Advancing Global Citizenship Education: WFUNA at the International GCED Conference in Seoul

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016 Policymakers and other stakeholders gathered earlier this week at the International Conference on Global Citizenship Education (GCED), the first of its kind held in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Co-organized by UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), the South Korean Ministry of Education, and JoongAng Ilbo, a mainstream news outlet […]

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

Policymakers and other stakeholders gathered earlier this week at the International Conference on Global Citizenship Education (GCED), the first of its kind held in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Co-organized by UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), the South Korean Ministry of Education, and JoongAng Ilbo, a mainstream news outlet in Korea, the conference theme was “GCED for SDGs: From Commitment to Action.”

WFUNA Secretary-General Bonian Golmohammadi participated in the conference Keynote Session on 24 October, entitled, “GCED for sustainable and peaceful societies: What practices and pedagogies?” During the session, he underscored global citizenship as being at the heart of WFUNA’s mission to get people actively engaged in global issues and the work of the United Nations. The panel of experts, representing government, academia and the UN in South Korea and the Philippines, emphasized the importance of global citizenship for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the critical role of youth in tackling global challenges.

Mr. Golmohammadi highlighted WFUNA’s flagship global citizenship education program, Mission Possible, as one approach. Part of what makes the Mission Possible model unique is the emphasis on project-based, experiential learning, where students focus on addressing one of the SDGs within their local context. Participants also learn how to use the techniques and tools of project management to implement their projects effectively. “For a GCED program to be transformative, we feel it’s important to not only inform young people about global issues, but to also give them the skills and tools to put that knowledge to use.”

Mission Possible is currently operating in schools in Armenia and India, and will expand to additional countries next year. “Ultimately our vision is to create an ever-growing, translocal network of young global citizens who are actively contributing to the achievement of the SDGs,” said Mr. Golmohammadi.

Watch a brief video to learn more about the Mission Possible program: 


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