What is Global Citizenship Education?

The world in the 21st century is more interdependent than ever before. To respond effectively to the changes in the world, a global citizen is someone who:

• Recognizes that he or she is an integral part of the world; understands the basic rights of people; and fulfills his or her own responsibilities towards others.
• Has a high regard for values such as justice, solidarity, and equality; learns about different cultures, gender issues, social classes, and ethnicities with an open attitude; and resolves differences and conflicts using a respectful and peaceful approach.
• Takes time to reflect; and comes to view and understand his or her surroundings with a critical mindset.
• Is concerned about poverty and injustice in the world; and is willing to actively help create a world that is just, fair, and develops in a sustainable manner.

Through an interactive approach, global citizenship education encourages young people to actively participate in the society, and to discover their potential to make a difference.

Three elements of Global Citizenship Education: Knowledge, Values, Action

Global citizenship education seeks to provide “knowledge” and promote “values”. Importantly, it also calls for “action”.

• Knowledge: Learn about the relationships between global development and local issues; ascertain the causes of poverty and social injustice; and understand the importance of sustainable development.
• Values: Step into the shoes of those who suffer from poverty and injustice; reflect upon the relationships between oneself and the world; and examine the influence and responsibility each person can assume in the world.
• Action: Get to work and actively participate in building a fairer and more sustainable world.

Global Citizenship Education and the Hong Kong School Curriculum

To help transform young people into global citizens, we can integrate topics of Global Citizenship education into their learning. We can:

• Introduce poverty and development issues in various academic subjects, including General Studies in Primary Schools, and Geography or Liberal Studies in Secondary Schools.
• Start project-learning that looks into local poverty and development issues, and help young people to critically analyze these issues and understand the relationship between local and global growth.
• Integrate approaches of drama education with development issues to promote values such as justice, equality, and solidarity.
• Through participatory life-wide learning activities, such as visiting vulnerable groups, allow young people to see the effects of poverty and injustice firsthand, and encourage them to respond through action, thereby contributing to sustainable development and social justice.