acgc teach: autumn 2015
DESCRIPTION
ACGC Teach: Autumn 2015 Featuring an update on the Change Your World tour, professional development opportunities for teachers, information about the how to get involved in the campaign to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, and more!TRANSCRIPT
The following piece was written
by Deanne Savard of Peace River,
who was chosen to go to South
Africa this summer on ACGC’s
Change Your World: Alberta
Youth Leadership tour.
South Africa seemed like
such a faraway place before
our trip. It's hard to notice
how insulated your world
is when you are living it
everyday. In northern
Alberta, it's especially
easy to separate
yourself from the rest
of the world. The
world seems so big, and
that somehow makes your problems
bigger, too. Especially being a youth,
it's difficult to see how your dreams
could possibly come true when the
world is so full of people who also
have dreams - it's a zero-sum game
that you can't win.
Visiting Hamburg in South Africa
with the Keiskamma Canada
Foundation and seeing how people
flourish under hardships made me
realize how small
the world really is.
All of the
problems that the
people in
Hamburg face
seemed to actually
strengthen the
community.
Everybody felt a
personal
responsibility to
protect the most
vulnerable
members in the
village. Looking back, it's not that
people in Hamburg have a stronger
moral compass than Canadians do,
but here these subtleties sometimes
hide from plain sight. Being an
outsider in Hamburg, seeing these
dynamics, and then coming home
changed my perspective. Everybody
has these morals in common, and so,
South Africa isn't such a faraway
place after all.
I used to feel afraid of dreaming too
big because I didn't want to be
embarrassed when I lost. Since the
Teach the World’s Largest Lesson!
trip, success isn't a zero-sum game
to me anymore. The world has
opened up to me; there are
innumerable possibilities. Without
all of these new experiences, I don't
think I could have believed that I
could have success. Now, though, I
have never felt this excited about
my future or as motivated to do
well.
With a new school year
approaching, this trip couldn't have
come at a better time in my life.
International learning experience benefits youth
V O L U M E 1 1
AUTUMN 2015 A PUBLICATION OF THE ALBERTA COUNCIL FOR GLOBAL COOPERATION
On September 25th the United Nations will announce
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of
goals for the world that aim to make our planet fair,
healthy and sustainable by 2030! The SDGs are intended
to build upon the expiring Millennium Development
Goals, to finish the work that was started and to improve
upon the implementation. To help educate about these
goals, numerous agencies across the globe have come
together to promote The World’s Largest Lesson and
ACGC is encouraging teachers in Alberta to join in!
To participate in this global movement, teachers are en-
couraged to plan a lesson between September 28th and
October 2nd which educates their students about the
SDGs, and what they can do to help achieve them.
Don’t know where to start? Start with our two-page
insert in this newsletter about the SDGs and the cam-
paign, and follow up by visiting ACGC’s website. And
don’t forgot to check out the various campaign websites
below!
www.tes.com/worldslargestlesson
Pictured are Lasha, Reana, Sean, Abdul, and Deanne
www.globalgoals.org
P A G E 2
If you are an educator, student, or parent interested
in becoming a global citizen, or if you know of a stu-
dent who wants to help make change in the world,
join Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan
(CW4WAfghan) delegates on October 2nd and 3rd
for this year’s annual symposium titled Global Citizen-
ship: Partners in Education for Afghan Women and Girls.
CW4WAfghan is inviting students to join the chapter delegates and special guests from across Canada for
a full day of interactive sessions focusing on our roles and responsibilities as global citizens and discussing
tangible ways to make impactful change. CW4WAfghan has partnered with Heather McPherson (ACGC)
and Francoise Ruban (Alberta Teachers’ Association) who will facilitate a number of sessions throughout
the day to build upon the volunteer efforts leading to thoughtful and effective development work. Based in
an "active, hand-on" learning style, our presenters will challenge student's perceptions of “helping the third
world” and offer tools and connections to take action!
There are limited student delegate spaces available; please register early to guarantee a spot. Transporta-
tion information will be provided at a later date. Registration is free on Friday, and $25 on Saturday. Stu-
dents are responsible for their meals.
Visit http://cw4wafghan.wix.com/banff-2015 and facebook.com/cw4wafghan to learn more!
