Educate the Youth, Empower the Future

---Excuse me, Mr. Secretary-General, I know that since its inception, the United Nations has been working hard in forging a better life for humanity. In spite of this, until now, our world is still facing many global problems such as discrimination, wars, poverty and hunger. Seemingly, such global problems are too complex and too complicated to solve that they have existed for so long already--generation after generation. But, Mr. Secretary-General, for how long should we actually tolerate this? For how long should we allow this vicious cycle to continue? I implore everyone, all of humanity to remember that if humans were able to give rise to such problems, we humans are also CAPABLE of giving an end to them. Let us remember that we CAN fight these problems, once humanity gets together to fight FOR each other and not against each other.

So far, the United Nations has made great leaps of campaigns and laws that aim to do just this. We have developed the Millenium Development Goals, the campaign to end poverty by 2015, the protocols to save Darfur and Somalia, and so many more. However, why have such movements—despite their brilliance—seem to have been stagnant in actually achieving their goals fully? I believe that one of the reasons is due to lack of world cooperation. Aside from the lack of political will from many of our world leaders, the general citizenry themselves have not been mobilized enough to take part in such global missions. Now, I don't think many people around the world are just apathetic to care. I refuse to believe this. For me, non-involvement is not just rooted upon mere apathy. It's the lack of awareness towards such problems and solutions that hinders the greater population from getting involved. It's the lack of awareness that brilliant ideas and solutions have actually been proposed—and we just need global cooperation for them to work.

Hence, I am proposing this idea. Why don't we form a global subject that will train children, as young as 5, to become globally aware and socially responsible citizens? Why don't we start honing the young generation with values that are necessary for them to become global citizens—values that'll make them realize that we are one world, not a bunch of separate countries looking only after its own good. And then, let's have all existing primary schools around the world adopt this same subject as part of their curriculum. Let's hire the best teachers, peace experts, cultural directors, and environmental scientists to help in drafting the lesson plans that'll formulate this global subject. Of course, let's also build the subject to suit the capabilities of young kids in their particular year levels. As a child progresses in primary school, the "UN" subject also progresses for each level, discussing topics in greater detail and scope.

Mr. Secretary-General, celebrating a week of "United Nations" Festival in primary school is not enough to inculcate values of world tolerance and cooperation. What we need is a greater force that will EDUCATE people. Let's have lessons that celebrate cultural diversity, lessons that teach on direct ways we can save our environment, and lessons that promote world unity and peace building all packaged in this "UN" subject. Let's have lessons that will open the eyes of young people to the plights of other fellow people whom they may never even meet in their lifetime—such as those living in Somalia or Darfur. Through such a subject, we may open the eyes of a well-off child that on the other side of the world, children are dying from poverty and hunger. Through this subject, we may open children to the fact that even if the world has different religions, people shouldn't be scared because all faiths direct humanity to living in peace and harmony. Through this subject, we may open children to the beauty of diversity in cultures and nationalities. Overall, through this subject, we may EMPOWER children—these children who will become the future leaders and grown-ups of tomorrow.

Remember, we are all ONE HUMANITY.

We are ONE WORLD.

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The music used in the video (Park Bench.caf) is from Apple Inc.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• UN
• Citizen
• Ambassador

[peaceandlove936]

Wow! This is a great idea! A unique one, too. I hope your video gets selected! =) Maybe if we can teach our children good values, they will grow up more sensitive about the cultures of other people and they will be aware that across the world there are fellow people who needs their help.

[bluefellahfell]

new idea here. simple but meaningful. :-)

[john11red]

very well-said... your idea might actually work. if we have one uniform school subject that will be taught from grade 1 to grade 6 around the world... hmm..

good luck...