The 2022 Global Action Circle Booklet

Introduction

YouthxYouth (“Youth by Youth'' - YxY) is a global community of youth activists and adult allies dedicated to the reimagination and transformation of education for collective liberation. Our goal is to accelerate the process of young people influencing, designing, and transforming their learning experiences and education systems — towards a world where learning serves everyone: us, our communities, andtheplanet.

We believe that the only way we can transform our education at scale, globally, and rapidly, is throughayouth-led,adult-supported(r)evolution ofoureducation.

Read more about YouthxYouth on our website: youthxyouth.com

The Global Action Circles

GACs are peer-to-peer learning communities composed of about 12 education activists: youth hosts, a host mentor, young people, and two to three adults. The GACs are thus intergenerational whilst remaining youth-led and youth-centered. Each GAC met twice a month for 5 months (from September until January) around a common lored together. Each person d with their own learning y explored, deepened, and s for the duration of their d

Peace Education

Peace education teaches peace processes such as negotiation, reconciliation, non- violent struggle, collaboration, acquiring values, knowledge, attitude, skills, and behaviors to live in harmony with oneself. It teaches about the use of treaties and laws to reduce levels of violence.

RuphinKungwa

KarenOyiengo

AprilGraceGarcia

Etim-EtimAkpan

SharanyaTyagi

Ruphin Kungwa

Learning Question: How can education contribute for peacebuilding in communities withconflict?

Question I am leaving with: Is there an effective way to resolve conflict and build lastingpeacewitheducationalapproaches?

Where has my learning question brought me?

My learning question has moved me to make a change in m community by knowing the challenges that refugees a facing in camps and discovering the main causes that them to flee from their countries of origin. I was able organize workshops about "Peace building" in differe schools, meeting and sharing with teachers, learners a parents at once, showing them the value of preparing peaceful future by investigating our children's mindse also organized 2 workshops with youths in Nakiva centering them for long lasting change through preachi and promoting peace by preventing the consequences conflict before it starts. What if we inspire and empow youths with the stories of great leaders and heroes l Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Mahatma Gandhi, Jul Kambarage Nyerere, Martin Luther King,...? This could he develop the characters of the Ubuntu philosophy (I a because we are), to practice love, peace, compassion a empathy rather than holding segregation, hatred a discrimination among us. Let us make a stride for peace healthehumanity.

What have I created?

During the learning journey, I created my own project called "STRIDE FOR PEACE BUILDING". This project engages teachers, pupils, local leaders and communities to better understand alternative techniques and methods for discovering the main cause of war, insecurity and conflict in order to bring solutions to prevent its consequences and reset a longlastingpeace.

Reflections

My gratitude to YxY for organizing the GAC. I could wish to continue this journey forever. I have never been through an online learning journey like this. This has been really powerful. It was a great journey for me, in the way that I did more research about what I ampassionateabout(Peacebuilding),developedand learnt different methods and techniques to follow when resolving running conflicts and prevent others which may occur unexpectedly. The lessons learnt from fellows is developing love, empathy, tolerance and pity to respect other people's culture/emotions and accept or think of diversity when making decisions.

Karen Oyiengo

LearningQuestion: Why do vulnerable persons suffer? Why do lonely elderly persons and idle youngpersonsmisspeace?

Question I am leaving with: Can my SPARKLING RECIPROCATING VENTURES sustain itself and enhance PEACE among the participants?

Where has my learning question brought me?

It has brought me to think of how the two groups, lon elderly and idle young can do activities together in reciprocal manner. I now have a project where I ha designed agricultural activities that will keep the id occupied and the lonely in company of hard working you persons. These activities will be income generating and t funds can be used to fill in many gaps in their lives includi nutrition. Some of the funds can be used to organise tou that will help provide more exposure, less idleness. PEA will be a direct output because idleness and loneliness w beathingofthepast.

What have I created?

I have created an office where activities will be coordinated, mentoring will take place, it will develop into a community centerforclientstoshare,relaxandgenerallyenhancetheir wellbeing.PEACEistheendresult.

Reflections

I am grateful to the Almighty God for enabling me to think deeply about the plight of vulnerable persons. Secondly I am grateful that the Good Lord linked me to YxY GAC where I have been guided, mentored and led through activities that can help me attain my goals for the project. Personal consultations have been very insightful with the hosts and the members of the YxY GAC. I have LEARNT that no one has monopoly of ideas and that the more ideas are shared the more clear the ideas become. This enables the ideas to be generalised to a wider population. The scope of my project has been widened through the questions and answers sessionsafterpresentationoftheidea/concept.

April Grace Garcia

Learning Question: How can we teach fact checkingtostudents?

Question I am leaving with: How can we teach factcheckingtostudents?

Where has my learning question brought me?

My learning question has brought me to explore ways teaching fact checking to students especially within t ages 10-12. At the same time, I was also able to learn mo about fact checking and how other countries are trying combatdisinformationandmisinformation

What have I created?

SofarIhavebeenabletocreatealistoftopicsthatstudents may explore to have basic awareness/skills to fight against disinformation. At the same time, I have been able to do the assessmentIhadamongstudentsinourcommunity.