Join CW4WAfghan in Banff for Annual Symposium
Scona Initiative makes local & global impact One has to look no further than Strathcona High
School in Edmonton to see that youth, and schools,
can make a large impact on their local and global com-
munity. Over the course of eight years, students at
Scona have turned their motto, "As
One Who Serves" into reality by de-
veloping their Scona Initiative into one
of the largest school run fundraisers
in Canada.
The Scona Initiative is a year long
endeavor for the entire student
body, who collaboratively identify
and select a charitable organiza-
tion to support, as well as plan
their service and fundraising
campaign. This past school
year, ACGC Member Change
For Children Association was identified
along with Edmonton’s Bissell Centre, as Scona’s
partner. Through a 24-hour bike-a-thon with over
1000 riders and 100 volunteers, the students were
able to raise $352 000 to use equally between the
two charities.
ACGC Executive Director, Heather McPherson, ac-
companied Change for Children staff in June 2015 to
the Cuyabeno reserve in Northeastern Ecuador.
With the funds raised by Scona, Change for Children
will work to provide alternative employment and de-
velopment of the communities in the region whose
livelihoods are at risk due to development of large
scale mining and gas exploration. As Heather stated,
“After visiting the Cuyabeno reserve, I am certain the
impacts of the funds raised will be far reaching will
fundamentally change lives in this region.”
Strathcona High School students have shown them-
selves to be leaders in global citizenship, and serve as
a great example to students all across Alberta. Rec-
ognizing their efforts can make a great impact, stu-
dents have decided to create an application form for
non-profits to express interest in partnering with
them in their initiative this year.
ACGC is pleased to now have the Edmonton Public
School board as our member and in turn, show sup-
port to this amazing initiative going forward!
fundraise.sconainitiative.ca/ www.changeforchildren.org
Starting this fall, the CAWST Wavemakers program
will be offering an online course, free for students
across Canada! The Virtual Wavemakers Summit is
an exciting opportunity for educators and youth to
explore local and global water and sanitation issues.
The Summit provides educators with an easy-to-
follow, action-based curriculum that is designed to
develop critical thinking, innovation, effective
communication skills and global awareness.
Participating teams will be challenged to respond to
real-world water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
issues by designing and implementing a solutions-
based action project. This hands-on, service learning
opportunity provides an authentic experience that reaches beyond the classroom. The Summit provides flexibility for
groups to stagger their learning over several weeks while giving them the opportunity to connect online with CAWST
staff, local water organizations, and other Wavemakers teams across the country.
Visit the website to learn more about the Wavemakers Summit at
http://wavemakers.cawst.org or email [email protected]
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 1
Online curriculum fosters global citizenship & action!
Looking for a novel to inspire your
students to learn more about the
world? ACGC has novel sets by author
Deborah Ellis for loan this school year.
‘I am a Taxi’ is available for Edmonton
schools, and ‘Parvana’s Journey’ for
Calgary schools. ACGC will provide
your class with a set of novels, and up-
on completion, we will arrange to bring
a guest speaker to your classroom who
can speak to the issues raised in the
novel.
Please note, these novels are best suit-
ed for Grades 5-8. For a detailed de-
scription of these novels and the au-
thor, visit http://deborahellis.com/
books/#fiction
For copies, contact [email protected]!
Join our Global Literature Circle!
Alberta teachers: consider using your skills abroad! Although a new school year has started, its not too early to
start planning for next summer! Consider the following
international opportunities available through the Alberta
Teachers’ Association:
Project Overseas is a joint endeavor by the Canadian
Teachers’ Federation to give professional assistance to
fellow teachers in developing countries. Deadline to apply
is October 30th!
ATA Masulita, Uganda Professional Development
Project provides professional development
opportunities for teachers in the village of Masulita in the
district of Wakiso, Uganda in July 2016. Deadline to apply
is December 1st
ATA - Me to We Kenya Professional Development
Project is a joint endeavor by the ATA and its members
to provide professional development opportunities for
teachers in Kenya. Deadline to apply is January 15th, 2016.
Learn more here!
www.youtube.com/albertateachers
www.teachers.ab.ca/
P A G E 4
The following resources are part of
The Global Goals campaign and can be found on
www.tes.com/worldslargestlesson www.globalgoals.org
www.acgc.ca
On September 25th 2015, 193 world leaders will commit to 17 Global Goals to achieve 3
extraordinary things in the next 15 years. End extreme poverty. Fight inequality & injus-
tice. Fix climate change. The Global Goals for sustainable development could get these
things done. In all countries. For all people.
