El ahora trabajador del Instituto Jane Goodall España en Senegal había arriesgado su vida viajando hacia a Europa en un desesperado intento por sacar a su familia adelante
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From 21 to 25 October 2024, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, became the center of an inspiring initiative to strengthen education. Fifty teachers and teacher trainers from across the country gathered at the Town Hall of Ouagadougou for an interactive workshop aimed at fostering transformative safe, supportive, and resilient learning environments for children.
This workshop is part of the project, “Creating Safe, Supportive, and Resilient Learning Environments to Safeguard Children’s Right to Education Amid Conflict and Crises,” supported by the Government of Japan. It focuses on equipping education stakeholders with the skills and tools to ensure children’s rights to education are upheld, even in the face of conflict and crisis.
Opening Ceremony with Distinguished Guests
The opening ceremony was attended by prominent officials, reflecting the significance of the initiative. Among them were the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Burkina Faso, Mr. Hiroyuki Kanda, and the Secretary-General of the Burkinabe National Commission for UNESCO, Dr. Fatie Ouattara.
Their presence underscored the collaborative spirit behind this initiative, co-hosted by the Ministry of Education, the National Commission of UNESCO of Burkina Faso, and UNESCO IICBA, with facilitation by Arigatou International – Geneva.
A Hands-On Approach to Learning
Facilitated by Ms. Eleonora Mura, Senior Expert on Ethics Education for Children at Arigatou International – Geneva, and Prof. Boubacar Niane of Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Sénégal, the workshop was designed to empower participants through interactive sessions based on transformative pedagogy and Arigatou International’s Ethics Education Approach.
At the training workshop, participants gained in-depth knowledge about creating Transformative Safe Learning Environments and supporting learners’ well-being; developed essential skills to design learner-centered activities that integrate safety and well-being into national training programs; and learned to deliver engaging training sessions using participatory, transformative pedagogy, including integrating play-based activities. The workshop focused on the holistic well-being of teachers and learners, integrating also mental health and psychosocial support activities.
For many participants, the workshop provided their first encounter with creating Transformative Safe Learning Environments. The impact was immediate and deeply felt. “I thought it was not possible to create safe environments given the challenges we face, but I learned that we can do so with joy and play,” shared one participant. “I learned that motivation is key to creating a stimulating learning environment. I felt motivated throughout and want to inspire my students,” said another.
This training is particularly focused on addressing school violence in Burkina Faso, including physical, psychological, and inter-ethnic challenges, which threaten the safety and academic success of learners.
Participants concluded the workshop by developing actionable plans and a concrete project to implement safe and inclusive practices in their schools. The project will be finalized with their learners, and implemented with the support of mini-grants awarded to each school.
A Regional Initiative
This workshop is part of a broader project spanning Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Mali, South Sudan, Chad, and Niger, with the shared goal of promoting safe, supportive, and resilient school communities.
By empowering educators to create transformative learning environments, this initiative ensures that children’s rights to education are upheld, even in the most challenging contexts.
We thank our partners for trusting Arigatou International with this unique endeavor. Together, we are building a future where every child can learn, grow, and thrive in a safe and supportive environment.
The post Empowering Educators in Burkina Faso: Training for Safe and Supportive Learning Environments appeared first on Ethics Education for Children.
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El Instituto Jane Goodall acoge en su Centro de Rehabilitación de Tchimpounga, en Congo, a una cría de chimpancé huérfana
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During the 11th Geneva Peace Week, a hybrid workshop titled “Addressing Discrimination and Xenophobia in Schools through Ethics Education Transformative Pedagogies” brought together educators, policymakers, and peacebuilders. Organized by Arigatou International, the Kenya and Indonesia National Commissions for UNESCO, and UNESCO’s Multisectoral Regional Office for Eastern Africa, the session explored how ethics education can counteract discrimination and foster inclusive environments in schools.
Moderated by Mr. Francisco Vila, Head of Programs at Arigatou International, the workshop featured interactive exercises designed to confront ethical dilemmas related to privilege and exclusion. One activity, “Diminishing Islands,” engaged on-site participants in discussions about real-world scenarios involving social dynamics, encouraging them to explore non-violent and inclusive responses to discrimination.
Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director of Arigatou International—Geneva, opened the dialogue by underscoring ethics education’s transformative potential in addressing discrimination and xenophobia. She highlighted the importance of cultivating empathy and mutual respect among students to create inclusive learning environments.
Following the activity, Ms. Schéhérazade Feddal, Education Program Specialist at UNESCO’s Multisectoral Regional Office for Eastern Africa, explained how the transformative pedagogy behind ethics education equips children and youth with essential life skills. By placing students at the heart of the learning process, this approach fosters empathy and understanding across cultural and religious divides, helping young people to appreciate diversity and develop inclusive perspectives.
Ms. Mary Kangethe, Director of Education Programs at the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, shared insights from the Ethics Education Fellowship, a program that has been implemented in six countries, including Kenya. She noted that the program, led by the Ministry of Education in Kenya, has heightened children’s awareness of social and cultural dynamics, encouraging them to be more attuned to issues of privilege and bias. Kangethe highlighted the interfaith and intercultural elements of the program, which have offered students new perspectives on diverse religions and cultures. Monitoring and evaluation results have shown that ethics education can positively impact academic performance by building students’ self-confidence and resilience.
Dr. Itje Chodidjah, Executive Chair of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO, spoke about the Fellowship’s integration within Indonesia’s educational framework. She explained how it aligns with the Pancasila Profile—Indonesia’s philosophical foundation—incorporated in the national curriculum. The Fellowship’s approach introduces students to interfaith understanding, promoting awareness and mutual respect across diverse beliefs. Teachers involved in the program also play a key role, modeling inclusive behavior and collaborating across schools.
The workshop concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where participants discussed the practical applications of ethics education for peacebuilding and inclusivity in schools. Geneva Peace Week 2024, held from October 14 to 18 at the Maison de la Paix and themed “What is Peace?”, featured over 70 events with 117 partner organizations. This week-long gathering offered a unique platform for global peacebuilders, fostering discussions on how initiatives like ethics education can play a vital role in shaping inclusive, peaceful societies.
We extend heartfelt thanks to Geneva Peace Week for providing a space for dialogue and learning, to our partners for their invaluable trust, to the facilitators for sharing their expertise, and to all participants for their enthusiastic engagement.
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