In celebration of International Literacy Day, the past Saturday, September 9, The Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative (VoFG CI), along with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL), the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO), and the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada hosted a special Online International Roundtable on Education, Indigenous Rights, and Global Sustainability.
The event featured Indigenous youth activists, global experts on sustainability and Indigenous rights, as well as VoFG CI Child Authors and Ambassadors from Africa, Europe, North America, and the Middle East, who shared inspiring and passionate speeches on how the Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved. They also engaged in an insightful intergenerational dialogue that addressed critical questions at the intersection of education, children´s voices and rights, Indigenous peoples´rights and reconciliation, and sustainable development such as:
How can we all promote children's rights, and also support sustainability locally and globally?
What can be done to further encourage and support youth engagement in promoting quality education globally?
What challenges do Indigenous children, especially, often face in having their voices heard, and how can our whole society address these challenges together?
In addition to wonderful interventions by Child Authors, Child Ambassadors, and expert speakers, the event celebrated two new beautifully-illustrated VoFG books: The Beacon by Abrar Sirohey and The Tree of Tolerance by Abdulla Ismail Abushabab. As well as a new Awareness and Fundraising Handbook by Child Ambassador Nico Cordonier Gehring.
Further, honoured invited chairs and speakers included: Prof. Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, Senior Director of the CISDL, leaders in the VoFG CI International Commission and Leadership Council, Adv Neshan Gunasakera, Councillor of the World Future Council and VoFG CI Lead Counsel, Ms Isobel Abulhoul OBE, Founder, Advisor, and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Member of VoFG CI International Commission, Ms. Jennifer Malton, director of VoFG Arabia, Ms. Skw’akw’as (Sunshine) Dunstan-Moore, Indigenous Climate & Policy Advisor with VIDEA and Canadian Commission for UNESCO’s Youth Advisory Group Member; alongside inspiring opening remarks from Ms. Portia Garnons-Williams, Indigenous youth advocate and University of Toronto student, encouraging keynote remarks by Adv Wayne Garnons-Williams, acting CEO of The National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada, a heartwarming closing message by Prof. Ann Skelton, member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and beautiful opening and closing prayers by Elder Philomene Sanderson (Plains Cree from the Moosomin First Nation.
In addition, the Voices of Future Generations Children´s Initiative announced being the recipient of a grant from the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada (SSHF) to select a new Indigenous Child Author and Child Ambassadors and publish new stories that will help raise awareness about the Sixties Scoop in Canada and worldwide. The event closed with a special grant-signing celebration with the online presence of representatives from VoFG CI and SSHF.