You’ve probably heard people talking about global citizenship over and over again. Well, this is the term for social, environmental, and economic actions of individuals and communities who recognize that every person is a citizen of the world.
It is more about how decisions in one part of the planet can affect people living in a different part of it, and about how we all share a common humanity and are of equal worth. It means being open to engaging positively with other identities and cultures and being able to recognize and challenge stereotypes.
On the other hand, a global citizen is simply someone who is aware of and understands the wider world, and their place in it. You can refer to them as citizens of the world. They take an active role in their community and work with others to make our planet more peaceful, sustainable and fairer.
Withglobal citizenship, you may find yourself exploring local and global connections and your views, values, and assumptions. Not to mention, you may explore issues of social justice locally and globally, or the complexity of global issues and engaging with multiple perspectives.
Then there is global citizenship education. This is all about encouraging young people to develop the knowledge, skills, and values they need too engage with the world. And it is about the belief that we can all make a significant difference in this world.
Education of global citizenship isn’t an additional subject. Rather, it is a framework for learning, reaching beyond school to the wider community. It can be promoted in class through the existing curriculum or through new initiatives and activities.
So, how does global citizenship help young people? Well, it ensures they build their own understanding of world events, think about their values and what’s important to them, take learning into the real world, and challenge ignorance and intolerance.
Not to mention, it ensures they get involved in their local, national, and global communities, develop and argument and voice their opinions, and see that they have power to act and influence the world around them.