Educating for Equity: global learning, poverty and

schools

Katie Carr – Director, CDEC

Poverty hits twice as many British households as 30 years ago

• 33% of households endure below-par living standards, compared with 14% in early ‘80s

• Defined as going without three or more ‘basic necessities of life’ (such as being able to adequately feed and clothe themselves and their children, and to heat and insure their homes)

• One in three people cannot afford to heat their homes properly

• 4 million adults and children are not able to eat healthily.

http://www.pagetutor.com/trillion/index.html

What does one million dollars look like?

http://www.pagetutor.com/trillion/index.html

What does one trillion dollars look like?

About CDECOur vision is for young people to have the skills and confidence to be able to face the

challenges of today, to develop understanding and respect other people and places, and to make informed choices that have a positive

impact on society and the world around them.

Global CitizenshipSchool Linking, with partners local and globalOutdoor and environmental learningDiversity and multiculturalismSustainable DevelopmentFairtradePupil Voice and taking action

Funded projectsCPD / training

Classroom resourcesCreative Classrooms

• A 3-year EU funded development education project, led in UK by CDEC, and delivered in Czech Republic, Poland and Ghana

• Objectives:– To build teachers’ confidence in incorporating global learning into their lessons,

so that– Children understand interdependence between European countries and the

Global South, in the context of food, trade and the causes of poverty, and – they feel empowered to take collaborative meaningful action towards making

the world a fairer place.

• Participatory and experiential learning, critical thinking

Global Literacy for a Fairer World

Agree Disagree

Poverty isn’t just about money, it’s about other things tooIf you are poor, you are likely to be more unhealthy

There is no real poverty in our country

Pupil Audit Activity (Concept Line)

I know about... I care about...

I am taking action... I am enabling others to take action

• Sign a petition on a website that campaigns against poverty• Persuade family and friends to buy Fairtrade items• Write to supermarkets to ask them to make sure that all producers

get a fair price for their goods• Find out about the reasons for poverty (in this country and in other

countries)• Invite our MP and other local people to an assembly about poverty• Get to know pupils who live in a poorer country• Tell important people, like the Prime Minister, to change trading

rules• Give old computers to schools in poorer countries• Give money to charity• Do a sponsored walk to raise money

How can we make a difference to poverty in the world?

Wellbeing

Self-efficacyA person’s belief that their efforts

and actions can bring about desired results

Social Capital“the web of cooperative

relationships between citizens that facilitate resolution of collective

action problems”

(Classroom) practice that assumes individuals are empowered to take responsibility, individually and collectively, and to make informed choices that

have a positive impact on society and the world around them

So, what is Education for Equity?

katie@cdec.org.uk(+44) 15394 31602www.cdec.org.uk