Tomorrow, J’s school will be celebrating UN Day. He and his friends from nursery have been learning about Australia (well, since Javy is sick, he hasn’t been learning much about Australia – but his classmates are). Last year, when he was in playclass, their country was the United States. He went to school, dressed in what we thought was “American” attire, and he brought pancakes to share.
Most schools celebrate UN Day (which is October 24), allowing their students to know a little bit more about countries around the world, about their cultures, clothes and food. It gives us all a chance to dress up the kids in cute costumes, watch them wave flags and learn greetings in different languages. In the Raya School Naga, the kids have their “passports” ready, and get to visit the different stations (countries) set up by their schoolmates. They learn bits of new information, which may get them more interested in travelling the world, seeing new places and at the very least, acknowledging the diversity our world has, and the humanity that we share. You can never be too young to learn about that.
I can’t help but get all excited for the boys (When they are a bit older) to learn more about the role of the United Nations, the history of the institution, the purpose it carries and of course, the challenges it faces. I can’t help but get all excited for them to know more about the World Youth Alliance (WYA), the organization that allowed me to see the work of the UN up close.
WYA was founded at the UN in 1999. It started when a young woman named Anna Halpine (Hi, Anna!) stood up for what she believed in – that the dignity of the person is central in the discussion of human rights. This organization has grown so much over the years, expanding and setting up offices in Mexico City, Brussels, Nairobi, Manila, and Beirut, training young people to better understand the concept of dignity and using it as a framework in working in policy and culture.
Working with WYA was like celebrating UN Day all the time – while having a love-hate relationship with the institution. (But really loving their cafeteria)
WYA Asia Pacific recently turned ten, and I missed the celebration. Seeing photos of Erika and Donna definitely brought back memories. I looked through more old photos, and am a bit overwhelmed with all the things we did. We were young, idealistic and wanted to change the world (and make sense of it).
I look at the boys and wonder if they’ll enjoy the training program as much as I did. If they’ll like discussing abstract concepts like freedom, dignity and solidarity. If Vaclav Havel will become their hero. And if Karol Wojtyla’s writings will drive them crazy. How will they understand the human rights movement? How will they ground themselves and see the relevance of the discussions in society?
No pressure for them to be diplomats or legislators. No pressure to train.
It’s simpler than it sounds, really.
Because at the heart of it all, it’s really about understanding the humanity we share, and the dignity we all have. It’s about living it out.
And for a toddler, celebrating UN Day the way they do (and celebrating his own identity all the rest of the year), I’m sure he’ll get it.
*I initially was going to post a photo of J, all dressed in suspenders, a checkered polo and a hat. I ended up looking at facebook accounts of old friends and saving thei pictures. Thanking Meghan Murrell and Donna De Jesus for my photos!!!