Reflections

IamgratefulforthesupportIreceivedwithfelloweducation activists all over the world. I have learned that in the space of transformation and reform, having a safe space to share thoughts and opinions can help a lot. At the same time, I have learned that having people around to bounce ideas with helps me better think of ways to give solutions with the problemsIamfacing.

Etim-Etim Akpan

Learning Question: How can I promote peace and peace education amongst young people at underservedcommunities?

Question I am leaving with: How can football beusedtopromotepeace?

Where has my learning question brought me?

Looking at my community, where most young people a unenrolled in schools, and those enrolled are chro absentee students, with a vast majority struggling w substances, sexual abuse, poverty and desponden leadingtomassiveinvolvementofyoungpeopleinvicesa unethical practices. My Learning Question has brought toaplaceofseekingfromwithinsolutionsthatspeaksint language that young people understand to create a platfo to start and sustain conversations to dispel prejudices a meaningfully engage to understand the felt needs of t young people, with the aim of inspiring, improving learni attitudes and providing opportunities for an otherw marginalizedpopulation.

What have I created?

As a sport enthusiast and educator passionate about combating social and educational injustices, I founded the "BALLCATION FOUNDATION" project, a social change initiative for underserved public schools in low-income Nigerian communities. The initiative uses football as a means to improve learning outcomes among young people between 816years of age and equip them with enterprise skills relevant for this day and age. The project incorporates footballing activities into learning cycles to coach and mentor the learners. Since her inception, the project has used the theory of change model to grow numeracy and literacy rate by 60% within a cluster of 147 registered adolescent learners, and has provided a medium for young people to redirect their energies intoresourceful,productiveventures.

Reflections

I am very pleased to have been part of the learning journey at YouthxYouth. I had to opportunity to interact with fellow change agents to the topic of Peace and how we can create more potent solutions to ensure that the world can be at peace. I also recognize that no Society can function properly in the absence of peace. So the importance of peace and peaceeducationcannotbeoveremphasized.

Sharanya Tyag

Learning Question: How can we as a society learn to safely diversify when there is non acceptanceinanIndividualtosupportit?

Question I am leaving with: How can there be an effective impact created for causes that haveawideoutreach?

Where has my learning question brought me?

The learning question has brought me a long way as I ha been able to effectively have a better understanding diversity, peace and acceptance. I have gained a lot clarity and have understood the importance of chan makingasaprocess.

What have I created?

I have created a safe community to foster diversity and inclusion which accepts people and doesn’t have any judgement. This community believes in uplifting and growing as everyone is considered of equal importance and thereissharedbelonginginallofus.

Reflections

I learnt a lot during this journey and I was able to connect with some passionate people who were doing a great job and have the same passion as me to create change. The fruitful discussions I had with my team mates was very insightful and I learned a lot about various causes and ways to help people create a balanced and safe space in society. Something I learned about myself was that I can create and foster any change as long as I am a firm believer and passionateaboutthecause.

"Ultimately,criticalpeaceeducation isnotaboutfindingdefinitive answers,butratherlettingeachnew questiongeneratenewformsand processesofinquiry."

MonishaBajaj&EdwardJ. Brantmeier

Relational & Inclusive Education

Relational and Inclusive Education is learning that prioritises our interconnection and embraces diversity of lived experience and learner autonomy. It rigorously questions the status quo, recognising that we can learn from many different sources and in many ways. Relational and Inclusive Education focuses on the process in which learners grow together and learn how we can all be with each other in more beautiful ways.

HannaNegusie

MohiniGovender

KumoWalters

IlaMalhotraGregory

MaryTweteise

Hanna Negusie

Learning Question: Where and how does learning happen outside of school? How can schooloutside-of-school spaces become a main ecosystem for self-led, purpose-driven learning for all young people – not only young people with resources?

Question I am leaving with: Where and how does learning happen outside of school? How can young people experience outside-of-school learning as a main ecosystem for self-led, purpose-driven learning, especially young people inunderservedcommunities?

Where has my learning question brought me?

My learning question is an ongoing exploration. An acti linked to my learning question is recruiting young people my organization’s Youth Board – a school-outside-of-scho learningexperience.So,pursuingmylearningquestionsh led to my finding like minds and organizations in community, and it has also led me to asking more questio For instance, I connected with an organization cal Breakthrough Santa Fe, which supports low-income midd and high school students through the college applicatio college, and post college experiences. The organizati provides wrap-around, empathetic services – not o academic support – and aims to help young people becom their greatest selves. I collaborated with Breakthrough facilitating a workshop at their Super Saturday event gathering where Breakthrough students explore outsideschool learning opportunities. From this experience answered part of my learning question: for many you people – especially young people in underserv communities – organizations and schools are how they fi outside-of-school learning opportunities. I wondered more direct avenues like word or mouth or social med would be where young people discover outside-of-scho learning opportunities. From this experience, I gathered th social media and word of mouth might be where you people that are already looking for outside-of-sch learning find opportunities. For young people that have considered seeking outside-of-school learning, I think or andschoolsarestillkeyplacesforfindinginformation.

