In celebration of International Literacy Day, the past Thursday, September 8, The Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative (VoFG CI), along with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL), the University of Waterloo, the University of Cambridge, and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) hosted a special Online International Roundtable on Education, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the World’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event featured VoFG CI Child Authors and Ambassadors from Africa, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Oceania, who shared inspiring and passionate speeches on how the Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved. They also engaged in an insightful intergenerational dialogue with expert speakers including Adv. Wayne Garnons-Williams (Chair of the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada), Ms.Jessica Cooke (Climate Change Policy and Advocacy Adviser at Plan International), Dr. Alexandra Harrignton (Professor of Law at Albany Law School and member of the VoFG International Commission), and Ms. Alison Bellwood (founder and director of The World's Largest Lesson).
The roundtable examined critical questions at the intersection of education, children´s voices and rights, and sustainable development such as:
How can children contribute to the implementation of SDG 4 in a way that realises the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?
How can children (as voices for future generations) promote climate justice and respond to the threat of climate change and biodiversity loss?
What kind of future do children worldwide want to inherit, and how can they bring this to life?
In addition to wonderful interventions by child authors, child ambassadors, and expert speakers, the event celebrated the global launch of two beautifully-illustrated new VoFG books: The Green Warrior by Saira Thomas and The Chess Game, by Saoud Ahmad Al-Kaabi. As well as well as two formerly published books which are now available in French: Trouver la langue by Adelyn Newman-Ting and L’Invention Climatique Cosmique by Jona David. All books are available to be downloaded for free and physical copies can be purchased on Amazon.
Further, honoured invited chairs and speakers included: Prof. Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger from the University of Cambridge and the University of Waterloo and Senior Director of the CISDL, leaders in the VoFG CI International Commission and Leadership Council, Ms. Jennifer Malton, director of VoFG Arabia; alongside inspiring opening remarks from Prof. Ann Skelton, member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, keynote remarks by Ms. Isabelle LeVert-Chiasson from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and a very heartwarming closing message by Isobel Abulhoul OBE, CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Member oF VoFG CI International Commission.
We were also honoured to have the presence and support of Her Highness Sheikha Hissa Bint Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VoFG Goodwill Ambassador for the Middle East Region.
You can watch the recording of the event below:
Books launched and celebrated during the event:
Event Gallery