Join the Movement!
Use a lesson from the
campaign toolkit!
www.tes.com/
worldslargestlesson/
lesson-plans/
V O L U M E 1 1 P A G E 5
Goal 1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4 Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning
Goal 5 Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 6 Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
Goal 7 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Goal 8 Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
Goal 9 Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 10 Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 11 Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 14 Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
Goal 15 Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
Goal 16 Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
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ACGC CURRENT MEMBERSHIP
September 2015
Action International Ministries ˑ Ainembabazi Chil-
dren’s Project ˑ Alberta Teachers’ Association ˑ
Association of Canadian Peacemakers International
Altamas for Peace and Development Association ˑ
Bridges of Hope International Network of Devel-
opment Agencies ˑ Calgary Board of Education
Global Learning Program ˑ Canada World Youth ˑ
Canadian Association for Participatory Develop-
ment ˑ Canadian Catholic Organization for Devel-
opment and Peace ˑ Canadian Humanitarian Or-
ganization for international Reliefˑ Canadian Mora-
vian Mission Society ˑ Canadian Women for Wom-
en in Afghanistanˑ CARO-Canadians Reaching Out
to the World's Children Foundation ˑ CAUSE
Canada ˑ CEIBA Association ˑ Centre for Afforda-
ble Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST)ˑ
Centre for Global Citizenship Education and Re-
search ˑ Change for Children Association ˑ Cross-
roads Christian Communication ˑ Edmonton Public
School Board ˑ energy4everyone Foundation ˑ
Engineers Without Borders- Canada ˑ Four
Worlds Center for Development Learning ˑ Ghost
River Rediscovery ˑ Global Education Program,
University of Alberta ˑ Human Development Foun-
dation ˑ John Humphrey Centre for Peace and
Human Rights ˑ Keiskamma Canada Foundation ˑ
Light Up the World Foundation ˑ Maharashtra
Seva Samiti Organization ˑ Mahatma Gandhi Cana-
dian Foundation for World Peace ˑ Marda Loop
Justice Film Festival ˑ Mennonite Central Commit-
tee Alberta ˑ Micah Centre—King University Col-
lege ˑ Minkha Knitters Cooperative ˑ Mission of
Mercy ˑ Nafasi Opportunity Society ˑ One Child's
Village ˑ One! International Poverty Relief ˑ Opera-
tion Eyesight Canada ˑ Optometry Giving Sight ˑ
Oxfam Canada ˑ Rainbow for the Future ˑ Rainbow
of Hope for Children ˑ ReadAfrica ˑ Rotary Club of
Edmonton ˑ Sahakarini Inter-World Education &
Development Association ˑ Samaritan's Purse Can-
ada ˑ Sinkunia Community Development Organiza-
tion ˑ Somali-Canadian Education & Rural Devel-
opment Organization ˑ Sombrilla International
Development Society ˑ STOP TB Canada ˑ Sustain-
able East African Education & Development Socie-
ty of Alberta ˑ Tools for Schools Africa Foundation
ˑ Trebi Kuma Ollennu Foundation for Community
Development ˑ True Vision Ghana ˑ United Na-
tions Association in Canada ˑ Women's Empower-
ment International Foundation ˑ World Fit for
Children -Alberta Chapter
ACGC Teach is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of
Canada provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
(DFATD).
Canadians have one of the highest carbon
footprints in the world – we have a
responsibility to Create a Climate of
Change! ACGC member Canadian Catholic
Organization for Development and
Peace believes that by working together,
reflecting on our own choices and
lifestyles, as well as calling for community,
political and international action, we can
tackle the injustice of climate change.
Development and Peace have created a
series of educational materials available
online for Canadian teachers, including an
action sheet with stories of the impact of
climate change, two new eco-justice related
youth activities, as well as inspiring
initiatives to tackle climate injustice from
their international partners. Included in
their resources is a report on climate change
that details how Canada can play its part in addressing climate change.
For more information or to get your school involved, contact Sara Farid,
Development and Peace’s Alberta representative, at [email protected] or visit
www.devp.org/education to help Create a Climate of Change!
Featured Resource: Create a Climate of Change