What have I created?

I created a workshop called Exploring What’s Inside of You: Precious Objects + Partnering. This is a workshop I shared with Breakthrough Santa Fe, and I will continue to share this workshop with young people, as I recruit for my organization’s Youth Board. Also, based on suggestions from a member of my GAC, I also created a new set of info slides for the YouthBoard,whichI'veattached.

Reflections

I am grateful for the opportunity to meet so many amazing people in my GAC! The GAC experience is truly special and unique, so I’m looking forward to joining again! I learned that I truly love hearing about people’s learning experiences and what inspires themorstayswiththemaftertheirexperiences.

Mary Tweteise

Learning Question: How can I integrate the concept of comprehensive Sexuality Education in the instruction process without sounding like I'm encouraging young learners toengageinpremaritalsex?

Question I am leaving with: What if we all had an open mindset to learn, unlearn and accept tobecorrected?

Where has my learning question brought me?

My learning question has surely brought a tremendo change in my professional growth. I got a supportive G and buddy who gave me space to speak out my fears a find solutions. As a fellow at Teach For Uganda, I work fro a rural community where sexuality education isn't given thought yet which has led to increasing rates of sch dropouts, teenage pregnancies and marriages and hi illiteracy rates. My learning question brought me ideas how to advocate for sexual abstinence in young peop through more detailed conversations. I call it "solving problem from the roots" where someone first understan the cause or sometimes the outcome of a situation befo they try to solve it. I believe that by doing so, we are able avoidrecurringmistakes.

What have I created?

I began with conducting guidance and counseling, mentorship sessions with learners ( 14-18 years old) and straight talk sessions which gave them a safe space to relieve their fears. We tackled the cause of problems in their community for example teenage pregnancies, marriages, idle youth, unsupportive parents and high rates of school dropouts. We understood that more sensitization was needed for parents which resulted in community visits and having one on one conversations with parents about the value of Education. I realized that since most of learners find difficulties in proceeding with education after primary seven, life long skills would be useful. I therefore formed Twemali Purposeful Generation Initiative whose mission is to create a generation that avoids recurring intergenerational mistakes of illiteracy and absolute poverty. I got help to train girls, young mothers in making reusable pads, making liquid soap and I am currently requesting for help from well wishers to train young people in my community service school on making craft shoes. This will help the youth to make a living and sustain themselves to fight absolute poverty, have options in life andbecomeresponsibleadults.

Reflections

Relational and Inclusive Education learning journey has been amazing. I got the best GAC support family and sessions like Relational and reciprocal society, Buddyship, Activist Archetypes, pillars of learning, Factoids (where I got to know the insights of other members) were really amazing and will forever be part of me. I realized that I'm capable of anything as long as I set my mind to it. I realized that my mind is a palace and I'm the king who decides what to keep in each room. I also realized that there's always something to learn from everyone you meet regardless of their background, race, status. I was the only Ugandan in our GAC but I felt a strong connection with other members especially during the Relational and reciprocal society session. I just realized that we are one people in different locations of the world. I am grateful to YouthxYouth for this wonderful opportunity and I'm hopeful for similar opportunities in thenearfuture.IwouldlovetoforeverbepartofYouthxYouth.

Mohini Govender

Learning Question: How can we decolonize academicspaces?

Question I am leaving with: How can we practicedecoloniality?

Where has my learning question brought me?

It feels like my learning question has taken me on whirlwind of an adventure. I went into this experien knowing that this question is personal, but during t experience it became even more evident that explori concepts of history, culture, lives, all subjugated coloniality is a deeply difficult and personal feat. Having theoretically unravel centuries of intricately tangled wir the rose tinted glasses broken, sitting with this horri history that is so intensely real and not just a ferocio nightmare can sometimes feel like the last grain of sa reaching the bottom of an hourglass. However I have a felt like the grain on top of all grains, the grain that does feel falling under it but is just there, inspiringly hopefu have felt connected, supported, sanguine, held and hopef I have had incredibly meaningful moments, conversatio and interactions in these polar opposite positions of t hour glass but an underlying fact in all of this whirlwind h been passion. A passion to understand, learn, unlearn a take action. That is what guides me and makes me capab Mylearningquestionhasbroughtmetothispivotalfact.

What have I created?

