Education for Sharing (EFS) was recognized in HundrED’s 2019 global collection, as one of the leading education innovations in the world. An innovation originating from Mexico, EFS has now reached over a million beneficiaries in 6 different countries. EFS offers 4 programs: Sports, Science, Art and Initiatives. Each of the programs reinforce civic values: empathy, tolerance, gender equality, and are based around the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Students are prepared to thrive in the 21st century with social-emotional skills and an understanding of global challenges that empowers them as chthem spread their innovation.
Since their feature in the HundrED global collection, EFS have now developed two new programs, Finance for Sharing and Digital Citizenship, and are taking their first steps into creating early childhood and youth workforce development content. We caught up with Debora Gildenson, the Director of Institutional Relations at Education for Sharing, to hear how being in the HundrED 2019 collection has helped them spread their innovation.
What does it mean for Education for Sharing to be recognised as a leading education innovator in the HundrED 2019 Global Collection?
We are blown away and so honored to receive this recognition by the HundrED Community! Since 2007, we have been working non stop to form better global citizens through the power of play. It is reassuring to see that Education for Sharing in on the right path and that our methodology is contributing towards solving the challenges of the 21st century.
What are your biggest takeaways from the HundrED Innovation Summit?
It is just amazing that we were able to learn about so many inspirational solutions that can effectively support the challenges of the 21st century. Ultimately it was about the people, the opportunity to meet all of these wonderful entrepreneurs and like-minded individuals, in a space that was specially curated to connect, share and create meaningful interventions was beyond an otherworldly experience. Another huge takeaway for us was the chance to experience firsthand the Finnish startling take on education and to realize the role teachers play in it. In Finland, teaching is perceived as a difficult and very rewarding profession. Teachers are given lots of freedom in terms of how they choose to carry out their profession. They take a lot of consideration into listening to what their students have to say; a defying, but very rewarding exercise that results in a virtuous circle of communication that strengthens their bond.
How has the HundrED Summit and global recognition helped progress the impact of Education for Sharing?
Being part of the HundrED community has added tremendous value into the organizations and alliances we work with, who see us a reliable partner in our field. HundrED has also reinforced the team’s trust that we are working towards achieving something important and that play is a serious and key component to it. Our team is keeping the good work by making sure our solution is actively preparing children and youth for the 21st century. Whether it is through the development and improvement of our evaluation and programming, through finding better tools to enhance the teachers training experiences and the recognition of their hard work, or by looking into technological tools that can nurture our methodology; we are making sure that the lessons we learned nurture our daily work and our mission.
So, what is next for Education for Sharing?
A lot is happening at Education for Sharing! We just reached over a million beneficiaries in 6 different countries! And this year, we are working hard and dreaming big. We are taking our first steps into creating early childhood and youth workforce development content. We also developed two new programs that are currently piloting: Finance for Sharing and Digital Citizenship. Finance for Sharing is all about learning responsible economic and financial decision making from a young age. Digital Citizenship is recognizing our rights in the digital world.
In terms of scalability, we are in the process of establishing a new Chapter in New Zealand, our first hub in the Asia Pacific region! Also, our US Chapter is taking a new direction with New York in mind, where a school in Red Hook, Brooklyn became the first to benefit from our programs. Technology is also playing a big role in Education for Sharing this year and we are collaborating with The ProFuturo Foundation to develop high quality educational content in a digital format, this effort will allow us to bring our methodology into new frontiers in Latin America and Africa.
What would you say to innovators who are looking to connect with HundrED? Why should they be part of the global community for change?
The HundrED community allows you to discover an amazing net of innovators from all around the globe. This is just an amazing opportunity for collaboration between the educators of tomorrow. Don’t think twice, this is the opportunity you are looking for to be inspired and learn from like minded individuals and organizations who are actively working to improve education in every corner of the world.
Do you have an exciting innovation changing the way we educate our students, share your work on HundrED Open.
If you want to inspire your local community with global and local innovations, explore the HundrED Ambassadors program with members from over 70 countries.
