“Learning to Live Together – from Ideas to Action”

The “Learning to Live Together – from Ideas to Action” Symposium organized by the American Field Service (AFS), International Programs, will be held on 8 November, 2014, under the patronage of UNESCO. The Symposium is part of the 100th anniversary celebration of AFS and will be attended by experts from the fields of education and peace-building – in particular those who have contributed to promoting intercultural dialogue and cooperation.
Confirmed speakers for the event include; Oscar Arias, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former president of Costa Rica, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and former President of Iceland, Eric Falt, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for External Relations, Andreas Schleicher, Head of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) at the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development (OECD), and Chernor Bah, youth representative on the High-Level Steering committee for the UN Secretary General’s Global Education First Initiative and Chairperson of the Youth Advocacy Group.
In the lead up to the symposium, AFS launched a preparatory interactive online virtual dialogue on local and global challenges and on specific ways to work together in virtual dialogue and Global Citizenship Education (GCED).
GCED seeks to instill values, knowledge and skills that are based on the respect for human rights, social justice, diversity, gender equality and environmental sustainability. Together these empower learners to be responsible global citizens. GCED gives learners the competencies and opportunity to realise their rights and obligations to promote a better world and future for all.
The results from the online dialogue will be shared at a special youth-led Youth Symposium taking place on the morning of the 8th of November and the high-level Symposium will follow in the afternoon.