A framework to guide me in implementing my findings from my learning question (How can we practice decoloniality) into a practice. As of now It's a tangible way for me to move forward on a personal level. A way to use what I've had the privilege of learning over the past 5 months to my fullest ability, to further this from theory into something practical. This framework includes an ever growing resource list that will help fuel my personal and in hopes, collective development. In addition the framework includes a list of contacts for people within local academic and cultural spaces that have expertise or experience in decolonial practice or theory and indigenous knowledge. I hope to prompt conversations that will be scribed for personal and collective use with these individuals. This culmination of the 5-month GAC program is something that I am proudofandexcitedtocontinueexploring. My learning journey has brought me to a place of greater understanding, with greater clarity on the learning question I prompted, and with the knowledge to guide me into the right direction. I feel capable of tackling these large and overwhelming questions by using the invaluable skills I've developed over the past 5 months. A core aspect of this experience has been the opportunity to learn from experienced and new activists - to feel guided, held and supported by a group of conscious, compassionate, and passionate humans has felt like a sacred privilege that I hold close to my heart. I leave this experience not with all the answers but rather with some clarity but more questions, questions that will lead me to more questions but this learning journey has taught me how vital this is, it allows for growth, sensemaking, radical imagination, collective action, and it has provided me with a new found curiosity to follow the inquiries I have. The opportunity to dedicate 5 months to furthering the exploration of my learning question, my learning, my capabilities, and with the support of so many precious activists, insuchalovelyspacehasbeensuchaprivilegeandanhonor.

Reflections

Kumo Walters

Learning Question: What if education is purposedriven?

Question I am leaving with: What steps can be taken to make learning/education purposedriven?

Where has my learning question brought me?

After taking part in the global action circle, I have a reflection on my learning question. By so doing I realized it's not only making the learning purpose-driven but eq making the learners and educators connected. And abo inclusive thereby focusing on the relationship betwee learners, educators and their learning journey as well. Th to this program I know how to channel my ideas properly Icontinuetoreflectonmylearningquestion.

What have I created?

So far, I have started working on an orientation scheme that will help me channel my ideas and make it more explicit to a greateraudience.

Reflections

I am grateful for the care and concern showed throughout my journey. For the warm welcoming hosts, for the dedication and friendly nature of the participants (and other activists). I have learnt to be open-minded, and empathetic, to listen to others' opinions and to always support others, especially towards learning. I have equally learnt how to make learning inclusive and relational. About myself I have discovered I have the skills for helping others with ideas, reviews and also I am more relational. Special thanks and appreciation to the team for this program, I have enjoyed the program and I have really learnt a lotthroughoutmyjourney.

Ila Malhotra Gregory

Learning Question: How might we embody the teachingsofrelationalityandreciprocity?

Question I am leaving with: What if we designed our lives looking to the ecosystems, dynamics and processes in the natural world around us? What if weprioritisedecosystemichealing?

Where has my learning question brought me?

My learning question has brought me into new depths reflecting on how we relate, communicate and act. I ha thought deeply about the British Empire, ecosystem trauma, separation, domination, power, love, communi land, Earth. I'm exploring a deeper appreciation collective wounding, traumas and healing and the necess of communal healing for us to create beautiful things. I f more at peace with my dynamic vision of how the wo could be, how it is currently and what I can give to usher this more loving world. I've dived deeper into understandings of liberation and abolition and moving the middle way especially when extremes are tempting. myownwaysofbeingintheworldIhavebecomeevenmo grounded in relationship, in the knowledge that 'I' created in relationship. This has offered me solace a instabilityandthedesiretocontinuelearning.

What have I created?

My project is a collaboration with a couple of fellow activists. We will be holding a wellbeing space for activists within the YouthxYouth community. It will be a space for activists aged 16-26 to come together and speak about their lives and relationships, struggles and joys. Nothing will be off- limits and there will be no hierarchy. Talking circles inspire us to model how we’d like the world to relate to one another- with care, love and beauty. We will share a theme/question before each session and offer a space for activists to creatively share their responses before and after we meet. This space will be trialled for three months, with two meetings a month, one in PST and one in IST time zones. This project also has a research element that will explore the impact of a peer-held wellbeing/talkingspaceforyoungactivists.

Reflections

I have learnt that it is possible and beautiful to learn in community outside of our traditional learning systems. I have experienced so much joy within the wider YouthxYouth community and within our global action circle group. A lot of learning has come through developing relationships with my host team and buddy. I am so grateful that there was a dedicated effort to nurture these relationships and in many ways they are the biggest learnings I am leaving with. I have held a personal inquiry into how I can live in a way that is relational and reciprocal for many years and having a dedicated space and time to explore has led me down paths I hadn't conceived of before . I have learned that I am able to direct my own learning and that I come alive in communities dedicated to liberating our learning. I’ve learnt (and am always learning) that my existence is relationship. Over the last five months, I’ve come to love my curiosity in new ways. I feel more comfortable residing in liminal, messy and entangled places resisting the push to always be certain. MyappreciationforcomplexityisgrowingandIfeelmorecapable.

"Liberatedrelationshipsareoneof thewaysweactuallycreate abundantjustice,theunderstanding thatthereisenoughattention,care, resource,andconnectionforallof ustoaccessbelonging,tobeinour dignity,andtobesafein community."

AdrienneMareeBrown

Supporting (Youth) Educators

Supporting Youth Educators involves advocacy for young educators to focus more on capacity building an ability to upskill as educators, being fully skilled and adept at employing all the technological and pedagogical strategies tohelpreimagineeducation.

AkampaSecret

CharlesOyetOmoya

AbubakarYakubArikya

OlatomiwaOlusesi

Akampa Secret

Learning Question: How can we support, engage teachers and parents to be involved in improving the learning outcomes of their childreninandoutsidetheclassroom?

