Teach For India KER Highlights

Teach for India launched Kids Education Week (KER) virtually on July 06, 2021. While the entire education system has been shackled due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown since March 2020, KER Week was an exemplary platform for sharing and exchanging insights of educators and students around the globe who have had a profound impact on thousands. We had prominent youth leaders, activists and journalists grace the first day of KER week.

The Day 1 of the program highlighted one of the most crucial topics of ‘Climate Change’ which is having a perennial impact on our lives with every passing day. While speaking at the session, Vannesa Nakate, Climate Activists from Uganda, Friday for future Africa speaker, founder of the Youth for Future Africa and the African Rise up Climate Movement who highlighted how it is essential to create awareness amongst the youth about the climate crisis since our present is already catastrophic and inaction from the Government, community and leaders will lead the future in jeopardy. Her advice to students who wanted to start but didn’t know where to, was that if you have a desire to do take action when it comes to climate change and don’t know where to start, then start small. You could start first with educating within your family and peer group, then your society and finally in your larger community, and so on. Very soon, you will see how thousands will eagerly join you as most people want to make difference but don’t know where to start.  

Another session with eminent speaker Fareed Zakaria, Host of Fareed Zakaria GPS, CNN Worldwide in conversation with Huda Sultana, a Grade 11 Student who aspires to be a teacher enhances the silver lining of the pandemic bringing towards a positive change in the society. He highlighted how journalists are advocators of social learning and how teaching is the only profession that makes every other profession possible. He suggested that the new normal has paved the way for us to think differently and how outdoor and open spaces have become an integral part of our life. While digital access to everyone has become a grave concern for students, people across the world, we need to devise methods to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic to shape a brighter future for upcoming generation.