Bringing the world into your classroom. WHO : VVOB is the Flemish Association for Development...
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Transcript of Bringing the world into your classroom. WHO : VVOB is the Flemish Association for Development...
Bringing the world into your classroom
WHO : VVOB is the Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance, a non-profit organisation.
WHAT : We strive to contribute to the improvement of the
quality of education in our partner countries.
HOW : • Educational programmes•Technical assistance•Capacity Development•Partners : Local education authorities
VVOB’s partner countries
BackgroundDue to our operations in the south and our establishment in Flanders we are in a unique position to form a bridge between both parts of the world.
By means of our programme SchoolLinks we try to support and stimulate schools in Flanders and in the south to establish a sustainable global partnership.
Concept
A sustainable and equal north-south
partnership between schools with a
focus on educational goals.
A sustainable and equal north-south partnership between schools with a focus on educational goals.
• Partnership: Collaboration not aid project• Slow growth• Large participation • Ownership of both schools
• Complex realities : Reinforce stereotypes versterken of doorbreken?
• Charity or mutual learning• Global education ánd capacity development
Why? By means of a direct long term relationship, pupils and teachers can share knowledge and experiences about their society, culture, values, dreams and worries.
For children, it is a very pleasant way to tackle learning issues and to make global issues very concrete. They can widen their view on the world and acquire new skills (intercultural skills, ICT, language,…).
For teachers, the exchange of good practices can improve the quality of their learning and teaching.
For VVOB. People should• have a correct understanding of the “World”, global
interdependence and the mechanism that underlie the North-South gap (knowledge)
• be willing to bridge this gap (attitude)• take action to eliminate these injust mechanisms
(action) (capacity building)
=> Solidarity between people
In short • An educational tool
• Global formation and world citizenship
• Exchange of experiences – capacity building
• Intercultural exchange
• Expression of solidarity
Examples of activities• Students write an essay on a certain
subject, e.g. migration, climate change,
colonisation, gender, religion, and exchange
opinions
• Drawings or pictures of the
students, school, home, the community to
have a better view of each other’s social and
physical environment
• Sending cultural artefacts and products for a
good understanding and knowledge of each
other’s background
• Exchanging educational materials and
tools to integrate in lessons, share tips and tricks
• Compare music styles and preferences by making and exchanging a compilation
• Follow up story: the first part of a story
made by one school, the other finishes it off.
• Asking each other questions (email, post,
etc.) on certain topics, e.g. alcohol use, smoke
prevention, HIV-Aids, language, …
• …
Challenges
• Slow growing process
• Set realistic goals
• Joint planning and reporting
• Realisation of commitments
• Restrictions of schools
– Work load => integrate SchoolLink in lessons
– Communication => Frequent and active communication
– Different context
Requirements for Success
The initiative, responsibility and execution of the
school link activities are in hands of both schools.
• Support, commitment and participation in the school
• Good and frequent communication (between schools, intern, extern)
• Getting sustainable and independent (training, vision, finances, reflection
and evaluation)
Role of VVOB
VVOB facilitates the partnership and supports the
schools to make their partnership stronger by:
– Bringing interested schools together and provide information
– Helping with the first contacts and communication
– Helping with the first action plan and report
– Inspiring schools on how they can build on the partnership
– Giving advise on all kind of questions concerning the partnership
– Small financial support to cover the expenses the committed
schools may have
In sum• VVOB inspires, advises and supports (gives
tools, financial contribution, point of
reference in the south, …) the start up
process of a school link and of getting
independent.
• The schools themselves take the lead, the
initiative and the responsibility for the
partnership.
=> The partnership has the capacity to continue when situations
change (e.g. new personnel) and without external funding.
It has become sustainable.
Contact
• On our SchoolLinks website, you can find more information: www. Scholenbanden.be/English
• Or contact the regional VVOB office