An integral component of Spur Change’s five-year programming was its commitment to engaging Canadian youth as global citizens. One of the key strategies employed to achieve this objective was the promotion of Global Citizenship Education (GCE) within schools, along with providing educators the necessary tools and knowledge.
In response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Spur Change launched, in 2021, the Share & Learn series nationwide, in collaboration with the councils of the Inter-Council Network. Via online webinars, the series featured educator speakers and provided tools on a wide range of topics related to GCE and aimed to be an interactive experience for educators to share their insights and incorporate GCE into their classrooms.
The second and most recent iteration of the Share & Learn series adopted a regional approach to strengthen regional collaboration and promote knowledge sharing among local educators. Following a call for proposals to host GCE workshops in their educator communities, six events were held in collaboration with organizations and consortia in BC, Manitoba and Quebec. Through these partnerships, Spur Change was able to reach a wider and new range of educators through GCE workshops.
Through collaboration between BC UNESCO and Equitas, the Authentic Youth Engagement workshop invited teaching staff from across BC to learn more about engaging youth as global citizens. The event spurred interest from 13 new schools and five district superintendents, highlighting a growing enthusiasm for expanding global citizenship education in British Columbia. Through this initiative, educators were empowered to foster a more inclusive and internationally minded educational environment, driving transformative learning experiences across the province.
Continuing its commitment to educational innovation, BC UNESCO, in partnership with Foundational Environmental Stewardship, held another set of events as part of the Share & Learn series. The SDG Lab aimed to build off the momentum of the previous workshop and this time, be more focused on ways to bring the SDGs into the classroom. The workshop proved highly impactful for educators, marking a significant expansion of the BC UNESCO Schools Network's reach and influence. Indeed, the workshop hosted teachers from across four provinces (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) for the first time, fostering collaborative discussions and introducing valuable resources, promoting a collective approach to addressing global challenges in education. This initiative provided valuable insights, empowering educators to integrate the principles of cooperation, collaboration, and solidarity into their teaching practices, thereby advancing the goal of creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.
The Centre international de solidarité ouvrière (CISO) offered a training program developed to raise awareness and promote youth action towards environmental and human rights in the textile industry through education initiatives. Through co-constructive activities, the training offered different online sessions to increase educator reach. The training development process had a significant impact for CISO by strengthening their links with the trade union, educational and community sectors. This collaboration with Spur Change enabled CISO to extend its reach into schools and reach a wider audience. Coming out of the training delivery, the creation of educational resources and the posting of session recordings online have consolidated CISO’s offering and will continue promoting ongoing awareness of textile industry issues.
The Collectif Ensemble pour l'éducation citoyenne successfully launched its concertation and pedagogical production activities, and developed educational events with the support of Spur Change through the Share & Learn series. The Collectif organized a series of events, involving educators in collaborative efforts that resulted in the creation of innovative teaching materials for the "Culture et citoyenneté québécoise'' school program. These online and in-person sessions have helped to strengthen the capacity for concerted action in education by pooling the knowledge, expertise and practices of a diversity of key players from civil society and the education community; and the emergence of new feminist, anti-racist, decolonial and intersectional educational perspectives within the school environment, offering young people meaningful and structuring learning opportunities to develop their critical thinking and civic engagement. Through these new resources, the Collectif aims to support teachers and students in understanding and putting into practice the values and competencies of the new program, thus strengthening the fabric of Quebec education in a collaborative and inclusive approach.
The Manitoba Social Sciences Teachers’ Association (MSSTA) hosted a transformative professional development session for social studies teachers in and around Winnipeg. Led by Dr. Shannon Moore and Kevin Lopuck, this event capitalized on the success of MSSTA’s Teachers Talking to Teachers event held as part of Spur Change’s Spur Sparks series in Spring 2023. Through critical dialogue, teachers challenged dominant worldviews and explored holistic, less euro-centric approaches to education, aiming to better prepare students for a truly global future. By fostering reflection and discussion on the values normalized in society and the role of education in perpetuating or challenging them, the event empowered teachers to advocate for an educational system that prioritizes the well-being of individuals, society, and the planet.
VIDEA hosted an online workshop on inclusivity in GCE. The workshop aimed to explore strategies for fostering inclusivity within GCE frameworks, with a particular emphasis on catering to students with disabilities. Educators from across the country were invited to participate, spanning from coast to coast to coast. The impact of the workshop extended beyond its duration, with the creation of a Facebook group fostering ongoing dialogue and resource sharing among registrants. This group serves as a platform for ongoing dialogue and resource sharing among workshop registrants, facilitating continuous learning and collaboration. Participants from the workshop are actively leveraging their networks to invite others to join, thereby expanding the reach of the community and fostering further knowledge exchange. Additionally, the workshop's emphasis on recognizing the importance of students with disabilities as global citizens has ignited enthusiasm among participants. This enthusiasm has translated into concrete plans for developing resources aimed at empowering young people within the global development sector.
Ultimately, the second Share & Learn series successfully reached new educator audiences and offered Spur Change the chance to forge valuable partnerships within the Global Citizenship Education (GCE) sector. We eagerly anticipate the long-term positive results of our collective efforts in promoting global citizenship and youth action.