The Universal Education Foundation Education by All for the Well Being of Children

1. The Universal Education Foundation Education by All for the Well Being of Children Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 1

2. Issue/ChallengeHow can learning environments of children and young people become more conducive to their well being Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 2

3. The WHO defines health as : A state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity UNESCO’s 1972 commission report asserted: Education should contribute to every person’s complete development – mind and body, intelligence, sensitivity, aesthetic appreciation and spirituality Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 3

4. Education systems still tend to be modeled on "19th century" models: • the classroom • the teacher • the grade structure • the text book Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 4

5. The standardized and centralized educational structure and an emphasis on performance and grades cannot provide adequate attention to: • Individual and sociological diversity • Autonomy and self-organization • Active participation of children • Acknowledgement and recognition rather than evaluation of learning • Play, and the pleasure of unevaluated experience • Being in the moment Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 5

6. Well being is an emerging transdisciplinary field that builds on many different disciplines Trans-disciplinary Vector Spirituality Brain research Sport Neuro-cognitive sciences Psychology Education Mind-body disciplines Pedagogy Medical sciences Genetics Ecology Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 6

7. Challenges in Defining Well BeingThe definition needed to be: • Specific enough to provide a common understanding in the work of UEF. • Broad enough to take into account subjective context-based elements such as culture, age, gender, resources etc. • Flexible enough to allow for its evolution with deepening understanding of the concept. • Easy to communicate Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 7

8. Current working definition • Well being is the realization of one’s physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual potential. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 8

9. The UNESCO Task Force put forward the idea that education throughout life is based upon four pillars: Learning to know Learning to do Learning to live together Learning to be Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 9

10. Indicators of well being (1) • A general sense of coherence between the way one’s life is and the way in which one would like it to be. • A deep sense of being safe and supported by one's environment or one’s spiritual belief system. • A pervasive sense of self-esteem, satisfaction, joy, curiosity, wonder and gratitude, with the capacity to navigate and cope with a full spectrum of emotions. • A satisfying sense of self-expression and self-actualization, and meaningful and rewarding engagement in relationships, learning, work, creativity, leisure and play. • A developed sense of self awareness that allows one to recognize and monitor ones inner processes and their relationship to external experience and to navigate with confidence between the two. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 10

11. Indicators of well being (2) • A pervasive sense of physical health and vitality and a rewarding engagement in physical activity, acting, creating and producing in the physical world • A sense of respect and concern for and interconnectedness with the natural environment and pleasure in engaging with it in and caring for it. • A gratifying sense of belonging, interdependence, compassion and pleasure in contributing to and nurturing one’s communities and human and non-human environments. • A confidence in one’s ability to manage challenging situations and ambiguity with competence, choice, influence and flexibility. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 11

12. Indicators of well being (3) • A prevalent sense of acceptance, optimism, resourcefulness, resilience and capacity for growth and healing in the face of life's challenges. • A capacity to engage fully in the experience of the present moment - to be present and undistracted with the mind-body-emotional-social experience as it happens – without distractions or anxieties, and in this way be available for inspired thought and action. This includes the capacity to be fully engaged with the learning process (whichever aspects may be involved at the time) as it unfolds. • An understanding of physical, emotional, social, mental and spiritual healing processes so that one can feel secure in knowing that when there are difficulties, imbalances and traumas that there are ways to heal them, and that wounds and healing are an integral part of the life cycle. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 12

13. Vision Education by All for the Well Being of Children Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 13

14. Our Values • Respect • Integrity • Caring • Learning from experience Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 14

15. Purpose We seek to inspire people to listen more to children and young people and to take more initiatives for their well being. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 15

16. Our Goal (1) Children and young people in more and more countries experience improved well being in their lives thanks to: • education and healthcare systems, which are effectively promoting and monitoring well being for children and young people. • ICT and media which are invested in the well being of children and are increasingly able to measure the impacts of their activities in those terms, and adjust accordingly. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 16

17. Our Goal (2) • education, which is increasingly perceived as a healthcare delivery system (prevention of disease and promotion of health). • the fact that well being of children is increasingly recognized and assumed as a responsibility shared by health care, education, media and ICT as well as by all adults in their personal and professional roles. • the resources gathered, created and disseminated by UEF, which are valued and used by our partners, as well as by an increasing number of individuals and institutions worldwide. • we speak the language of children and young people. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 17

18. Success factors • Engaging children and young people in the transformation of their learning environments so they are more conducive to their well-being. • Recognising and disseminating co-creative initiatives that impact positively the learning environments of children and better support and nurture their well being. • Promoting the well being of children and young people by developing a system for encouraging and monitoring the conscious nurturing of their well being in different learning environments. Well being is the realization of our physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual potential. • Facilitating multi-sector dialogues on the well being of children. • Developing a co-creative culture within UEF and with its partners. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 18

19. Programme of activities UEF has developed a programme of linked activities: • The Voice of Children Initiative: - Learning Environment Observatory (LEO) - VOC Virtual Community • The Elham Inspirational Programme which will recognize and support individuals, groups and organizations for initiatives and endeavours that have contributed significantly towards making children’s and young people’s learning environments more conducive to their well being. Elham will focus particularly on recognizing and supporting people and initiatives from education, community based organizations, media, health and ICT. • The Learning for Well Being Forum will bring together local and global actors from education, health, ICT and media to provide opportunities to listen to children's voices, showcase Elham Ambassadors’ initiatives and inspire new ventures.. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 19

