You Can Make A Difference!

As we begin the solutions part of our Human Rights Challenge Based Learning Unit , consider how you can make a difference. Watch Jeremy Gilley's TEDtalk video to learn how he is working towards creating peace in our world.






In his TEDtalks speech, Gilley tells the story of how he fought to have people around the globe put down their weapons for at least one day, so countries can get help to millions of children in war-torn areas.  September 21 is now officially recognized as Peace Day. One day can make a difference. You too can make a difference.

Young Global Eco-Superhero

Inspired by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Wangari Maathai from Kenya, who received the award for her Green Belt Movement in which over 45 million trees were planted to help stop soil erosion, Felix Finkbeiner begin fighting against climate change at the young age of nine.  Now thirteen, Felix is kept busy with his his organisation, Plant for the Planet. 

The Telegraph  news article, "13 year old has the world planting trees," discusses Felix's passion for the environment and his journey to fight for significant environmental changes to ensure future generations that our planet will be a healthy one.  Read the Telegraph article and watch Felix's address to the UN below to form a clear picture of this eco-superhero. Perhaps Felix will inspire one of you to fight for change.

International Children's Peace Prize

There is an age old adage that claims, "Children should be seen and not heard" because many believe that children are not capable of wise words or acts.  The International Children's Peace Prize organization disagrees.  In fact, the main purpose of the organization is to acknowledge "an exceptional child, whose courageous or otherwise remarkable acts and thoughts have made a difference in countering problems, which affect children around the world." Mikhail Gorbachev presented the first prize during the Nobel Peace Laureates' Summit in 2005. Since then, the International Children’s Peace Prize Laureate is selected annually from nominations all over the world.


Michaela Mycroft was the 2011 winner of the International Children's Peace Prize for her commitment to the rights of disabled children in South Africa.  See video below of Michaela receiving her award:

Read about award winning recipients from 2005 to 2011 on the website.  Consider the traits these youths share that allowed them to fight to make a difference in the world. 

This I Believe: Accomplishing Big Things in Small Pieces ~ William Wissemann

Read or listen to the following essay found on the This I Believe website, "Growing up with dyslexia, William Wissemann learned how to break down words and sentences into smaller parts so he could understand them. As he got older, Wissemann found this skill useful for solving everything from Rubik's Cubes to life's tricky puzzles."  Dyslexia is a term for disorders that make it difficult to learn to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols.  How did Wissemann's success with the Rubik's Cube serve as an impetus to fight to attain his goals despite his learning disability?

"The Lorax"

Revisit the childhood favorite, "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss.  What is the Lorax telling its audience to fight for?

Somalian Plight

"August 29, 2011. Refugees in Hagadera, Kenya, scramble to load their belongings onto trucks that will relocate them to a newly opened camp near Nairobi. About a thousand new refugees fleeing famine in Somalia continue to pour into Kenya each day."

Time magazine posts what they deem to be the best inspirational photos from around the world each week. This photo showcases the plight of the Somalians. Every day, thousands of Somalians fight to survive another day, the famine forcing them to leave their homeland behind hoping to find help. Read more to understand the severity of Somalia's famine in the article, "UN declares Somalia famine in Bakool and Lower Shabelle."

"Is life a thorn or a flower?"

"Ms Ghimire has published four volumes of poetry, two books of short stories and many newspaper columns."

 

 

 

Thomas Bell, BBC journalist, writes that "a young woman with cerebral palsy, whose only way of communicating is by writing with her foot, has won Nepal's most prestigious literary prize."  Jhamak Kumari Ghimire has spent a lifetime fighting for her right to life and education as a result of being born with a disability in a poor village.  Read the article "Nepal's prize winning poet with cerebral palsy" to be inspired by Ms. Ghimire's journey of determination to achieve her dreams.