Congo's Young People Given a Voice in Scotland

SCIAF is giving a voice to the young people of the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo in a new and innovative modern languages resource for Scottish secondary schools.

The new resource Citizens of the World – Life in the DRC (Citoyens Du Monde – La Vie en RDC) is part of SCIAF’s drive to champion global citizenship in the Scottish curriculum and has been specially designed to support the Curriculum for Excellence. It comprises a web-based video wall of young Congolese talking about their lives and aspirations, an interactive online blog enabling young Scottish students to ask questions and hold discussions with a young person in the Congo, and a 60-page teachers’ pack including background on the DRC, lesson ideas, factsheets and a DVD-ROM.

The aims of the resource are to help modern language teachers embed global citizenship themes into the classroom; enable young people to understand the importance of language and communication in our globalised world; encourage them to learn French; raise awareness of life in the DRC; and help pupils understand the reasons for the arrival in the UK of Congolese refugees and asylum families. £9.95 is being charged by SCIAF to help recover the costs of production.

Catriona Oates of the Scottish Centre for Information and Language Teaching (SCILT) has fully endorsed this new tool for Scottish schools.

She said:

“This ground-breaking resource captures the spirit of Curriculum for Excellence. It offers stimulating and challenging language learning experiences, while deepening knowledge and understanding of other cultures, places and people. It provides real opportunities to engage and exchange with young French-speaking adults, and raises awareness of current events in DRC.

“The opportunity to investigate, debate, collaborate and analyse across all stages of secondary school gives teachers the platform to develop these skills in a relevant and meaningful way in the languages classroom. The coherent approach to content knowledge and skills development in this resource, along with its attractive eye-catching design and accessible pricing, make it a must for every secondary French classroom.”

John Sharp, SCIAF’s Schools Officer, said:

“Modern languages are a vital tool for bringing young people from different cultures together. We hope our new trail-blazing schools resource Citizens of the World will promote a greater mutual understanding between our young people and those living in very different countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“When it comes to international development it can often seem like a one-way street with wealthy countries always providing aid. This resource demonstrates that developing countries have a major contribution to make to the lives of young people in Scotland.”

Brian McLinden, Principal Teacher of Modern Languages at Calderglen High in East Kilbride played a key role in helping SCIAF ensure the resource meets the needs of both pupils and teachers. He said:

“The way the resource links modern languages with global citizenship and the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland makes this resource unique. The pupils at Calderglen High have been involved in ensuring it holds the interest of young people as well as maximising its effectiveness as a tool for learning French. The resource really meets the needs of today’s busy teachers and our ever more globally-aware youth.”

Click here to see the online resource and interactive blog.

Citizens of the World costs £9.95 and can be ordered online or by calling SCIAF on 0141 354 5555.