Concern Worldwide believes that taking action to eliminate poverty around the world is the responsibility of all “global citizens.” In 2001, Concern Worldwide US launched the Global Concerns Classroom in partnership with Tufts University, with funding generously provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Parents, schools and teachers are continually seeking resources, tools and approaches that will educate young people about international issues. Concern is uniquely positioned to respond to this educational need based on nearly forty years’ experience responding to emergencies and working with local communities to develop long-term, sustainable solutions to poverty.
GCC builds upon Concern Worldwide’s well established and highly successful development education program in Ireland, which has been operating since 1983. Working in over 250 high schools throughout Ireland, Concern has been credited with strengthening students’ debating and communication skills and broadening their perspectives on a wide range of international themes.
Global Concerns Classroom Philosophy
In order to be active global citizens and leaders in an increasingly interdependent world, American students must be well informed about international issues.
We therefore believe that:
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Youth learn about international affairs best when they are able to understand the relevance and importance of the issues in their own lives.
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Youth need tools that enable them to listen and to communicate effectively with a wide audience.
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Youth should be encouraged to voice their own opinions and create their own meaningful ways to be active global community members.
We are committed to working in partnership with educators to provide students with meaningful, authentic opportunities to identify and take action on international issues that are important to them.
Our Approach
The intention of GCC is not to promote a single way of thinking but to introduce students to multiple perspectives on an issue and to encourage them to think critically about complex topics. Global Concerns Classroom offers print and online materials addressing a wide range of international issues. GCC emphasizes building the following skills:
The Issues
The Global Concerns Classroom provides schools with student resource guides that explore specific global issues and geographic regions. The materials provide extensive information about a variety of issues using maps, images, graphs, quotations, statistics, references, and web links. They engage the reader through critical questions, thought-provoking quotations and proverbs, and case studies. The Global Concerns Classroom currently provides student resource guides to the following issues:
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Child Labor: Should child labor be abolished? (Focus on Bangladesh)
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Child Survival: How can we ensure that all children survive the first five years of life?(Focus on Rwanda)
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Education: How can a country with limited resources provide education to all children? (Focus on Somalia)
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HIV&AIDS: How should a country with limited resources respond to its HIV&AIDS crisis? (Focus on Uganda)
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Hunger: Is it possible to end world hunger? (Focus on Ethiopia)
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Water: How can we increase the world's access to clean water? (Focus on Haiti?)
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Women's Rights: Should all women around the world have the same rights? (Focus on Pakistan)
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