Festival of Nature 2022

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The Voices of Future Generations Children’s hosted a virtual storytime on Sunday, June 12, 2022 as part of the Festival of Nature 2022 - the UK's largest free celebration of the natural world.

Child authors from across the world took the audience on a magical journey through their stories addressing children's rights and sustainable development and sharing their hopes, dreams and vision for a sustainable world.

The event was opened by Nico Roman Cordonier Gehring, followed by child authors: Saira Thomas, Saoud Ahmed Alkaabi, Freya Tikva, Diniru Sathnidu Dissanayake, Sashini Manikandan, Seba Awadh Mohammed Almusad and Inayah Fathima Faeez.

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Watch the storytime here:

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ONLINE INTERNATIONAL ROUNDTABLE ON EDUCATION, THE UNCRC, AND THE WORLD’S SDGs

ONLINE INTERNATIONAL ROUNDTABLE ON EDUCATION, THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD (CRC), AND THE WORLD’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)

The Online International Roundtable on Education, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the World’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) celebrated International Literacy Day with the global launch of ten beautifully illustrated new UNESCO VoFG Children's Books with Child Authors and Child Ambassadors from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Oceania. Invited speakers included: Ms Estelle Lamoureux, Education Sectoral Commission Preside for CCUNESCO, Dr David Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment, Prof Marcel Szabo, Future Generations Commissioner and Chair of Voices of Future Generations, Isobel Abulhoul OBE, CEO & Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation, and an international roundtable of insightful experts and youth leaders; it was certainly an inspiring and engaging occasion offering much encouragement for the capacity being built to combat the environmental challenges on hand.

You can watch a summary of the International Roundtable below, or if you prefer you can watch the full recording here on YouTube.

Keynote Speech by Ms Estelle Lamoureux, Education Sectoral Commission Preside for CCUNESCO

Opening Remarks: Dr. David Boyd (UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment)

Voices of Future Generations Online Book Launch of VoFG Introduction of book titles & Child Authors - Chair: Prof. Marcel Szabo, Future Generations Commissioner and Chair, VoFG CI

The Voices of Future Generations new Children's Books being celebrated with UNESCO, CISDL and partners on International Literacy Day 2021 include:

• The Sound of Silence by Ying-Xuan Lai (Asia) on climate change (Goal 13) and life on land (Goal 15).

• The White Dolphin by Zhuo Meng-Xin (Asia) on climate change (Goal 13) and life below water (Goal 14).

• The Small Sparrow Hero by Huang Yun-Hung (Asia) on climate change (Goal 13) and responsible consumption and production (Goal 12).

• Journey for Tomorrow by Andrea Wilson (North America) on clean energy (Goal 7), responsible consumption and production (Goal 12), and life below water (Goal 14).

• The Children Who Saved the Mangroves by Rehema Kibugi (Africa) on climate change (Goal 13) and life on land (Goal 15).

• Stanley and EPIC by Jasper Chin Moody (Oceania) on sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11) and consumption and production (Goal 12).

• Dream Catcher by Tien-Li Cheng (Asia) on responsible consumption and production (SDG12), climate change (SDG13) and life on land (Goal 15).

• Finding the Language by Adelyn Newman-Ting (Global Indigenous Child Author) on quality education (Goal 4) and life on land (Goal 15).

• The Girl Who Changed Everything by Freya Tikva (Europe) on sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11) and responsible consumption and production (SDG12).

• The Challenge of a Generation by Christina-Angelina Kassongo (Africa) on quality education (Goal 4), sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11), and peace and justice (16).

Gallery of the International Roundtable

Recommended resources by the speakers and special guests engaged in the dialogue on Education, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Voice of Future Generations Children's Initiative and Cambridge Schools Eco-Council's Eco-Seminars 

• International Roundtable on Indigenous Children’s Voices & Rights: Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

• Canadian Commission for UNESCO 

• Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL)

• National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada 

• Voices of Future Generations Arabia 

• Nico's Natural World (NNW Instagram, NNW Facebook)

ONLINE INTERNATIONAL ROUNDTABLE ON INDIGENOUS CHILDREN’S VOICES & RIGHTS:

ONLINE INTERNATIONAL ROUNDTABLE ON INDIGENOUS CHILDREN’S VOICES & RIGHTS:

IMPLEMENTING THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD BY ENCOURAGING INDIGENOUS CHILDREN’S VOICES

The Online International Roundtable on Indigenous Children’s Voices & Rights: Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by encouraging Indigenous Children’s Voices celebrated on International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples with Adelyn Sophie Newman-Ting, Voices of Future Generations Indigenous Child Author, Sydnee Wynter and Bella Morrisseau, Voices of Future Generations Indigenous Child Ambassadors, Roda Muse, Secretary-General of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and a roundtable of insightful Indigenous speakers, youth leaders and experts; it was certainly an inspiring and engaging occasion. 

You can watch a summary of the International Roundtable below, or if you prefer you can watch the full recording here on YouTube.

We especially enjoyed celebrating the launch of Finding the Language by the first Voices of Future Generations Indigenous Child Author. The beautifully illustrated children's book explores the importance of saving Indigenous languages and cultures and relates to SDG 4: Education and SDG 13: Climate Change.

Adelyn Newman-Ting is VoFG's first Global Indigenous child author. Her book,

Finding the Language, highlights SDGs 4, quality education, and 15, life on land.

In her story brilliantly illustrated by Justine Greenfield, the protagonist Kesu undertakes an inspirational and exciting clue-filled adventure with the help of her friends, both human and animal, and Elders, to relearn her language and its connection to the land.

Gallery of the Online International Roundtable

Recommended resources by the speakers and special guests engaged in the dialogue on Indigenous Children’s Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by encouraging Indigenous Children’s Voices:

• Voice of Future Generations Children's Initiative and Cambridge Schools Eco-Council's Eco-Seminars

• Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL)

• Canadian Commission for UNESCO

• First Nations Treaties & SDGs Project, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED), University of Waterloo

• National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada 

• Audain Professorship of Contemporary Art Practices of the Pacific Northwest, University of Victoria

• Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism (CHRLP), McGill University

• Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC)

• Nico’s Natural World (NNW Instagram, NNW Facebook)