Frances Guy

27 May Mondialogo

While the politicians try to sort out a new PM and a new government, diplomats can get on with other business. 

Today it was a pleasure to visit the school of Notre Dame Jamhour.   Their 4th year class equivalent (2nde in the French system) have been participating in a global project run by UNESCO called Mondialogo. The project links up schools all round the world and they share information on each others' countries and carry out a joint project.  Notre Dame Jamhour were linked with Mandville in London and have been working together on a project about Child Labour.  The photo shows the students wearing the T-shirts designed by Mandville.  Notre Dame students went to Tripoli in Northern Lebanon to interview child workers.  They found many reluctant to talk but they found others willing to explain why they were working and not at school.  Most of them earned a pittance but few seemed really unhappy.   All were illiterate and had dropped out of school for a variety of reasons.

It was a good little piece of sociological research well presented in English and French by pupils whose first language is Arabic.   The school director said a few perfect words about the place of such a project in today's globalised world demonstrating that youth can reach out and learn from each other.  And then we had tea and cake.. proudly presented.  One of the students apologised for not having made scones...   I am intrigued by what pupils share.   Twenty Lebanese schools are participating in Mondialogo.  Others are linked up with schools in Africa and South America.    To  know that UNESCO are encouraging such contacts gives me increased hope for the future of the UN.    I leave enthusiastic.

Posted at 14:21 27 May 2008 by Frances Guy  |  Comments[1]