Public School

Niji Mahkwa Aboriginal School

Brock Corydon English/Hebrew Bilingual School

Cultural Diversity ProjectGrade 5 students from the five schools

participate:

September – May: Integration of cultural diversity in curricular

activities

June: Cultural Diversity Workshop with Grade 11 and 12 Peer

Leaders

Grade 6 students from the five schools

participate

September – May: Integration of cultural diversity in curricular

activities

November: Pipe Ceremony at Niji Mahkwa School

December: Field trip to Houses of Worship – Church, Mosque,

Synagogue


This is a new initiative of the

UNESCO Associated Schools

Network with the support of

Rotary International.


Mission:

To extend and strengthen our mandate to support

global peace by forging new friendships between

UNESCO Associated Schools Networks of Canada

and the USA with the support of the respective

Rotary International Clubs and Districts beginning

with Winnipeg, Manitoba and Cleves, Ohio.


Significant people:

David Newman, Q.C., Counsel, Co-Chair Rotary

WPP.

Estelle Lamoureux, Rotarian, International UNESCO

ASPnet Conference Past Chair.

Mr. Bill Ratliff and Mr. Will Ratliff, Rotarians,

USA, $25,000 US donation for a three year pilot project.


Year 1 - Expected Outcomes:

Students will have an increased

awareness of the school culture of all

participating schools and will have

started establishing peer relationships.


Year 1 Strategies

Schools will have established school based committees which would include school

administrators, lead teachers, students and (if possible) a local Rotarian.

Schools will have developed a plan to increase school awareness of the program,

exchange of school cultural information and opportunities for developing peer

relationships through social media.

School team members will be provided with release time and use virtual reality to

communicate and plan.

Schools will move forward with one initiative to celebrate their newfound friendships.

A common student led plan will have been developed for the 2014‐2015 school year.


Year 2 - Expected Outcomes:

Students will have developed and implemented joint project

initiatives within their schools based on the UNESCO’s themes.

Strategies:

Each school will have a committee led by students and facilitated

by a lead teacher.

Each school committee will submit plans for three activities that

focus on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a

Sustainable Future for All.


Year 3 Expected Outcomes:

A common plan will be developed to support professional

development for teachers in education for a sustainable future

practices based on embedding the UNESCO themes and pillars

within their classroom programs.

Strategies:

Lead teachers will select professional development topics on the

themes and pillars of UNESCO.

Teachers will visit their partner school during the school year and

engage in professional dialogue and planning.


This project has potential

over time to spread

worldwide after initial

experience between USA and

Canadian schools.

The Earth Charter

Let ours be a time remembered

For the awakening of a new reverence for life

The firm resolve to achieve sustainability

The quickening of the struggle for justice and

peace, and the joyful celebration of life”*

(*Closing lines of the Earth Charter)

This is the promise of the Earth Charter:

By declaring what we must care about ...

By describing what we must do ...

By inspiring as many people as possible…

More and more people will care ...

More and more people will take action ...

More and more people will inspire more and more people ...

... to work for the wellbeing of all of us and our common home:

Reaching Across Our Borders for World Peace A joint initiative of the UNESCO Associated Schools...

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