What it Set Out to Achieve

The project was born of the firm belief that young people learn most strongly from each other and that schools with established links would benefit from resources that both refine and challenge the learning that can take place.

The unstoppable forces of globalisation demanded a new look at the factors responsible for the ever widening gap between rich and poor countries. In order to develop as global citizens students need to be equipped with the knowledge and desire to tackle injustice.

The General Aim of the project was to "raise young people's awareness of globalisation - international structures and processes - and North / South inequalities."

In order to achieve this we hoped to enable young people to explore perceptions about their place in the world and their relationship to globalisation while gaining an understanding of international development issues via North / South Linking.

The materials and models of good practice we have produced are to enable young people and teachers in the North and South to better understand and teach about globalisation.

How it Worked

Leeds DEC felt it was important to have partners from countries in the South engaged on the project. Partner organisations were found in South Africa, Senegal and Nicaragua. To broaden the European perspective partners were found in France and Germany.

The partners were chosen in particular because they had a track record of working with other schools. There is a long standing partnership between schools in Durban, South Africa and Leeds. The Senegalese partner is linked, via an organisation called The Partenariat, with Lille in France.

The German organisation had experience of linking with Cuba. The Nicaraguan partner, CESESMA, was new to linking but has enthusiastically made links with school in Germany and England.

The Partners were brought together for an initial conference to set the parameters for the project and to clarify roles and responsibilities.

What was decided

• The five themes would be - Education, Debt (the IMF and the World Bank) Communication, Health and Migration
• The partners would submit research on the 5 themes
• Leeds DEC would produce activities on the 5 themes and trial them in the UK
• The partners would find schools willing to trial the activities
• Leeds DEC would be responsible for coordinating the project
• Leeds DEC would be responsible for designing and printing the teaching materials
• Leeds DEC would be responsible for evaluation

Three further conferences were held during the course of the project. Although expensive and sometimes difficult to organise they were essential for the smooth running of the project. Face to face conversations solved many problems and clarified what was expected of schools and partners.