Dina Mahafza and MarieJo Abdul-Hay – Old Problems, Young Answers

This episode focusses on the work being done by UofT UNICEF’s Student Engagement arm, summarizing Dina and MarieJo’s approach and experiences working with children and teenagers over the years, educating them about their rights and responsibilities as global citizens.

It was fascinating to learn how the framing of Children’s Rights has changed since the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of Children, and to see how young people are taking increased responsibility in addressing pressing global issues such as Climate Change and Resource Distribution in their own communities. Dina and MarieJo also emphasized the inclusion of mental-emotional care and information as a critical component of UNICEF’s current approach to the situation of children worldwide, and we enjoyed sharing ideas about how best to bring these priorities into today’s classroom settings.

If you’d like to learn more about some of the specific ideas discussed in this episode, you can use the links below as your starting point:

UNICEF’s Right to Childhood Campaign

Co-Construction of Success Criteria

Kolb’s Learning Cycle

The Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

UNICEF “Voices of Youth” initiative

Effective Altruism and “Longtermism”

If you haven’t listened to our previous Podcast click here