The Importance of a Global Citizenship Education

Global Citizenship Education – Live Virtual Workshop

Global Citizenship Education aims to empower learners of all ages

Building peace in the minds of men and women

Throughout human history, we have always organized ourselves into groups and communities that share similar values, ideas, culture, and an overall identities. This, in turn, helped and still helps shape our needs economically, politically, religiously, and socially. But in the 21st century, as the world has fewer physical and communication barriers, we’ve seen a rise in higher demand for global engagement, resulting in global citizens who crave a sense of belonging to a world community rather than a small, local one.

In the classroom, students can start to face issues of global independence through an economics course, diversity of identities and cultures in a history course, sustainable development in an environmental science course, and more. Classes that allow for varied learning methods such as debate and role-playing are becoming an increasing necessity for your basic school curriculum.

As a result, students learn to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens, and effective contributors. All in all, this will allow students to explore, develop and express their values and opinions. They will increase their listening and respecting skills of others and their opinions and be able to make informed choices that not only affect them but others as well.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences, and culture.

Global Citizenship Education (GCED) is, for example, one of UNESCO’s responses to human rights violations, inequality, and poverty challenges. It works by empowering learners of all ages to understand that these are global, not local issues and to become active promoters of more peaceful, tolerant, inclusive, secure, and sustainable societies.

Learning to live together in peace through Global Citizenship Education

GCED is a strategic area of UNESCO’s Education Sector programme and builds on the work of Peace and Human Rights Education. It aims to instill in learners the values, attitudes, and behaviors that support responsible global citizenship: creativity, innovation, and commitment to peace, human rights, and sustainable development.

Here are the three tips of being a global citizen for all of us to understand, participate and treat others to make this world a better place.

You become more aware

A global citizen is aware that we live in an interconnected web where many of our actions and choices affect those locally, nationally and many times even internationally. They can respect themselves as well as others, regardless of where they live.

A result of thinking globally means you’ll see more people advocate for serious issues. Some of these matters could include human rights, religious pluralism, gender equity, the rule of law, environmental protection, sustainable economic growth, and poverty alleviation.

You participate in the community

Generally, a global citizen tries to have an understanding of how the world works and tries to stay well-informed. They participate in the community at a range of levels from the local to the global and are willing to act to make the world a more equitable and sustainable place. That’s where the youth come in.

You become a problem-solver

With a global citizenship education, young people can solve problems, make decisions, think critically, communicate ideas effectively and work well with others. This not only helps them personally and educationally but eventually professionally as well. Thus, global education in the classroom is paramount. You have several opportunities to be flexible, creative, and proactive.

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