For the past six months, we have been working with 14 students aged between 11-14 years old from 12 different countries to provide their feedback and advice on our work. The experience has been nothing short of valuable, with students of diverse ages and backgrounds sharing their ideas and perspectives on how we can enhance our materials and better meet the minds of amazing students worldwide.
As an organization committed to sustainable development learning, we recognize the importance of involving students at every stage of our campaigns. The Youth Advisory Panel was aimed at giving young people a voice in shaping our work around our Transforming Education campaign. Through virtual meetings, students shared their thoughts on our existing materials, suggested new topics and activities, provided valuable feedback behind the scenes, and even wrote a letter to education leaders in our recent Transforming Education Report – https://www.playverto.com/transformingeducation
We were amazed by the quality and depth of their input, which showed a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development learning. We wrapped up this cohort in March 2023, and had a festive graduation ceremony to celebrate the moment with students and their teachers who have supported their students throughout their participation on the panel.
The impact of this project was significant. It taught us the value of involving students in the development process and how their insights can bring new perspectives to the table. They challenged us to think outside the box in terms of how we present our learning materials, and we learned that learners are looking for more interactive and gamified approaches to learning. The project also highlighted the growing importance of topics such as social justice, cultural diversity, gender equality, and climate action to young people.
The WLL Youth Advisory Panel project has had a remarkable impact on our organization and the future of education. Moving forward, we are excited to continue working with a new Youth Advisory Panel cohort and welcoming new members to the table. We believe that this project has been a great success in empowering young people to shape our work, and we are committed to making it an ongoing initiative.
Keep an eye on our social channels and our newsletter to be the first to know when the registration for the upcoming panel is open.