The main target group of impact in the Get Global Programme is the kids who are ever ready and eager to learn about the SDGs and what they can do to make sure no one is left behind. However, in this period of impact, there is a bounce-back effect on the facilitator who takes them through those sessions every fortnight.
This bounce-back effect has led to a growth phase in my drive towards becoming a changemaker. During the short time I have spent being a support facilitator on the Get Global Programme, I have seen developments in different skills and capabilities. My ability to think and develop ideas has improved immensely, mostly attributable to the nature of Get Global sessions, where there is that flexibility to transform the session to fit the mood of the pupils.
In addition, the responsibility laid on a Get Global facilitator to guide these students into expressing themselves and bringing out the potential they have on the inside has helped developed my skills in connecting with people especially kids. Seeing these kids as my team members has taken me from that teacher-student relationship which has little to no need for connection, to a team level of relationship where we are striving for the same goal and working together to achieve it.
Finally, the COVID challenges did not stop the growth. It however made me discover a new side of me which is creating content, this includes writing, creating content and designing infographics.
The more I invest time and energy into being a Get Global Facilitator, the more I grow and become a better person and a Global Citizen!
Speaking for the voiceless, educating people on their rights and standing in between the voiceless and the authority is not a likable place an ordinary person would want. But that is where I am. I am a change agent!
Most young people are not knowledgeable about their Sexual Reproductive Health Rights. Some also lack the voice to demand for their own rights. As an advocate and trainer, I educate people to know about their fundamental human rights and how to demand it.
Doing this over the years brings a lot of joy to me because it has always been my passion to help people be empowered. It is about making young ladies aware of their rights. They are now responsible for their bodies and thereby reducing the rate of teenage pregnancy.
Others have also been enlightened on where and how to demand accountability and justice.
In all, it has not been an easy journey but it is worth traveling this path.
MTW has offered volunteers (facilitators) like me with a thirst to facilitate and support generations and to have a chance to realise this program in every school.
MTW has played into what lies within children with diverse backgrounds and the desire to harness their capabilities, passion to create change in their communities, their own lives, future by helping them to find out how they can make a difference.
Through volunteering with MTW, I feel enabled to engage with children and enjoy their companies despite some challenges. My experience with Get Global sessions so far has had significant impact on me and my confidence so much that I feel at ease when I walk into classrooms.
MTW keeps introducing me to diverse children, people and community. At the end of each session, the coordinator ask questions through debriefing which is helpful. I am confident with my knowledge and passion and it’s confirmed my aspiration to be a global facilitator travelling the world.
I love being involved with MTW and I am proud of our progress so far!
A collective state of mind becomes part of our intimate sphere of existence. While an imposed quarantine isolates us from others, we become subjects to conflicting information, wild rumours, and fake prophesies combined with an awareness of the injustice of unequal suffering and worries about what the future might hold in store.
This Coronavirus, makes its deadly across the world, people fall sick and die, communities and entire nations end up in its deadly grip and try to cope with it. Everything is changing, and changing fast and we all have to deal with it together, even if many of us are being physically apart. Humans are social beings. Our mental and physical capacities are created around that fact and crave for support and compassion.
Let us hope that this pandemic will serve as a reminder that we all share this earth and it is our common interest to take care of it together. This global state of great suffering and distress makes us realize that the best way to lessen our future disasters is to preserve our natural resources in a sustainable manner and guarantee equal education and healthcare for all.
Many of us might come out of our quarantine with an improved and more compassionate view of the world and of our fellow human beings.
Remember what happens to our bodies affect our minds, and what happens in our minds affect our body as well.
For our own survival we have to achieve this through Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions!
“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” – H. Auden
Water and sanitation are at the very core of sustainable development, critical to the survival of people and the planet. Goal 6 not only addresses the issues relating to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, but also the quality and sustainability of water resources worldwide.
Interesting Facts To Note
844 million people still lacked even basic drinking water.
4.9 billion people globally used an improved sanitation facility; 2.4 billion did not. Among those lacking adequate sanitation were 946 million people without any facilities at all, who continued to practise open defecation.
80 percent of waste water goes into waterways without adequate treatment.
The world has lost 70 percent of its natural wetlands over the last century.
