In a world that could be messy and chaotic, it’s essential to teach children and young people the meaning of global citizenship. Climate change, income disparity, social inequality, and increased anxiety are just a few of the worldwide issues impacting our planet. Still, being a good human being, considerate, compassionate, and realizing that Earth belongs to all of us isn’t something that is so…yesterday. These are values that make us all good global citizens.
Our team is very privileged to work with incredible educators, schools, PTA, PTO, and booster groups. Every day throughout our country, communities support global citizenship values among young people. One approach that many schools use is a shoe drive fundraiser. A shoe drive isn’t just about raising funds for education and students. It’s also about sustainability and supporting 4,000 micro-entrepreneurs who need a hand-up to make a living.
Let’s explore how we can all help children and youth to become informed, active, and compassionate global citizens.
What Does It Mean to Be a Global Citizen?
A global citizen is a person who is aware of their presence in the world. In other words, they know that they’re one of more than 8 billion people on the planet. As such, it means that a person realizes that they bring themselves to the well-being of their community and the earth. For example, it could mean ensuring that we recycle and don’t just throw away clothing and shoes in the trash.
For students, we’ve worked with educators who have used a shoe drive fundraiser to demonstrate global citizenship. In short, it’s a real-world application of the global citizenship idea. Some have done it using one of our curriculums for home schools, elementary, middle, and high schools. (Scroll down this page to the bottom to access our free curriculums).
The story doesn’t end when the shoes are collected for students, teachers, parents, and everyone who participates in a shoe drive. For young minds, especially, and with school and parent leaders and storytellers, a shoe drive can expand the mind and awareness for a lifetime. These types of experiences often ripple through life. For example, what students learn now about sustainability and social good can help them become advocates for life.
The Power of Shoe Drives in Teaching Global Citizenship
A shoe drive is an easy and meaningful way to help students and young people understand what it means to be one of so many on this planet. Here’s how:
1. Economic Disparity
When students and school groups participate in a shoe drive fundraiser, especially using the curriculums, they learn about economic disparities. While many Americans aren’t wealthy, 692 million people live on just $2.62 a day worldwide. A shoe drive is an opportunity to give a hand-up to people in developing nations.
2. Promoting Sustainability
Annually, 300 million shoes go into landfills. As we know, that contributes to waste and pollution and harms sustainability efforts. Through a shoe drive, young people have the opportunity to become participants in the reuse economy. This means that students learn sustainability lessons as they live it for themselves by collecting shoes.
3. Social Responsibility
We understand the world can be chaotic, but there are countless communities and people who believe in social responsibility. They believe in making society better. Small and simple actions, like collecting shoes, can have a big impact. It raises funds for the school. It helps the planet and allows people globally to make a living.
Real-Life Learning Experiences
As mentioned, we’ve worked with many schools, parents, and education groups in shoe drive fundraisers. So, for educators and classroom teachers, one question may be how to turn these events into powerful educational experiences. Here’s how to help students learn about our roles as global citizens.
- Classroom Discussions. A great way to begin is to speak about global citizenship in social studies, language arts, or science and the impact of the people or ideas being discussed.
- Hands-On Involvement. Getting students involved in a shoe drive is a great approach. Create class, grade, or club incentives to make active involvement fun.
- Impact Awareness. Let students, parents, and the community know about sustainable and human impacts. CO2 saved in shoe reuse is # pairs x 30.
Few things can bring together the idea of what global citizenship means. One of them is a shoe drive fundraiser because of all the elements involved—and because students become active participants in their present and future.
A Better World for Sustainability, People, and the Future
We started this article by tapping into the uncertainty people may feel. If parents and teachers are uncertain, students can sense it. Perspective is everything, however. We will make the world a better place by creating an informed, compassionate, and proactive generation for the future. We have to believe in the things we cannot see. And for that, this article digs into just one way to raise funds for education, promote sustainability, and give a hand-up to people in developing nations.
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