We have enormous capacity to awaken hope in our world, contributing to the formation of men and women who are just, true global citizens.” Fr. General Arturo Sosa, SJ

The Global Citizenship Course, created by members of the Educate Magis community from around the world, has been taken by teachers and educators from Jesuit schools in over 35 different countries, sometimes by individual teachers and sometimes by the whole teaching body.

Some of these teachers have taken the time to share their experiences and learnings from the course, highlighting how it has helped them to teach Global Citizenship to their students, through an array of different subjects.

Below are some of the experiences shared:

Spain 

We are fortunate to belong to an incredible educational community, such as Educate Magis, which, among other things, makes training resources available to us. So, taking advantage of the availability of the « Global Citizenship » course I encouraged myself to register and I can assure you that I value the experience very positively.

In the first place, it helped me to go deeper into the concept, reflecting also on the importance of transferring to the classroom attitudes and behaviours that will undoubtedly accompany students throughout their lives, such as openness, empathy, commitment, enthusiasm, curiosity and the desire to improve”. Mónica Villarino, Escuela Técnico-Profesional Fundación Revilla-Gigedo, Gijón, Spain

Read more about Mónica’s experience here

Colombia

 It is super important to do the Global Citizenship Course because it not only expands our knowledge, but also places us where we are today as a global society and highlights that we must all work for our world. It also allows you to understand how the Society of Jesus works worldwide, for example through the Fe y Alegría materials, which are designed to support the work we do in class, including the Red Chair project. So, I invite and encourage all of us who belong to the Jesuit network to take this valuable Global Citizenship Course”. Jesús, teacher in Colegio Santa Luisa, Bogotá, Colombia

Read more about Jesús’ experience here

Philippines

The course served as a guide in my reflective practice. It provided starting points, inspiring lessons & resources to fully integrate global citizenship program. I found multiple examples of lessons, where students can become proficient with an openness to global collaboration, – all ready for educators like me, to take back to their school and bring about positive and tangible change.

To the other educators, now is the time to face these pressing questions and build global professional learning networks. Let us make the most of these networking opportunities, proactively engage with the Jesuit community, and look at the initiatives best implemented by the other Jesuit educators who are at the forefront of innovation. This is truly an appropriate formative example of the learning cycle- learning from the course, using it in the classroom, and sharing best and effective practices using the lessons. It is through sharing a deeper meaning of transformation in teaching & learning with technology tools where we can empower teachers to animate MAGIS”. Lea Lilibeth Emata, Xavier University Grade School, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines

Read more about Lea’s experience here

Brazil

Completing the Global Citizenship course, on the Educate Magis platform, contributed to the expansion of my own concept of the theme (of Global Citizenship), and of my sense of responsibility and commitment to issues that are essentially important and of global impact. The reflections and themes addressed produced a personal effect, an awareness of the dramatic situations that afflict thousands of people. It is not that I was unaware of these situations, but often our excessive individualism distances us from these realities and hardens our gaze.

The contact with the topics during the course promoted the reflection and insight that, through my commitment to the Christian values, I am also co-responsible for thinking about possible solutions to local and global issues”. Sabrina Dias, Colégio Sao Luis, Sao Paolo, Brazil

Read more about Sabrina’s experience here

Bolivia

In “Colegio San Ignacio” School in Bolivia all of the teachers were encouraged by their Headmaster to take the course in response to JESEDU-Rio Action #12 (The Delegates further commit to working with the schools’ leadership to oblige all faculty and staff be formed in global citizenship so that they can help students understand their future as global citizens). Some of the teachers share their learnings from the course as well as the concrete actions they have taken in the school since completing the course.

I believe I have understood why it is important to teach and accompany our students to become global citizens and thus motivate them to pay special attention to their global context by exploring issues such as the importance of human rights, the global sustainable development goals, social justice, the right to quality education, and an in-depth analysis of how each of us has an obligation to care for our common home”. Jackeline, Colegio San Ignacio, La Paz, Bolivia

This course helped me to understand that through my teaching I can go beyond my subject. It involves not only developing the themes, but relating them to the reality underlying that of my students, in addition to other realities and that advocating awareness and values is directly aligned to a spiritual awareness, action and reasoning”. Sonia, Colegio San Ignacio, La Paz, Bolivia

Read more about how the whole teaching body in Colegio San Ignacio, La Paz completed the Global Citizenship Course and the actions they are taking as a result.

If you would like to share your experience and learnings from the Global Citizenship Course or have any questions about the course, please comment below. We would be delighted to hear from you!