20. Voice of Children Initiative • Children's and young people's perspectives on the impact of their learning environments (education, health, media and ICT) • Learning Environment Observatory: quantitative and qualitative research toolkit to study the impact of learning environments • Virtual community: mechanism for listening to the voices of young people worldwide & inspiring other innovations and changes Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 20

21. Elham Inspirational Program • Identify, recognize, support, inspire and disseminate contributions by individuals / teams making children’s learning environments more conducive to their well being • Elham Ambassadors: special emphasis on supporting the Elham nominees as inspiring examples • Success stories: valuable learning resource for interested actors • Consultative development process involving various stakeholders from education, health, media, ICT, government as well as students, parents, teachers, etc.. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 21

22. Learning for Well being Forum • General theme: “Learning for Well Being” • The Forum will showcase the work of the Elham Ambassadors • Global and local actors from business, government and civil society, representing different learning environments (education, health, media and ICT), engaged in the Elham process, will contribute to the Forum. • Transdisicplinary space for mutual learning and discussion • Identify priorities and key insights • The purpose of the forum is to put children’s well being on the educational reform agenda and to create space for mutual learning and for a discussion on how various learning environments can contribute more effectively to children’s well being. Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 22

23. Voice of Children Initiative- Middle East pilot 2006 • Bottom-up partnership building process: government, civil society, business • Process for development of indicators & tools • Indicators developed around two clusters: well being & school environment parameters • Qualitative & quantitative research using focus groups and questionnaire • Outcomes and results • Refining the methodology and tools • Reporting Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 23

24. Regional Collaborators In cooperation with other organizations from the region including: CISCO, Microsoft, Intel, Ministries of Education and ICT, Child Watch International (MENA), UNICEF, Jordan University, Al Quds University, Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 24

25. Specific objectives of the pilot • Develop a conceptual framework for the well being of children as a basis for defining indicators for all aspects of well being. • The development of a global, modular and flexible framework for the qualitative and quantitative components, sensitive to cultural and contextual considerations. • Test the framework and use different research tools to analyze the results of the pilot. • Test the instrument’s reliability and validity . Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 25

26. Developing the quantitative and qualitative research School environment dimensions • Teachers and teacher student relations • General school climate • Classroom climate • Teaching/learning methods • School activities • Peer relations Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 26

27. Qualitative / Quantitative Qualitative: • What is on the minds and in the hearts of students: • Focus groups Quantitative • Definition of indicators which cover the various parameters of the school environment and the various dimensions and sub dimensions of well being • Structured self-administered survey Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 27

28. Selected Design Elements(Quantitative) • 14 – 17 year old school students (10th grade) • Probability sample • Research tool piloted for content and methodology • Self administered questionnaires • Over 100 indicators Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 28

29. Sample • Jordan = 1340 students • Lebanon = 1500 students • Palestine = 1697 students Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 29

30. Pilot Reporting Country and cross-country reports including: • In-depth analysis of findings against the various background variables • Identifying meaningful trends and correlations • Validity and reliability tests of various elements of the tool Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 30

31. How safe do you feel? Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 31

32. My schoolsupports my curiosity and inquiry Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 32

33. My schoolcauses me anxiety and fear Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 33

34. Student satisfaction with: student participation in the school environment (school governance, school activities, school community relations.....) Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 34

35. Student satisfaction with: school parent relations Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 35

36. During the current school year, have you ever been physically bullied (hit, slapped, pushed….)? Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 36

37. If your answer to the previous question was yes, who bullied you? Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 37

38. During the current school year, have you ever been emotionally bullied ( yelled at, humiliated, isolated, threatened….)? Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 38

39. If your answer to the previous question was yes, who bullied you? Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 39

40. How Comfortable are youdealing with a person from the opposite sex? 85.% 60.3% 51.3% Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 40

41. How Comfortable are you , dealing with a person from the opposite sex ? 61.2% 63.8% Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 41

42. How comfortable are you , talking with your teachers ? Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 42

43. In my mind, a teacher is associated with the image of : Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 43

44. Which of the following environments has the most influence on forming your ideas and beliefs? Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 44

45. Current partners Academy for Educational Development (Washington) Education Development Center (Boston) European Institute of Education and Social Policy (Paris) European Public Health Alliance International Partnership Network Madariaga European Foundation (Brussels) Media in Education Trust (Durban, South Africa) World Education (Boston) The United Nations ICT Task Force (New York) United Nations Fund for international Partnerships University of Wales Institute Cardiff (Wales) Welfare Association www.uef-eba.org Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 45

46. Board • Marwan Awartani • Amir Dossal • Corinne Evens • Raymond Georis • Mary Grey • Daniel Kropf • John Volmink Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 46

47. The Universal Education Foundation Education by all for the well-being of children UEF is a non-profit organization registered in the Netherlands. Its founders come from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. The secretariat is in Ramallah and there are operational offices in Boston and Paris. Website: www.uef-eba.org For more information, please contact: Marwan Awartani, Secretary General Telephone: +972 2 296 7967 or +32 2 209 6226 E-mail mawartani@uef-eba.org Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children Universal Education Foundation • Education by All for the Well-Being of Children 47