South African activists chosen for international course
South African duo certified as international ethics educators
Extending their work in supporting children’s rights, South African activists Saydoon Nisa Sayed and Vedhan Singh received certification as ethics teachers from Arigatou International for its Ethics Education Initiative.
The eminent international activists for the rights of youth and marginalised groupings, Sayed and Singh have transformed the lives of thousands through their organisations the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) SA, Interfaith Dialogue Forums, and Children and Youth Interfaith Network (CAYIN).
The pair, who have been addressing the detrimental effects of Covid-19 on the physical and mental health of children, were the first and only South Africans hand-picked for this initiative.
This seeks to promote spaces and opportunities to nurture values and ethics in the youth, within the Framework of the Child’s Right to Education as enshrined in the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.
‘It was a humbling experience to have our monthly GNRC SA and CAYIN programmes acknowledged by Arigatou International,’ said Sayed.
‘We were rigorously trained by world-renowned specialist-facilitators on a transformative pedagogy for learning to live together.’
Reflecting on the need for resilience in education during Covid-19, Singh explained that a safe and inclusive learning environment for children contributes to socio-emotional and spiritual well-being, strengthens ethical reflections and empowers them to be agents of positive change.
‘Being the youngest participant, the inter-generational mix allowed for the incorporation of ideas on teaching and learning from both the traditional and contemporary pedagogical spaces,’ he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Arigatou International offices in Switzerland, ethics education programme officer Suchith Abeyewickreme said they hope the course will enrich the delegates’ work with children, especially in these challenging times.
