Over 200 delegates took part in the UNESCO Associated Schools conference from around the four western provinces and Mexico last week in Olds.
The conference began on Wednesday evening with all delegates getting together for the opening ceremony, followed by activities around the themes of intercultural education, human rights, global concerns and education for sustainable development. It wrapped up with a closing ceremony on Friday evening before students departed on Saturday.
“The basis for this conference, all the decisions were made around social justice and the environment. There is a lot of learning involved. For example, at this (lunchtime) session 100 and some delegates are getting lasagna. The rest will be getting lentils and rice to simulate food disparities involved, that only 15 per cent of the world actually gets a sufficient amount of food,” said Kurtis Layden, an Olds High School student and co-chair of the conference.
Thursday afternoon featured a variety of speakers talking to the students about the four UNESCO themes.
Layden said the value of the conference and its themes was imparting a sense of ethics in students.
“I think it instils moral values in our youth and it gets them out there and involved in being a positive part of your community, and your global community as well. So I think that's really important for students to (focus on) all about learning and then doing and incorporating that and taking that back to your community,” he said.
By helping to organize the conference, Layden said he learned about the importance of the four themes and how they relate to the community of Olds, as well as the global community — and how students can advance those themes.
“I think having students drive something (is good),” he said.
Delegates who discussed various issues amongst themselves at the conference will also have the ability to continue those discussions with group members via a website that was developed as part of the conference.
“Students that want to discuss that issue will be asked to get into little groups and network — and names will be taken down so you can further that networking after the conference ends, and those students will be able to go forward on a website we've developed and share the knowledge of what they've learned in their community … and develop those ideas in their community,” he said.
The students had help from the Alberta Teachers' Association and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO in organizing the conference.
"The basis for this conference, all the decisions were made around social justice and the environment."Kurtis Layden, co-chair, UNESCO conference