Question I am leaving with: How do we support the children to find school a fun and interesting place to be and also find reasons of comingtoschooleveryotherday?

Where has my learning question brought me?

I thought about my learning question the first time I start serving in a rural community where parents were n bothered about supporting their children in school. I had many questions in my head and when I started hosting t Global Action Circles with YouthxYouth, I surely knew th the learning journey I had embarked on would clear all m questions and yes! It has. I have been able to create a stro relationship with the community and every time I reach o to them, they are always positive and willing to learn. T has helped me to engage them more in sensitizing them ensure that the children are safe and are attaining schoo have collaborated with so many people because I ha always done this with a team that has been supportive. M GAC team that is supporting Youth Educators plus t whole YouthxYouth at large has taught me that the power community is everything and I will always ensure tha practice this in my own community by working w everybody.

What have I created?

The children are able to confide in me. They are always open unlike at first when they looked fearful and did not want to disclose anything that disturbed them for example if they did not want to come to school, attend class and so on. They are able to tell me what they want to become and as an educator, it amazes me to see myself pushing them to be what they would love to be. I have also created a bond between girls and school. Most of them did not care about books but since the time we formed a menstrual health and hygiene club to equip the girls with knowledge and skills on how to be clean during their red days, school has been enjoyable for them. Also, their parents have been supportive and encouraging them to finish school. Most importantly, through this journey,Ihaveconnectedandmadesomanyfriendsinandoutside my network. I feel super proud of myself! I thank the Youthxyouth community for giving me a chance to participate in this learning journey.

Reflections

I am grateful for the support rendered to me by the YouthxYouth community and the team. Thank you Valentina and Zineb for all the support! I am also grateful for my fellow activists whom I have always reached out to and have supported me in one way or the other. I used to tell myself that we could do this as a team and yes, we did it. The continuous discussions, engagements and calls. I have learnt to be thereforothersincasetheyneedanyhelp,incasetheyreachouttome and I have surely done this. I have been able to support others just like they have supported me. I have also learnt that the power of community is everything. Reason we are a community at YouthxYouth. I love seeing young people coming together for a common cause and as YouthxYouth, we have come together to reimagine education and identify gaps and then create solutions to challenges affecting the education sector in our respective countries. I have learnt that I can do big things which I have always seen as small but they really impact others positively. I have always told myself that others need me and if I can be there for them in any way, however small it may be, why not?- I have discovered that I can do extraordinary things and I am proud of how far I have gone. I have also learnt that I am a great leader who leads with passion because I love everything that I do. I have learnt to serve others selflessly and I believe that God blesses his people whenevertheyshowkindnesstoothers.

Charles Oyet Omoya

Learning Question: What can be done to set Africaontherighted.techtransformation?

Question I am leaving with: How can we support the growth and transformation of educators to realise quality education for sustainabledevelopment?

Where has my learning question brought me?

In as much as I felt my education system needs technolo to achieve improved learning outcomes, I later came to conclusion that is it not urgent. There is a more pressi matter that should be handled first, and that is teach education and professional training. This important eleme of education has not been prioritised in my country. I ha decided that this is what I will do; offer qual supplementary teacher education and training wh developsteachersasvisionaryandempatheticleaders.

What have I created?

Using basic technology and in-person teacher meetups at Kyambogo University, I will carry out the pilot for the Bold Education Quest Program which will support 20 pre-service teachers through direct training and coaching, and another 40 through indirect student interactions. The teachers will receive learning in leadership, instructional design and educational technology which will give them a competitive advantage to solve existing and emerging educational challenges when they eventuallybegintheirworkasteachers.

Reflections

I am grateful for the power of community. The participants in my GAC, Supporting Educators have been present for each other. They have been patient when another person shows up late, checked on a member who has not shown up. I have learnt to be listen with intention. To pay attention to what others say and limit distraction as much as I can. If I give another person my attention, they will give me their attention when I need it another time. I have learnt to be kind and patient with myself. Times may be hard, butbeingkindtomyselfkeepsmesane.

Abubakar Yakub Arikya

Learning Question: How can we make more modern teaching materials available to schools in low income communities to improve teaching standardandstandardofeducation.

Question I am leaving with: How can equal sharing of resources by leaders to their followers be promoted to avoid crises and also achievepeacefulcoexistence.

Where has my learning question brought me?

It brought me to the answers that the cost of these mode teaching aids could actually be covered by the stakeholde in this field who have sincerity of purpose. With the modern teaching aids, which promote the use technological resources, learners preparedness to l challengesoutsidetherecomfortzoneswillbeenhanced.

What have I created?

