Why change needs to be Global
One thing that the Pandemic has illustrated to everyone is how connected we all are to each other. We do not exist in bubbles, our groups are made up of people in other groups, who are connected to more groups and so on. Over the past year and a half we saw the virus spread rapidly across the world. We are all connected across the world.
If we eradicate Covid19 from the UK it will be back in a heartbeat. If we have a vaccination programme in only the wealthy countries, a new variant could bring us all back to square one. We need to eradicate it from the world.
It’s the same for education too. If we are able to get access to quality education right in one country, the problems caused by lack of education are still going to affect people across the world.
Despite improvements over the past decades, progress towards achieving education for all has stagnated and close to 260 million children are not able to access education. In some countries where children do go to school, they are not always able to complete their education.
It is often children from the poorest households, who live in rural areas and particularly girls who are not able to access education.
Marginalisation based on socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity, language, religion and location are all contributors to education inequality. The Covid-19 pandemic has compounded the inequalities children face in accessing their human right to education.
Lack of education, and therefore opportunities, in one part of the world leads to environmental degradation, loss of species, disruption of ecosystems leading to extreme weather and natural events, activities increasing global warming, and viruses jumping species. These things affect the globe.
So in the same way that we have to eradicate Covid19 from the globe, we also have to make education accessible throughout the globe. We are all connected, and a problem created in one place will affect everyone.
We have challenges in the UK and we are all rightly concerned about how we can fix our own problems locally. But we also need to think differently and work on ways to find solutions to problems globally, if we don’t, we will all be adversely affected in a wide range of ways. Working on a global level is a better safety net, and the only truly sustainable way to move forward.
Global change also needs to be achieved at grass roots level, chosen, developed and applied by the local people and culture of each area. It has been proven many times in our partnership work that If people are given the opportunity and work together they can find the unique solution that will work for them long term. That way it is not only sustainable but also is preserving and respecting culture and national differences.
The Steve Sinnott Foundation is working at a grass roots level to make a change to education in our partner areas. We share learning and adapt and replicate projects that allow children and young people access to education and opportunities, which we know from experience make a real difference to peoples’ lives. We will continue reaching out to people, connecting people in different countries, opening an international dialogue about the necessity of Education For All.
Steve Sinnott • August 31, 2021
Seeds of Hope are everywhere! “I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I arrived at Stage at the Lake…” But it was special to meet all of the Calderdale team in person, who had brought this four-day event together so successfully. Sometimes an event stays with you long after the final performance has finished. My visit to Stage at the Lake at the beautiful Shibden Hall in Calderdale was one of those occasions. As UNESCO ASPnet UK Coordinator, I was delighted to be invited as a guest, but what I experienced was much more than simply attending an event. Here, in the grounds of a house steeped in history, the past, present and future seemed to meet. The English Chamber Orchestra filled the setting with music, Northern Ballet brought movement and storytelling to life, and throughout there was a wonderful sense of creativity, community and possibility. And then there were the parklets; a unique gardening festival at Shibden Park celebrating community, creativity and the power of nature to bring people together. At its heart was a specially commissioned trail of ten micro show gardens, designed and built by community groups from across Calderdale. It was wonderful to see spaces where ideas, conversations and creativity were flourishing and connecting through Seeds of Hope. I cannot wait to see them transported to their ‘forever homes’. Standing there, I found myself thinking about what we mean when we talk about education, culture and hope.
