Teachers can bring about social change

We are so privileged to live in Australia and there is so much that we take for granted. We are a diverse and privileged country who seeks to improve the quality of life for those that live here. Australia is a country that wants the best for its people and to providing quality education to those outside our borders brings them a step closer to our shores. While some might not ever be given the opportunity to come to such a fortunate country like ours, it is reassuring to know there are organisations like Teachers Without Borders working to raise awareness and education for disadvantaged people and those who can only dream of the knowledge, fortune and success that we sometimes take for granted in Australia. TWB has the ability to reach teachers globally and improve their capability in providing quality education to each of the students they encounter. This has the potential to initiate change on a global status.

I have done volunteering in two underprivileged schools in Thailand. The way in which they were disadvantaged was not apparent to start with, as they all had school uniforms, were attending school, had phones, individual books and much more. Although, as I got to know the students more, I was able to recognise that these students were disadvantaged in their everyday lives and their futures of success were significantly impacted. The government paid for their schooling because the families could not afford to send them otherwise. This financial support that the government provided ensured education was accessible to all children. Although, at one of the schools I worked at, the students have moved away from their families and homes and were living on campus as novice monks. This was a sacrifice that they had made in order to access education as it is very valued in the Thai community and improves future success. These sacrifices were all made to improve the outcomes of their families, because they had grown up seeing their families struggling and working long hot days in the sun. It was such a beneficial experience to be able to teach in these schools and see how much they valued education. It really highlighted how much power teachers have and the ability they have to bring about not only social change but also economic change.

We are part of a country with so many cultures that have come to Australia seeking a better standard of life, seeking safety and shelter and working towards growing their families. Particularly the teacher’s in Australia, who reach so many different cultures, have the ability to make a significant difference and bring about social change. We have the power to influence the minds and capabilities of those that have moved here to seek and improve their quality of life. The more minds we educate and reach the more individuals we support and the more of a difference we can make. Teachers have the power to influence the perceptions of students and support the formation of an understanding and acceptance of individual differences, influencing social change within communities. It is important for students to understand that we do not all look the same and don’t all come from the same backgrounds, everyone has had different experiences. Teacher’s Without Borders provide the programs they do to increase acceptance and develop an understanding of the difficult journeys that individuals and past generations have made among the community, although this only scrapes the surface. Teachers can develop their own knowledge and understandings of these experiences through programs run by TWV and share this knowledge and use it to influence the minds and perceptions of the broader community. When teachers work together to share this understanding, they have the ability to reach more people and therefore have a greater influence and bring about more social change.

#teachers #socialchange #EDFD459