I am able to identify a problem which has been lingering in my mind for decades. This issue of lack of relevant teaching materials has caused so much damage to our education sector in Nigerian public schools. Schools in Nigeria, especially public owned schools have little or no modern resources to facilitate knowledge with. Often at times, individuals are being identified in Nigeria as either coming from a rich, poor or penurious family depending on the kinds of school(s) they find themselves. Quality education as one of the SDGs goals proposed and sponsored by World leaders is supposed to provide for all individuals regardless of social class and geographical locations. If the provision for quality education is available for all, government would not have to worry to tackle issues of inequalities in many faced lives because individuals would be able to produce and invent technologies to take care of their day to day needs and also maintain and protect those technologies they produce. A prototype of how stakeholders, youth led organisations and Non-governmental/Non-profit organisations could key into this project to help improve education standards in Nigerian Secondary and post Secondaryeducation.

Reflections

I have come out with the greatest gift that when individuals from divergent socio-cultural backgrounds come together, regardless of their religious ideology and social classes, and decide to share their thoughts, knowledge and experiences and also come up with positive solutions to contemporary issues, the world would write there names with golden ink. I am mostly grateful for being among the livings and to GAC organisers and all their co-host across all countries that participated. I also thank my fellow activists for being very friendly, loving and caring in every seconds of the Global Action Cycle. Through this program, I was able to realise that sharing ones thought and experience to other people with wealth of knowledge and experience will help in developing a strong relationshipwithothersandalsogivebirthtoabetter outcome.

Olatomiwa Olusesi

Learning Question: How can we equip educators to bridge the gap between the kind of education young people get and what is requiredinthelabormarket?

Question I am leaving with: How might/do we collaborate with people, institutions and systems to make change/transformation happen?

Where has my learning question brought me?

Through my learning question, I have come to deep understand the root causes of the problem I intend to solv In providing answers to my learning question, I realized th I hadn't been asking the right questions from the you people we were designing for. To provide a learni experience that seeks to equip young people with the sk and competence they need to succeed in the global lab market, there was a need to understand what young peo looked out for when getting into entrepreneur accelerators or applying for internship opportunities. On t flip side, there was also a need to ask organizations wh they look out for when hiring young people and how this c be developed into an immersive fellowship experience theparticipants.

What have I created?

While this has not been fully designed, I am on course to launching a professional development fellowship, designed as a program for young people to be equipped with the skills they need to thrive beyond the four walls of the classroom, as well as gain industry experience in any field of their choice, while learning from industry leaders. Furthermore, we have come to understand that many young people are increasingly building businesses, as an alternative/solution to the unemployment crisis in Nigeria, which currently stands at 32.5%. Thus, I am also creating an entrepreneurial accelerator for young people who own and manage small and medium scale enterprises, where they are equipped with the skills to build successful businesses and also get access to micro-loans and minigrants. I am primarily grateful for the thoughtfulness and intentionality that went into making the GAC a reality. I think about the activists, and my convictions about transforming education gets stronger, seeing that many young people are passionate as I am about this cause. It's like flames, one that's continuously fanned, to bring up the sparks again, by so many hands; to ensure that this fire of change never goes out/down. I am grateful for this sense of community in transforming our collective education. I am convinced that for everything that works, there is someone/people making it work. If we truly want to see the quality of change we desire, then we must take hold of the wheels, and keep sailing towards this uniform destination, regardless of the boisterous winds we might encounter on the way. It's in the midst of this wind, that we gain capacity for other challenges that might come up on the way. I enjoy holding spaces for people to have meaningful and inspiring conversations to transform their lives and communities. One of my biggest strengths is facilitation, as such,IshoulddoeverythingIcantobecomeverygoodatthis.

Reflections

AdrienneMareeBrown

"Theartofteachingisclarityandthe artoflearningistolisten."

Youth Mental Health

Youth Mental Health is peace, wellness and energy. It is not just about emotional and physical well being, it is also about youth reaching the stage where they feel from within that they are empowered to drive the change they wish to see in theworld.

EstherAtambo

GraceOkinda

RutendoMakeke

ToolitJoelOchola

Esther Atambo

Learning Question: How can mental health education be incorporated in the early learning yearsinschools?

Question I am leaving with: Why are more young people experiencing mental health problems?

Where has my learning question brought me?

As I continued learning through the GAC program I a volunteered in a school in my community so as to ident the gaps in the education system with regard to men health.

What have I created?

I created a guide book for teachers, parents and guardians thatintroduceschildrentomentalhealth.

Reflections

I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to be part of a project that has empowered me to serve my community better. I have learnt from others the importance of team work, incorporating other people in my project and being part of theirs has helped me see gaps I otherwise would have missed. I learnt that I can get overwhelmed when I don'tplanmyschedule.

Grace Okinda

Learning Question: How can I make them aware that the young are also having mental issues?

Question I am leaving with: What if I don't start it?Whowill?

Where has my learning question brought me?

It has brought me to a place where am more excit interested and happy to want to learn more and listen to t young people in my community on how we can cope a manage our mental issues. It is my priority first and ea andeverybody'smentalhealthisimportant.

What have I created?

I have created a project called Akemi foundation program it has a theme which is my mental health my priority. The organisation creates an awareness to young and also some members of the community on the importance of having a stable mental life. When we do this we drive, we donate things like sanitary towels , clothes and stationeries needed for the youths and give a listening ear and make them feel wanted,acceptedandlovedhere.