Progress Made So Far
Globally, the proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water services increased from 61 to 71 percent between 2000 and 2015 and remained unchanged in 2017. An additional 19 percent of the global population used basic drinking water services.
In 2015, 68 percent of the global population was using improved sanitation facilities compared to 59 percent in 2000.
Whilst, 2.9 billion people experienced safe sanitation in 2015,
80 percent of countries have laid the foundations for integrated water resources management.
2.1 billion people have improved water sanitation since 1990
MTW’s Involvement In Achieving Goal 6
The Get Global Programme has scheduled for its Goal 6 session insightful activities that equip the youth with Global Citizenship skills like personal responsibility, teamwork and coordination.
The objectives of this session are to share knowledge of how they can create a small difference in their community, teach them ways to work together to take pride for their school grounds/community and also engage students in hands-on learning.
Through activities like Numbers and Things, Clean Clean Dirty, Project: StreetsmART, Frisbee Knockout and a Passport Exercise, more youths are becoming aware of where their trash goes and its consequences on the environment. Case Studies are carried where students share ideas on how to make it better in their community.
State of Goal 6 During COVID19
Availability and access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is fundamental to fighting the virus and preserving the health and well-being of millions. COVID-19 will not be stopped without access to safe water for people living in vulnerability, UN experts said.
The impacts of COVID-19 could be considerably higher on the urban poor living in slums, who don’t have access to clean water. UN-Habitat is working with partners to facilitate access to running water and handwashing in informal settlements.
What Must Be Done To Achieve Goal 6
Safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030 requires we invest in adequate infrastructure, provide sanitation facilities, and encourage hygiene. Protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems is essential.
More funding and support should be made readily accessible to NGOs in order to reach more girls and boys with basic water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, especially those children who are cut off from safe water because they live in remote areas, or in places where water is untreated or polluted, or because they are without a home, living in a slum or on the street.
Individuals can join or volunteer with organizations like MTW to help in creating awareness and promoting easily communicated contents.
In conclusion
To ensure clean water and sanitation for all, we all have to take action. Through strategic partnerships coupled with focused efforts, governments, corporations and individuals, I strongly believe this issue would become a thing of the past.
“It is time that we all see gender as a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals” – Emma Watson
Gender issues continue to be a major challenge, especially in the African communities both at subtle and revealing levels of human relations. The aim of this goal is geared towards ending all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere and also to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking, sexual and other types of exploitation.
Interesting Facts To Note
It would interest you to know that according to the UN, SDG 5 will not only empower women across the globe but also determine the achievement of the other Goals!
49 countries still lack laws protecting women from domestic violence
Based on data from 87 countries, 1 in 5 women and girls under the age of 50 will have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner within the last 12 months.
At least, 200 million girls and women have been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation.
47% of homicide victims have been women who were killed by their partners.
Progress Made So Far
There has been progress over the last decades: More girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and positions of leadership, and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality.
In Southern Asia, girls’ risk of marrying under 18years has decreased by 40% since 2000.
Over the last three decades, FGM rates have declined by 30% but progress has not been universal.
The proportion of women in management has increased since 2000 in all regions except in least developed countries.
MTW’s Involvement In Achieving Goal 5
A typical Get Global Session on Gender Equality is targeted at ensuring that each youth appreciates and understands the similarities and differences of others. Also, we want to be able to understand real life situations where such cases are prevalent and also know the initial thoughts of gender equality among the youth.
Leveraging on entertaining but insightful activities such as Diversity Circle, Pick It Up, Lines of Communication and Magic Boots, MTW is building the capacity of the youth to be aware of the beauty of diversity among themselves, promoting self awareness, team work and effective communication.
MTW puts in extensive amount of time and other resources in training facilitators like myself to be very conscious about this Goal and its many associated cases.
State of Goal 5 During COVID19
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could reverse the limited progress that has been made on gender equality and women’s rights. The coronavirus outbreak exacerbates existing inequalities for women and girls across every sphere – from health and the economy, to security and social protection.
What Must Be Done To Achieve Goal 5
Better iscriminatory laws need to change and aggressive legislation adopted to proactively advance equality.
The private sector must be engaged in rolling out equal opportunities and treatment for girls and women at the corporate places.
Grant and Fund agencies should work more with institutions like Move The World who have real experience on the grounds when it comes Community sensitization interventions.