2025 During the annual fomasyon for Alfa monitors, Antoliyis Pye gave an extensive presentation on how best to introduce and develop basic math concepts in literacy classes. The response to his insight and enthusiasm led to our decision to create our own math book for Alfa participants. In Haiti and around the world, illiterate market women and peasant farmers develop their own techniques for calculating and recording numbers. However, in providing literacy for the development of our people, we must also introduce the world of conventional numeracy. These skills lead to logical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to interpret and make informed decisions on numerical evidence. For a year we worked together to draft the contents of our Alfa Liv Kalkil, seek illustrations, create layout, and finally take our product to the local printer. Funds were provided for 350 copies, enough for each Alfa participant at each of our sites at the present level of attendance. 2026 Our next step was to fully engage each Alfa monitor in the process for introduction and use of Liv Kalkil in Alfa classes. Our two day fomasyon for 2026 was dedicated to ensuring that each member of our team was familiar with the book and comfortable in implementing the concepts with Alfa participants. The sessions were a great success. Every monitor was extremely pleased with this new tool which will allow them and their classes to work together in the world of mathematics. Liv Kalkil is now in service for every participant throughout Alfa, from Limonade itself out to sites in the hills and along the river. It is with some excitement that the monitors and participants are beginning to use our very own, home-grown, math book. In the same way that we already had Goute Sel*, Lekti Netale*, Ti Koze Sou Istwa Peyi Dayiti*, we are proud to have this math book which advances our shared work for the development of our people. We are profoundly grateful to all those who have encouraged and supported us in developing this book. We want to thank our dedicated team of monitors, the Alfa support team in Columbus, Ann Beatty and the Steve Sinnott Foundation, and the many others who contribute to our literacy programme. Chancy Jak (Alfa Co-ordinator) Antoliyis Pye (senior monitor) *Goute Sel: Taste of Salt (base text for Alfa literacy classes) *Lekti Netale (reading comprehension) *Ti Koze Sou Istwa Peyi Dayiti (stories from Haitian history; Alfa second level)
Something is energising about spending time with people who genuinely care about children and young people. That was my experience at this year’s Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield. I had the privilege of joining the Local Heroes panel, sharing the story of Seeds of Hope for a Better Future - a partnership between UNESCO ASPnet UK and partners across the U.K and globally. Seeds of Hope has connected partners through collaboration on projects and has grown in the past year. One of the projects highlighted was the Lights Camera Score programme in schools, which is now working on an exciting project with Calderdale Council and the English Chamber Orchestra, which will showcase this August at Shibden House. As we enter the second year of the competition, it was encouraging to discover how much interest there is from writers, producers, educators and creatives who are asking the same question: How can we help young people imagine and create a better future? What struck me most throughout the conference was the intention behind the conversations. Rather than assuming what young people need, there was a genuine desire to listen, understand and create media that reflects their lives, their challenges and their aspirations. One of the most thought-provoking sessions gave the microphone to young people themselves. They were asked about the proposed social media ban for under-16s, and their responses were refreshingly honest. Their message was clear: they believed the ban would be difficult to enforce because young people would inevitably find ways around it. Instead of excluding them from digital spaces, they argued that our focus should be on making those spaces safer and on helping young people develop the skills they need to navigate an increasingly digital world. One comment in particular stayed with me. A young panellist admitted, “Yes, it’s true I spend too much time on social media but so do all of you adults in the room.” The audience responded with warm applause. It was a reminder that young people notice the contradictions in the messages they receive, and that meaningful dialogue begins with honesty rather than judgement. That session reinforced something I have long believed: if we are serious about shaping the future, we must involve the people who will inherit it. Too often, decisions are made about young people rather than with them. Yet when we create opportunities for them to share their ideas, they offer thoughtful, creative and practical perspectives that deserve to be heard. That spirit resonates deeply with the values behind Seeds of Hope for a Better Future. The competition is built on a simple but powerful belief: when children and young people are allowed to express their ideas through creativity, they do more than imagine change; they begin to shape it. Over the past two years we have seen young people respond with imagination, compassion and practical solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Their artwork, writing, films and performances remind us that hope is not passive; it is something we nurture through creativity, collaboration and action. I left Sheffield feeling optimistic. Not because all the answers exist, but because I met so many talented people committed to listening to young voices and working alongside them. The enthusiasm shown for Seeds of Hope for a Better Future affirmed that there is a growing movement of educators, creatives and media professionals who believe children and young people should not only be represented in stories but also help shape them. Perhaps that is what being a local hero is really about. It is not about having all the answers. It is about creating the conditions for others to flourish, listening with curiosity and planting seeds of hope that will continue to grow long after the conversation has ended. You can follow the journeys below: https://www.stageatthelake.co.uk/seeds-of-hope https://threestonesmedia.co.uk/blog/portfolio-item/lights-camera-score/ Entries for Seeds of Hope for a Better Future for 2026 have closed, and we will be back again next year: https://unesco.org.uk/ For inspiration, you might like to have a look at the 2025 Winners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bb8PJS5j7k Ann Beatty UNESCO ASPnet Coordinator UK CEO, The Steve Sinnott Foundation Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/roo-walker/over-the-horizon License code: ZFK6D180PHNWXSYQ
