Global Citizenship Education is about really getting to the root of inequality and injustice in the world today and doing something about it! When teaching and learning about Global Citizenship these roots and an explanation about how the world works is essential. Remember, the most important question in GCE is ‘Why?’. The students will identify with issues of unfairness but digging deep for the reasons and the root causes are essential. There are a myriad of themes and issues relating to Global Citizenship Education that you can explore with your students. You may choose these based on issues covered in the curriculum; an issue you are interested in and feel confident exploring with your students; students’ interests and/or what is happening in the news. Please see below for a range of themes/issues that can be explored:
Your approach is key when taking on global issues:
- connections between the local and global. This should be a key focus, regardless of the GCE theme(s) you are exploring. It is so important for students to make
- root causes of the theme(s) you have chosen and examining it from a global justice perspective. Ensure you are exploring the
- ask questions when exploring global issues, injustice and inequality…WHY? Ask Why 5 times and you should get to the root of the problem. Here are some other questions you might consider e.g. Who does this issue affect?, What are the root causes of the issue? What are the consequences? Etc. Asking the right questions! It is so important to
- exploring multiple perspectives, as it allows you and your students to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of these themes.You will come across a range of viewpoints and perspectives on the theme(s) you are exploring. It is vital that time is given to
- reflect on your GCE work. For example, what have you learned about yourself, your communities, and the wider world as a result of this learning process?It is important to
Where do I find more information on the themes/issues mentioned above?
WWGS recommends the following websites:
Contact a member of the WWGS staff for advice on the global themes and issues you are focusing on.