Soft versus Critical Global Citizenship Education


Abstract
At the end of a ‘Make Poverty History7 (MPH) training session for activists, as an inspiration for a group of about 30 young people to write their action plans’, a facilitator conducts the following visualisation (reproduced from my notes):
Imagine a huge ball-room. It is full of people wearing black-tie. They are all celebrities. You also see a red carpet leading to a stage on the other side. On the stage there is Nelson Mandela. He is holding a prize. It is the activist of the year prize. He calls your name. You walk down that corridor. Everyone is looking at you. What are you wearing? How are you feeling? Think about how you got there: the number of people that have signed your petitions, the number of white bands on the wrists of your friends, the number of people you have taken to Edinburgh. You shake Mandela’s hands. How does that feel? He gives you the microphone. Everyone is quiet waiting for you to speak. They respect you. They know what you have done. Think about the difference you have made to this campaign! Think about all the people you have helped in Africa…
Keywords
Critical Literacy Common Humanity Citizenship Education Global Citizenship Ethical Relationship
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