"Lifechanging." "I learned so much about myself." "Back in touch with my ideals." "Such single steps, where you can make such a difference." "Small steps also bring you closer to big change."
These are some statements from students and teachers who attended the Global Citizen Certificate (GCC) Awards Ceremony in June 2023. The GCC program ran in no less than four different formats within The Hague University during the past school year 2022-23. Students could take on projects in the Global Governance Innovators Lab, 1st-year European Studies and Facility Management students vlogged about their assignment in 'FM in society,' 3rd-year FM, CMD and Law students walked 124km of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route, and ICT students encouraged fellow students to consider their ethical behavior developing video materials.
Why this program? Because this GC-program teaches you very different things and makes you go through other experiences than the current programs at university, promoting awareness and value-based pro-action. Experiences that are extremely useful and necessary for your future. It is a form of personal development linked to societal development through the link to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)/ UNESCO. You learn and experience how you can make an impact as a global citizen, but starting by your “Self”, building on your own story.
For instance, in the Global Governance Innovators Lab, students designed an app as a solution to a question from the municipality of The Hague to prevent (neighborhood) conflicts (Well-being in society). If you know when your neighbors celebrate holidays, you have more understanding for the extra noise and fuss that day. And if you get to know how to introduce yourself in different cultures, the do’s and don’ts, what customs are involved, and what is socially acceptable, you no longer make mistakes when introducing yourself to your new neighbors.
FM student Marit spent several days cleaning up trash from Scheveningen beach. By doing so, she set a good example, approached people, and even persuaded them to help. "I used to think that I wouldn't make much of a difference on my own. I see things differently now. Someone just needs to take the lead, and why not me?"
Idealist student Wouter Jansen walked the Camino, and he expressed in an impressive rap the huge impact this made on him and his development. Be sure to watch and listen to it (6 minutes).
IB teacher Lilian Volker also walked the Camino: "I used to be very idealistic. I went to Greece to save sea turtles. Somewhere along the way, I lost that idealism. Other priorities came up, and I didn't have time for it anymore. But when I heard about GCC, it suddenly resurfaced. So I joined, chose SDG 14 'Life below water,' and came up with actions to draw attention to the amount of plastic waste."
Is the Global Citizen Certificate right for you? Multiple GCC programs will run again next school year. Do you want to participate? Or do you want to see if GCC can also be integrated into your program? Then please contact Adela Garabal Gomez (info@storycraftinghouse.com ).
New edition starting as well in Spanish and facilitator trainings coming up.
She is the initiator of GCC and leads the project from the World Citizenship research group, Global & Inclusive Platform (GIL).
Just get in touch! Join & feel Empowered!
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