Title : Universal Education Foundation (2005 onwards)
Type of project/activity: The EIESP is one of the partners of the Universal Education Foundation ( www.uef-eba.org )
Objectives:
The vision of the UEF is: Education by all for the well-being of children.
Background:
The UEF is a global advocacy foundation that engages in partnerships to promote the concept of “Education by All for the Well-being of Children.” It is a coalition between government, business, health, and media that believes that systemic investment in education for the well-being of children is an investment in health, happiness and sustainability of society.
The education of children takes place both within the school environment and in every aspect of a young person's life. Current research illustrates that effective learning is related to students feeling emotionally and physically safe, supported by and connected to adults who care, listen to them and show respect for them. Student involvement with information and communication technologies (ICT) and media environments is shaping the ways young people think, build relationships with peers and adults, construct knowledge, and perceive current reality and hope for the future. Education is thus the responsibility of all, to be undertaken with greater deliberate action to support children's well-being. UEF defines well-being as the realisation of one's physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual potential. UEF believes that children who experience a greater sense of well-being are more likely to:
• Enjoy being playful, spontaneous and in the present;
• Learn and assimilate information in effective ways;
• Engage in healthy and fulfilling social behaviours;
• Invest in their own and others' well-being and in the sustainability of the planet, as they take up their social, professional and leadership roles in adulthood.
The central activities are rooted in the everyday experiences that have an impact on the lives of young people at home, in school and in their communities. The movement is developed through the creation of country based organisations licensed to implement the UEF program of activities. A key feature is involving young people as agents of change to improve their learning environments. The program currently has three inter-related core components: the Voice of Children, the Elham Inspirational Program and the Learning for Well-Being Forum.
Partners:
The current partners of the UEF are: Academy for Educational Development (Washington, USA), Education Development Center (Boston, USA), European Institute of Education and Social Policy (Paris, France), GAID - Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN), International Partnership Network, Madariaga European Foundation (Brussels, Belgium), Media in Education Trust (Durban, South Africa), SYNERGOS (New York, USA), United Nations Fund for International Partnerships, World Education (Boston, USA)
Main activities:
During 2006 UEF piloted the Voice of Children Initiative in three countries in the Middle East : Palestine , Lebanon and Jordan . Quantitative (with a representative sample) and qualitative surveys were carried out with 15-16 year olds about their perception of the impact of school on their well-being. Twelve focus groups of girls and boys from all over Palestine were also conducted. The results, which bring to light the hope and optimism of these young people as well as significant concerns and problems in their lives, are being taken up by the Ministry of Education as hard evidence for policy making. The outcomes will enable us to refine the methodologies for listening to children and young people of different ages and in many different societies.
In 2007:
The Elham programme is being launched in Palestine following a number of focus groups held with teachers, business leaders, parents, and government officials and a national consultations organised with the partnership which includes the Ministries, UNICEF, UNWRA, the ICT sector and the business sector.
The first European pilot is being launched in Wales , where the partnership is led by the University of Wales Institute Cardiff and will have a board that includes the Welsh Youth Parliament, ‘Funky Dragon', as well as representatives from local businesses, NGOs and philanthropies.
The process of refining the indicators and schools questionnaire is underway and the ICT/Media questionnaire is being developed for testing.
The EIESP contributes to the activities of the UEF in several ways, through participation on the core team, planning and coordination of certain activities, contributions to the design and development of the programme, contribution to communication and dissemination.
For more information: Jean Gordon Gordon@dauphine.