Reflections

I am grateful for the experience, the support both financially emotionally and physically. What I have learnt from others is that we have hope and the hope is us when we hold hands we will achieve a millstone without even knowing and what I have learnt about myself is how I have a big heart for everybody, small little gestures make me happy, my confidence and perseverance is on another level. I am growing and I am exited that we are going to transform this worldintoapositiveplaceforallofus.

Rutendo Makeke

Learning Question: How might we change the perception and stereotype around mental health?

Question I am leaving with: How might we practically change the perception and stereotypearoundmentalhealth.

Where has my learning question brought me?

I am now able to connect with qualified counsellors w were once or had mental health issues to volunteer and h inprovidingservicestotargetpopulation.

What have I created?

I was able to create an open space where youths are free to express and speak up about their mental breakdowns and breakthroughsandsharetheminacommunitysetup.

Reflections

The group discussions gave me different views and opinions of people under one neutral venue and cause which helped me to come up with constructive entail for the bettermentofacommoncause.

Toolit Joel Ochola

Learning Question: How can we create a safe space for students who are having mental breakdownstonottofeelleftout.

Question I am leaving with: Education can be better, how can we connect all the efforts to combat the various challenges in the Education sector and create a much better educationsystem.

Where has my learning question brought me?

I have grown to learn that mental health problems are cro cutting and the fight to stop it trickles down to bo individual and collective efforts. I have learnt that shari mental health challenges in safe spaces of close circles supportive individuals and also having supportive mento really help the students struggling with mental health issu toovercomethesechallenges.

What have I created?

I have created a group of mental health awareness enthusiasts who strive to create awareness about the mental health crisis in schools and how to overcome this vice. I have also created a lasting bond with my fellow youth as I strive to further understand their point of view on mentalhealth.

Reflections

I am grateful for the safe space created in the youth mental GAC. It ensures confidence in sharing mental health issues. I am grateful for my GAC since it further deepened my understanding on mental health challenges faced by the youth in schools and other institutions of learning. I have learnt that I am strong and even more confident than I thought.

Olabisi Idowu

Learning Question: What if undergraduates in African countries got more access to mental healthservices?

Question I am leaving with: What if young undergraduates in Africa had a platform that connects them with mental health professionals from different parts of the world toincreaseaccesstomentalhealthservices?

Where has my learning question brought me?

It has brought me into weaving a core team and group of people with relevant skills to research ways we can leverage technology to provide more access to mental healthservices.

What have I created?

An open source infographic and database of young people interestedinprovidingaccesstomentalhealthservices.

Reflections

I am grateful for the resources, network, members of my GACandthediversityoftheprogram.

BrenéBrown

“Wedon’thavetodoallofitalone. Wewerenevermeantto.”

Climate & Nature Education

Climate and nature education raises young peoples knowledge of the eco system and encourages implementation through climate action. The bonding of environmental knowledge is essential for navigating challengestobecomeeco-champions.

BatulAlamdar

Asma'uSagir

ObadareAdenekan

Batul Alamdar

Learning Question: In what ways can climate education be a backbone to the future generations?

Question I am leaving with: How can I share my climate and Nature Education knowledge inclusively,withoutanyboundaries?

Where has my learning question brought me?

I have received the answer to my question and now I plan make interactive elements to share my knowledge abo Climate and Nature with my peers and the youth of t world. Keeping in mind that I'm a student as well, I lo forwardtoprovidingallthatIcantothoseinneed:)

What have I created?

I am currently designing a puzzle/quiz game using an online ed tech platform to make sure that this knowledge can be sharedacrosstheglobewithoutanybarriers.

Reflections

I've been on this journey since almost 5 months now and I've never been so curious about youth advocacy in my entire life. I have learnt so many things from my fellow GAC members and across the GAC circle and hosts about youth advocacy and life in general as well. I've been able to reflect on myself as well, the potential that lies in me and what is my unique power that makes me shine. I am grateful for everything that I've received in this entire learning process, whether it be the love and support from the team and my host ally or the enthusiastic participation of all the members. Everything has led me to this day where I can happily say that I know my purpose of being a part of the youthofthisworld.

Asma'u Sagir

Learning Question: How can we make parents tobeinvolvedintheirwardseducation?

Question I am leaving with: In what way can we less emphasis cognitive learning to socioemotionallearning?

Where has my learning question brought me?

My learning question has brought me to a stage of tru understanding the different perspectives about t question. I have also developed a project based on m learning question and the Global Action Circle I belonged I did a project on environmental sustainability where introduced some students to making learning teachi materials such as dusters from tailor's waste. W distributed to the neighboring schools where t managements applauded our efforts and encouraged th students to emulate the good gesture. Many of them lea kindness through the project and community serv throughgivingbacktotheirimmediatecommunity.

What have I created?

I have created a club for the children in my community where I try to stepdown what I have learnt to them. We carry out projects that are mostly related to Climate and Nature Education.

