Recently, I offered external ecoliteracy expertise to review a new Irish Transition-year (TY) school-age group / place-based STEAM draft micro-module for 21st-century leadership, that features the Peoples’ and UNESCO-endorsed Earth Charter (2000) to teach teenagers about how principles guide our thinking and actions for sustainability.
Specifically, I reviewed how the Peoples’ and UNESCO-endorsed Earth Charter (2000), a set of globally-agreed universal principles to communicate all aspects of sustainability (principles to promote the care and compassion for all life, maintain ecological integrity, act for social and economic justice, democracy, non-violence and peace), could help spark teenagers reflect and become fluent in understanding how their values guide their thinking, behaviour and actions for a better world.
I was commissioned by the Kerry-based International Future Focus21c – a collaboration between Dr Anita McKeown FRSA (Art Services Unincorporated) and Rebecca White (Green Space Education). They utilise evidence-based creative strategies in place, to provide deep learning, through tangible, practical, evidence-based activities.
Future Focus21c utilises creative strategies in place to provide deep learning through tangible, practical evidence-based activities. By developing and harnessing learners’ and educators’ creativity for innovation and transferable innovative thinking, we facilitate ‘tooling up for the 21st Century’.
What is Future Focus21c? Tooling-up Education for the 21stC
Below is a sneak preview of one of the lesson plan worksheets featuring inspiring teen-activist Malala Yousafzau (others mentioned in the lesson include Greta Thunberg and Dame Jane Goodall, a long-time advocate of the Earth Charter in her global holistic sustainability Roots and Shoots programme).
Looking at the Earth Charter in this module in the context of other teens’ and elders’ activism, TY teenagers can recognise and discuss how they bravely acted for higher principles. This lesson shows how Malala bravely thought and acted to respect and care for self, others and all life.
Lesson plan worksheet – a sneak peek from our new Earth Charter micro-module #SDG12 #EarthCharter in Future Focus21c’ s Future of Enterprise and Innovation: Passion to Purpose TY Programme coming online Sept 2023 – to register or for more information https://lnkd.in/edZ5dwqV
I’m thrilled and excited to think how Irish teachers, students and curriculum designers for sustainability will spark more dialogue for sustainable actions with the Peoples’ Earth Charter.
My thanks to Dr Anita McKeown, FRSA, FIPM; June O’Connell; Rebecca White; Jessica Garska and external expert Bianca Peel. This has been a wonderful opportunity to bring the several decade’s wisdom and inspiration that is the Peoples’ Earth Charter into Irish schools in such an important and engaging way, and especially to Ireland’s youth, our 21sc Century leaders.
Future Focus21c is a collaboration between Dr Anita McKeown FRSA (Art Services Unincorporated) and Rebecca White (Green Space Education). They utilise creative strategies in place to provide deep learning through tangible, practical, evidence-based activities. By developing and harnessing learners’ and educators’ creativity for innovation and transferable innovative thinking, we facilitate ‘tooling up for the 21st Century’.
Hello! Kia Ora! Dia daoibh!
I’m Cathy Fitzgerald, an ecological artist, educator, and founder of Haumea Ecoversity. Originally from Aotearoa New Zealand, I’ve lived in rural Ireland, the home of my ancestors, for over 30 years. Together with my philosopher colleague Dr Nikos Patedakis (USA), we’ve guided over 400 creative professionals worldwide in transformative ecoliteracy training since 2019.
Haumea Ecoversity Community Membership is the next chapter of this work—a vibrant space for lifelong learning, collective wisdom, and creative transformation for a more beautiful, just, and life-sustaining world.
Dr Cathy Fitzgerald
“In these times of great challenge, I’m passionate about bringing ecoliteracy—including new ecological thinking, values, language, and head-heart-body practices—to creative, sustainability and cultural sectors. These areas have a crucial leadership role: they can inspire communities to embrace new values and actions for living well on Earth, together with all life.”
About Cathy
- Ecological Artist: Creator of the ongoing Hollywood Forest Story with new-to-Ireland continuous cover forestry (begun 2008).
- Educator & Advisor: Accredited ESD Earth Charter educator, Creative Drummin Carlow Bog project ecoliteracy advisor.
- Researcher & Mentor: Specialist in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at Haumea Ecoversity.com
In 2022, I was honoured to be nominated by Earth Charter International and UNESCO Chair for ESD as Earth Charter Focal Point Communicator for Ireland
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