Introduction
In today’s interconnected world, global citizenship is becoming increasingly important. As evidenced by the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, issues that affect one country can have a ripple effect around the world. In order to create a global community where people can live together in harmony, it is essential to have global citizens who are interested in diverse global issues and take actions to solve them.
But what exactly is global citizenship, and what values and issues should global citizens be concerned about?
What is Global Citizenship?
Global citizens are individuals who perceive themselves as members of a global community. They are interested in diverse global issues based on a sense of community, taking action to help resolve those issues.
They possess four important values: human rights, interdependence, diversity, and sustainability. These values are crucial because they promote respect for the dignity of all individuals, recognize the interconnectedness of all people, celebrate differences, and promote sustainable development.
The UN General Assembly has set a total of 17 common goals to achieve by 2030 under the slogan “No one left behind.” Global citizens should be aware of these goals and strive to achieve them through collective action.
Let us introduce the steps you can take to raise global citizenship. First and foremost, you should become aware and understand. Recognize the diverse problems in the world as your own rather than in the perspective of a bystander. Next, do some research to analyze the causes. And find out various possible solutions to the issues you are interested in. Often times, finding those with the same interests and forming relationships is a good way to connect and expand influence.
Learn & Act Program
The Sunhak Peace Prize has created the Learn & Act Program. This initiative is an educational content to aid in the development of global citizenship. It introduces and leads into discussion about the environment and other peace-related issues related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The materials also provide examples of various international organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of global citizenship. You will find stories of Malala Yousafzai, Dr. Gino Strada, and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The lesson on Fostering Global Citizenship includes global citizenship concepts and encourages discussions. Moreover, it provides a checklist to diagnose the maturity level of global citizenship. The materials are available in seven languages, including English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Korean.
In conclusion, global citizenship is an essential concept in today’s interconnected world. We can all become global citizens who actively work towards creating a better world. By embracing the values of human rights, interdependence, diversity, and sustainability, we will be a step closer toward reaching the 2030 UN Goals.
“Fostering Global Citizenship” is part of the Sunhak Peace Prize’s “Learn & Act,” an educational program designed to introduce diverse approaches to global peace issues. Education contents are produced based on statistical data from international organizations, including the UN and UNESCO.
Teachers can use the Teacher’s Guide and Student Worksheets to give a lesson on each issue and lead discussions.
Visit our Sunhak Peace Prize website for educational materials on peace related topics.
http://sunhakpeaceprize.org/en/learn/learn_act.php
