Praise for Empowering Global Citizens

In 2015, the international community charted a new course for people,
planet and prosperity, set out in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Together, they add up to a universal agenda solidly anchored in human
rights that calls upon everyone’s spirit of solidarity and responsibility to
leave no one behind. Education — the fourth goal —— is the most transfor~
mative force for nurturing the mindsets, values and skills that we need to
shape our common future, grounded in awareness of our common human-
ity, respect for our formidable diversity, and the certitude that, at all ages,
we have the capacity to initiate beneficial actions for self and others. It is
not by chance that global citizenship education is included in this goal.
UNESCO has been leading action to clarify the concept and demonstrate
its crucial importance across all societies for learning to live together. Our
challenge is to bring this concept to life in let century classrooms, in
teaching practice, in schools and communities. In this spirit, I congratu-
late Professor Reimers and his team wholeheartedly for showing how this
can be done with this “World Course” that provides a stimulating, inter—
active and project-based curriculum running the full school cycle, from
kindergarten upwards. Its international perspective, humanist approach,
historical insight and creative multidisciplinary activities provide an ex—
tremely rich and comprehensive resource for educating global citizens who
have the values and cross—cultural competences to be artisans of peace and

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