The multilateral vision of the Centre is only made possible through intersecting collaboration within existing education systems. The development of materials for teachers, principals, and education officials is critical in shifting the tide in education.
Some places have educational systems for pre-collegiate students, such as the United States. However, these developed education processes lack materials and topics centred on engaging students with government, thereby diminishing opportunities for youth to have their voices heard at a young age.
Research shows that 25% of U.S. high schoolers lacked civic education programmes, and thereby declared they "don't know enough to vote", whereas only 15% of youth agreed with this statement who had received encouragement to vote.
Meanwhile, less economically developed countries lack basic educational systems in the first place, let alone having time or resources to teach students about civic processes, perpetuating cycles of misrepresentation.
And that's why we're committed to working with various governments worldwide to craft unique solutions to diminished youth turnout, specific to the educational processes in each nation.
United States Curriculums
The U.S. has an extraordinarily strong education system, with more than 54,200,000 young children enrolled in school from ages 6-18. However, different states have juxtaposing policies on educating students about the civic processes: the Centre works with state and federal education officials to ensure proper resources and toolkits are being rolled out to schools nationwide with proper information on educating kids on civic systems.
From understanding the three branches of government to learning how the voter registration system works, early education is a catalyst for future engagement from students.
Global Curriculums
While some countries have educational frameworks, others do not. We're committed to developing basic tools for civil society organisations in less successful countries to use, primarily for young boys and girls. In Mogadishu, Somalia, the Centre developed materials for over 500 kids aged 5-12 to help instruct kids about the basic structures of the Somali government. When children learn about the processes in place to help them, they are more inspired to enact change through positive mechanisms.
The focus and execution of impactful civic education varies, as no one community is the same, but the Centre's core vision in teaching the importance of public affairs emerges as a common success.
Learn more about our work in the Americas by previewing one of the Centre's voter registration curriculums for teachers and staff.
