Working with young people in order to start a Working with young people in order to start a project on development education on the school project on development education on the school and community level-November 21 to 25, 2011and community level-November 21 to 25, 2011

National College ``Elena Cuza`` National College ``Elena Cuza``

BUCHARESTBUCHAREST

The chosen theme illustrates Objective The chosen theme illustrates Objective no. 8no. 8

DevelopDevelop a global partnership for a global partnership for development development

Target 8.BTarget 8.B

Address the special needs of the least developed Address the special needs of the least developed countriescountries

Includes: tariff and quota free access for least Includes: tariff and quota free access for least developed countries’ exports; enhanced developed countries’ exports; enhanced programme of debt relief for HIPC and programme of debt relief for HIPC and cancellation of official bilateral debt; and more cancellation of official bilateral debt; and more generous ODA for countries committed to generous ODA for countries committed to poverty reductionpoverty reduction

``It is time for us to insist on showing everyone in ``It is time for us to insist on showing everyone in the world that there are people who don`t benefit the world that there are people who don`t benefit

from what it takes to live a decent life and, yet, they from what it takes to live a decent life and, yet, they never complain. They also don`t claim anything nor never complain. They also don`t claim anything nor

discriminate anyone. They are far from having discriminate anyone. They are far from having dreams or hopes. Despite all these, it is us who can dreams or hopes. Despite all these, it is us who can

make them realize that their lives are of great make them realize that their lives are of great importance to the whole world`` importance to the whole world``

The students of ``Elena Cuza`` National College give The students of ``Elena Cuza`` National College give voice to their thoughts through the activity voice to their thoughts through the activity ``Getting ``Getting

to know is the first step. Youth people`s to know is the first step. Youth people`s reflections``reflections`` within the project entitled within the project entitled

``Millennium Development Goals. Involving ``Millennium Development Goals. Involving high-school students and teachers in high-school students and teachers in

educational projects and programmes for educational projects and programmes for development``development``

TThemeheme : : Ways of supporting underdeveloped and developing Ways of supporting underdeveloped and developing

nationsnations

The activity The activity objectivesobjectives were as follows: were as follows:

--Making students aware of the problems related to poverty and Making students aware of the problems related to poverty and social exclusionsocial exclusion;;

- -Putting forward explanations and inter-disciplinary and Putting forward explanations and inter-disciplinary and multidisciplinary arguments related to supporting under-multidisciplinary arguments related to supporting under-

developed countriesdeveloped countries;;--Making use of individual knowledge and resources in Making use of individual knowledge and resources in

conducting investigations and working on personal and group conducting investigations and working on personal and group projectsprojects;;

--Finding out students`opinions related to the contribution that Finding out students`opinions related to the contribution that non formal activities may have to developing students` non formal activities may have to developing students`

communicative skillscommunicative skills;;--Sharing with their school mates information on poverty in AfricaSharing with their school mates information on poverty in Africa

Description of the activity stages:Description of the activity stages:

--Informing the target group on the theme of Informing the target group on the theme of the activitythe activity;;--Debate session between the thirty students, Debate session between the thirty students, followed up by a poster contestfollowed up by a poster contest;;--School exhibition presenting the students` School exhibition presenting the students` postersposters;; --Sharing with the Board of the Form Masters Sharing with the Board of the Form Masters by posting a brief presentation on the high by posting a brief presentation on the high school siteschool site

Presenting the Students`creationsPresenting the Students`creations::

Having as a starting point the lyricsHaving as a starting point the lyrics

``Nothing, not even hope sings in your soul``Nothing, not even hope sings in your soul

When silence is your future and no more wings When silence is your future and no more wings to spread``to spread``

Five students from Grade 9th B divided the world into Five students from Grade 9th B divided the world into 2 categories:2 categories:

A peaceful place where people can daydream and A peaceful place where people can daydream and easily achieve happiness and, on the other hand, a easily achieve happiness and, on the other hand, a place where only thorns sprout from the ground, place where only thorns sprout from the ground, where revenge is a way of living, where arms kill where revenge is a way of living, where arms kill innocence and life isn`t worth living.innocence and life isn`t worth living.

``Hope – the antidote to despair`` ``Hope – the antidote to despair`` is the title of their creation is the title of their creation that conveys the fact that ``All the people living in the poor that conveys the fact that ``All the people living in the poor countries are winners and bear no fault that they were born countries are winners and bear no fault that they were born on a continent forgotten by people; and yet, they have the on a continent forgotten by people; and yet, they have the power to smile as if they were some fairy tale characters.``power to smile as if they were some fairy tale characters.``

The students strongly believed in Solomon`s The students strongly believed in Solomon`s proverbs which were quoted in their work: some proverbs which were quoted in their work: some people are indifferent to the poor ,people are indifferent to the poor ,

```` Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.``and ``He that giveth unto the poor shall heard.``and ``He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack, but he that hideth his eyes shal have not lack, but he that hideth his eyes shal have many a curse``many a curse``

A few suggestions for eradicating poverty are A few suggestions for eradicating poverty are made:made:- the existence of an international center charged - the existence of an international center charged with carrying out plans for the development of the with carrying out plans for the development of the poor countriespoor countries- providing financial support to the poor countries- providing financial support to the poor countries- development strategies- development strategies  

The third group, whose motto wasThe third group, whose motto was ``Our ideas – chances for their future````Our ideas – chances for their future``, proved to , proved to be more pragmatic.be more pragmatic.

Here are their Here are their solutionssolutions::

--increasing small medical centres located within increasing small medical centres located within easy reach of the people;easy reach of the people;--reforming social insurance systems;reforming social insurance systems;--setting up a partnership between rich and poor setting up a partnership between rich and poor countries under the aegis of W.H.O/O. M. S, with a countries under the aegis of W.H.O/O. M. S, with a view to elaborating a programme for rational view to elaborating a programme for rational sanitary improvement;sanitary improvement;-urbanizing and expanding the infrastructure;-urbanizing and expanding the infrastructure;--increasing work productivity by stagnating or increasing work productivity by stagnating or reducing the active population in agriculture, etcreducing the active population in agriculture, etc    

The fourth group put an emphasis on the causes The fourth group put an emphasis on the causes that lead to poverty, coming to the conclusion that that lead to poverty, coming to the conclusion that ““RRich countries also live in bitter povertyich countries also live in bitter poverty”…”…..

Impact on those involved in the activityImpact on those involved in the activity

``We have learnt how to work as a team and I think that ``We have learnt how to work as a team and I think that everybody has broadened their horizons on the existing world. I everybody has broadened their horizons on the existing world. I

hope we will get the chance to continue our work so that its hope we will get the chance to continue our work so that its results may become visible.`` results may become visible.`` Ioana – 16 Ioana – 16 years oldyears old

``I may say that it has been a test on how you can devote ``I may say that it has been a test on how you can devote yourself to a cause. We have described a different way of life, a yourself to a cause. We have described a different way of life, a

new way of approaching human existence which, although being new way of approaching human existence which, although being so different and difficult to be understood by the Europeans and so different and difficult to be understood by the Europeans and

white people, still represents a way of life.``white people, still represents a way of life.``

Angelica -15 Angelica -15 years old years old

``This activity helped me understand a different part of the world, ``This activity helped me understand a different part of the world, a world that we do not know, but we are under the false a world that we do not know, but we are under the false

impression that we know it. From a personal point of view, it impression that we know it. From a personal point of view, it helped me to become more balanced and cherish what I have.`` helped me to become more balanced and cherish what I have.``

Roxana – 17 Roxana – 17 years oldyears old