Reflections

I am grateful to be part of YouthsXYouth. It is a community that transformed my life. I have learnt how to deeply be connected to the purpose of being on this earth. I learnt the concept of Ikigai. I have known better than the world can be transformed if we can be a little bit kind to one another. I have learnt about myself that I am introvertive. I mostly took the role of scribe or any technical support during my GAC. The hosts and host ally I met were amazing and it will be hard to forget them because of their caring nature and concern. Climate and Nature

Obadare Adenekan

Learning Question: How can we get students actively engaged in the fight against climate change?

QuestionIamleavingwith:Howcanwereduce carbonemmisionbefore2030?

Where has my learning question brought me?

Through my learning question, I have been enlighten more on activism, and this has helped me in carrying o innovative projects that get students actively engaged thefightagainstclimatechange

What have I created?

I have created a team of innovative individuals that have come up with an idea to help students across Nigeria. We intend on doing this by liasing with business owners on their campus, such that they will be able to buy academic items or food items while using plastic as a means of payment. We will then convert these plastic into sellable bricks, and some of the profit made from the business will be used to continuehelpingstudents.

Reflections

I am grateful to have been able to meet with open minded individuals, who are enthusiastic about learning new things and are always ready to give you the best of advise when needed. What I have learnt from others is to be able to tolerate people irrespective of their background. What I have learnt about myself is that I am able to function properly when among positive driven individuals, and I am able to meet goals faster when I am working with people thatunderstandmebetter

givingusmomentsofwonderand

"Evenawoundedworldisfeeding us.Evenawoundedworldholdsus,

joy.Ichoosejoyoverdespair.Not becauseIhavemyheadinthesand, butbecausejoyiswhattheearth givesmedailyandImustreturnthe gift."

RobinWallKimmerer

Fundraising & Funding for Education

Funding and Fundraising in education is understanding that it takes courage to show leadership in times of need. Every solution must be contextualized to meet the needs of the people.Allwehaveisallweneedtostart.

TemitopeObasola

ErioluwaAdeyinka

Erioluwa Adeyinka

Learning Question: How can we fund educationthroughcommunityefforts?

Question I am leaving with: How can we decolonizefunding?

Where has my learning question brought me?

My learning question has taught me that funding can decolonized if the efforts of people in the community can consolidated. Storytelling is also an excellent tool keeping the community together and communicating fun raising's essence. Once people realise that the project is the benefit of all and the appropriate stakehold engagement has been done, our funding goals can achieved.

What have I created?

I have created two separate funding teams in the two organisations I co-lead. I have organised fundraising campaigns around specific projects and events involving funding youth activists to participate in transformational programs, teachers' training, and infrastructure to aid learning.

Reflections

I learned the need to listen more and show more empathy because it helps to achieve the transformation that we want to see. Also, the kinds of stories we tell matter a lot. We shouldalwaysdothingswithpeopleandnotforpeople.

Temitope Obasola

Learning Question: How do we weave a scalable and sustainable funding blueprint towards education for children in underserved communities?

Question I am leaving with: How can we fully utilize the funds raised to create social value forchildreninunderservedcommunities.

Where has my learning question brought me?

My GAC theme, "funding and fundraising in educatio inspired my learning question. Initially, I had questio around child development and factors responsible academic outcomes in children because I hoped to belo to the "Relational and Inclusive Education" theme b eventually, I found myself in the "funding and fundraising Education" theme. I wanted to change to another G theme but later decided to develop a growth minds towards "funding and fundraising in education" and I been able to see fundraising as an integral part of soc impact projects that would create social value for childr in underserved communities. As a result of this, I've be able to connect the dots around my child developme visionand"fundingandfundraisinginEducation."

While finding answers to my learning questions, I lean into my "research" superpowers to learn about funding a fundraising in education. So far, I have learnt why fundi blueprints for projects in underserved communities fail do not have long term impact, I've learnt how to identifi potential investors and also how to retain them. From m research so far, I have also learnt how to build effect fundraisingstrategies;thisknowledgehelpedmetoprepa formyshowcaseduringthe2023GlobalLearningFestiva

What have I created?

On my vision board, I've been able to map out scalable fundraising strategies that would work in order to create socialvalueforinthecommunitythatIlivein.

Reflections

I love the fact that YxY allows for members of the community to be vulnerable as much as they want to be; because, there were days I'd felt like I was in my lowest moments and other members checked in on me with questions that showed that they really care about my welfare. I'm grateful that I was able to commit to a particular ritual (journaling) during my weaving practice. Journaling is something I love to do but I was not really consistent with it before my Weavership journey but I became more committed to journaling because of my Weavership journey. Over the months, I've have learnt in my GAC theme that everyone of us had something in common as regards to our learning question; there were different routes through which our learning questions intersected and I have also learnt to respect differences in the opinion of others. I'm also grateful that; due to my Weavership practice, I've been able to do things that I've not done before; things like hosting a zoom meeting, sharing relatable experiences with members of the community... These commitments really improvedmyinterpersonalskillsandselfdevelopment.

Thank you

We thank all of our GAC participants and hosts for their dedication and brilliant work om the 2022 GAC cohort. all and continue to be he actions you take.