Global Awareness Day
World Day Against Child Labor
Millions of children are exploited around the world as child laborers, being forced to work instead of going to school. Many of them are at risk working in hazardous environments. Every child has the right to education, safety, and play. Learn more in our Child Labor guide and visit our blog for ideas, including an audio for a song a student wrote after reading about a child laborer.
World Refugee Day
Can you imagine being forced out of your home to live as a refugee in an unknown place? What critical items would you need to survive? More than 43 million people are currently displaced worldwide due to conflict or natural disaster. On World Refugee Day, spread awareness about this important issue using our Displacement guide, student-narrated video, and poster.
International Youth Day
Youth, today is all about you! What unique challenges and capabilities do you think young people around the world face? As a youth living in the United States, you have so much potential to change and shape the world towards a better and more equitable future. Share with us your story and we’ll feature it on our blog in honor of this day!
World Humanitarian Day
This is what Concern is all about! Since 1968, Concern has been on the ground in the world’s poorest countries responding to emergencies and working in health, education, HIV and AIDS, and livelihoods to improve the lives of the poorest people. On this day, we honor all aid workers. Check out some of our own from the US office. Have a question for one of our staff? Tweet us!
World Food Day
The world produces enough food for everyone, yet almost 1 billion people worldwide do not have enough to eat. We may have abundant access to food in the US, but hunger and malnutrition is the greatest risk to global health, killing more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Fight against hunger, check out our hunger toolkit and blog to see how you can take action!
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
How do you define poverty? Over 3 billion people – almost half the world’s population – lives on less than $2.50/day. In the year 2000, world leaders gathered to form the Millennium Development Goals, eight goals that targets eradicating poverty by the year 2015. Do you think it’s possible? Learn more about the MDGs and stand up against poverty at your school!
International Day of Tolerance
What does tolerance mean to you? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines tolerance as, “sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own.” In an increasingly diverse world, creating a more tolerant society is essential to building peace. To celebrate this day, check out these five recommendations by the United Nations.
Universal Children’s Day
The children of today are the future leaders of tomorrow. Yet, many children in the world do not have the opportunity to be children. Over 100 million children are not enrolled in school and an estimated 215 million children are engaged in child labor. There are many obstacles that children face today due to poverty. Choose an issue like education and stand up for children’s rights today!
World AIDS Day
Since 1982, when the term AIDS was used for the first time, more than 60 million people have been infected with the HIV virus. HIV&AIDS is the fourth most deadly disease worldwide. Today, more than 40 million people are living with HIV, and half of all new adult HIV infections occur among 15-24 year olds. Raise awareness about HIV&AIDS, here are our suggested 10 ways!
Human Rights Day
Fighting poverty is essential to ensuring that human rights are guaranteed to everyone worldwide. All human beings have the same rights, guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. What rights do you think should be guaranteed to all? Make a list and then compare it to the UDHR. Print a copy out to post in your school!
International Women's Day
International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world to mark how far women have come in their struggle for economic, social, cultural and political equality. In the past century, many achievements have been made but inequality still exists. How do we ensure that all women have equal access to their rights? Learn more in our Women’s Rights guide.
World Water Day
Can you imagine walking for three hours to get a glass of drinking water? For most of us in the United States, the supply of water seems to be endless. We simply turn on the tap any time of the day. Yet, over 1 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water. Check out our water toolkit and see how other students have taken action around the global water crisis.
World Health Day
Did you know 10 million children die each year from preventable or treatable causes such as pneumonia, malaria, measles, and malnutrition? While hospitals and doctors may not be accessible especially in rural areas, Concern trains local members to be community health volunteers to screen children for malnutrition and treat basic illnesses. Learn more in our Child Survival guide and take action!
International Earth Day
Earth Day recognizes the interconnectedness of all life on the planet. The impact of climate change is one that affects all of us, especially the poor. Climate change threatens the most essential aspects of life on earth: health, access to water, and food production. It is the primary environmental challenge of this century. Find out what you can do in our Climate Change guide.
World Malaria Day
Malaria kills a child in Africa every 30 seconds. Something as simple as having a bed net can protect families from being bitten by parasite-carrying mosquitoes. You can spread awareness about malaria on this day, use our poster and see how students used bed nets to draw attention to this critical issue!
Global Concerns was one of the most amazing experiences of my life so far. I learned that everyone is capable of making a difference no matter how small. It was really great being surrounded by people who care about real issues and who really want to help.
-Gabrielle, Student New York
Global Concerns is an amazing program that lets students understand current issues, discuss and plan ways to resolve the matter and supports us strongly for putting our plans into action. Global Concerns gives us a voice and the power to change the world.
-Amyeo, Student, New York
Global Concerns Classroom provides the inspiration and the outlet for young people to turn awareness into action. I am continually impressed by the dedication Concern places on involving youth in their mission to eradicate extreme poverty and I can honestly say that Global Concerns Classroom is a life-changing program.
-Elizabeth, Student, Pennsylvania
Even living in New York City, a place where you think you know it all, none of us would be half as informed if it wasn't for Global Concerns. It gave us an outlet to act on what we learned about the world and motivated us to work for as many positive changes as we could.
-Emma, Student, New York
Participating in Global Concerns in my school has motivated me to study International Relations in University because I want to be better aware of the problems of the world and the issues that still need to be fought for. Global Concerns has planted the seed of what I hope to do in the future.
-Jeselin, Student, New York
From being part of Global Concerns I have realized that so many of us wake up everyday and never realize all the blessings we have in our life. We have so much, but we still ask for more. I realized that if more people could be more pro-active in saving the lives of others then our world would be a much better place!
–Brittany, Student, CA
Have you ever thought that you’re too young to make a difference? Many students think that no one will listen to them. But the truth is, young people around the world are demonstrating their power to promote peace and global understanding. There are many ways to raise awareness about important global issues in your school and community.