At the individual level, I would encourage everyone of us to be very mindful how we treat the opposite sex. Join institutions that are spearheading such initiatives so as to learn more yourself.
In conclusion
Gender equality by 2030 requires urgent action to eliminate the many root causes of discrimination that still curtail women’s rights in private and public spheres.
And it starts with you and I. Always fill your heart with love and respond with care to the other. If you are in authority, do not look down or judge the other simply because of their gender. Learn to understand and appreciate others by who they are and not by their natural makeup.
My impact on my students is a lifelong one. One that could be positive in the minds of some and negative to others. For this sole reason, I commit myself to vigorous preparation before any session with my students. It is my duty to contribute to building the self-esteem of these young one.
Coincidentally, in trying to achieve the above, I have realised my personal self-esteem is being enhanced. I do not intend to minimize the role I play in influencing these students’ lives.
Hopefully, the role will be positive, possessing the qualities of a “charismatic adult” who not only touches students’ minds but also their spirits; the way they see and feel about themselves for the rest of their lives.
Such influence is truly a rare privilege that I have prized and continue nurture.
Young people today face considerable challenges in creating a bright future for themselves, which is why childhood is a critical period for the development of human and social capital and is determined in preparing societies to be prosperous, sustainable and inclusive in the future.
The sustainable development goals are established so that young people can have the drive for development but only if they are provided with the skills and opportunities needed to reach their potential, support and contribution to develop their communities.
Here are few objectives MTW contribute to young people towards achieving the global SDGs targets.
Awareness
With the right tools and information, children and young people can play a critical role in the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs, sparking action in their communities and holding leaders to account.This is why MTW works more with young people to raise awareness through schools and community gatherings, educating and engaging young children on why the goals matter to their everyday lives. This helps them build a strong relationship within their communities.
Creativity
Creative arts play a greater role in the lives of children. Developing freedom of thought to enable children to think and create new ways of solving problems always get children to display their hidden talents very well. So when it comes to Get Global we introduce creative games and interactive activities such as Bracelet making, Beans growing, Streetsmart and many more to prepare them for the future and to also help them find ways to approach situations and challenges that may come their way.
Social education
With our social education, we believe that the provision of knowledge and skills that improve an individual’s understanding and awareness of their rights and the rights of others is very important for every child. MTW has been a key tool in this changing world and serves as the foundation of social development in communities. The organisation acts as an agent of change to transform individuals to be effective citizens of the globe which involves the development of life skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking and interpersonal skills.
Livelihoods education
MTW builds one’s ability to secure a sustainable livelihood through skills assessment and a balance between developing entrepreneurial and employability skills. We get the children to have the ability to look at challenges and develop the ability to communicate thoughts, ideas, feelings and concerns effectively and be able to adapt to different groups of people in order to work collaboratively.
A good global citizen understands global processes and to narrow it down to this global pandemic, the question I keep asking myself is “What if the world is not in danger but a mechanism of healing itself from the damage mankind has cursed it?”
For some reason, I think the world isn’t in danger because we are the real threat, can you see that before quarantine nature is taking its place? Animals can roam freely, the air is more cleaner now that there are no more people working in factories and no more people using vehicles because people are inside their houses.
There is a saying, that everybody want to change the world but nobody is ready to change themselves for the world. Perhaps it is time for us to reflect on ourselves and ask, what have we done for mother earth? Do you really need to use that much plastic bag? Will you walk to the nearby shop instead of driving? It is all the little things that matters, and if everyone contributed indirectly, the planet will be a beautiful place to live it.
The world is calling for healing and it is speaking to us in a specific language we dearly understand, now is the time for this generation to come together and fight for the well-being of mother earth.
After all the workshops and briefings, one thing which was very clear in my mind moving forward as a Get Global facilitator, was a change agent.
I have been here before as a teacher, but this journey I was going to embark on was a totally different one. Not because of shorter contract hours or for any other reason, but because of the package to be delivered.
Fast forward now, the impact has been tremendous. I am now a very responsible individual. As a change agent, I understand I have to walk and practice what I speak and teach. My values changed a lot for the better.
I now see myself as a role model for these young ones. I have learnt to align my values, beliefs, actions and thoughts for the better, because some younger ones look up to me for inspiration.
