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On Tuesday, 25 August 2020, APCEIU held a virtual ceremony under the theme of “Global Citizens’ Call for Solidarity and Cooperation in the Pandemic” in commemoration of its 20th anniversary. This virtual ceremony was organized in an effort to benefit a wider audience around the world, reminding them of the importance of Global Citizenship Education (hereinafter GCED), which fosters the value of solidarity and cooperation, especially in times of global crisis. Educators, researchers, civil society practitioners, and youth from all over the world participated in this ceremony, which was held through APCEIU’s YouTube channel. About 500 online participants participated in this event and the total number of YouTube views reached almost 2,000.

The 20th anniversary ceremony consisted of a variety of programmes including ‘Song for Global Citizens' written by the youth from around the world, welcoming remarks by Director Lim, congratulatory remarks and messages from key personnels from both domestic and international level, presentation of plaques of appreciation on the ocassion of the 20th anniversary, and watching stories of global citizens' action for solidarity and cooperation and video of the 20th anniversary of APCEIU.

Song for Global Citizens

The ceremony started with a “Song for Global Citizens” written and sung by youth who participated in GCED Youth Leadership Workshop hosted by APCEIU every year. The alumni of Youth Leadership Workshop congratulated the 20th anniversary of APCEIU by writing lyrics on the theme of GCED in the song “Somebody to Lean On,” delivering the message that everyone can overcome the crisis through cooperation even under difficult situations like today.

Remarks from key personnels from domestic and international level

Next, after Director Lim of APCEIU began by welcoming remarks, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General, of the United Nations delivered a commemorative address, Ms. Yoo Eun-Hae, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Republic of Korea, Ms. Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO and Ms. Seo Eun-ji, Director-General for Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea, delivered congratularatory remarks.

Director Lim in his welcoming remarks mentioned that, “In the future, the second and third Centres on GCED will be established in other countries going beyond Korea,” and explained the future plan of APCEIU likewise.

In the commemorative address, Mr. Ban Ki-moon said, "I hope that Korea and APCEIU will cooperate to take the lead in spreading GCED." Ms. Yoo Eun-Hae said, “As the world is struggling with covid-19, the importance of global citizenship to protect the values of solidarity and inclusion, and to respond to prejudice and discrimination is increasing.” Ms. Stefania Giannini said "Amid the unprecedented crisis of covid-19, various programmes of APCEIU can provide an important reference point for education to the international community." Ms. Seo Eun-ji said, “When it comes to examining the global progress of GCED and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at the GCED and ESD Forum jointly held by UNESCO and Korea in 2021, it is expected that APCEIU will play an important role.”

Subsequently, Mr. Jai Bir Rai, Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Bhutan, Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport of the Kingdom Cambodia, Dr. Leonor Briones, Secretary of Education of the Republic of the Philippines delivered congratulatory messages. They expressed the importance of APCEIU, which is recognized internationally as a leading institution, and stressed their will to actively cooperate with APCEIU in the future.

Presenting Plaques of Appreciation

Next, plaques of appreciation were presented to Professor Toh Swee-Hin, Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta, Canada, Dr. Bae Kidong, Director General, National Museum of Korea and Ms. Choi Soo-Hyang, Director of UNESCO-UNEVOC.

Since the establishment of APCEIU, they have not only conducted lectures and workshops related to GCED for many years, but have been working as members of the Governing Board of APCEIU to put their efforts in the development of APCEIU.

Stories of Global Citizens' Action for Solidarity and Cooperation

Next, the stories of 6 past participants of APCEIU’s programmes called the “Stories of Global Citizens' Action for Solidarity and Cooperation,” were presented. It began by Dr. Bert Tuga, President, Philippine Normal University of Philippines, followed by Dr. Khalaf Marhoun Al'Abri, Assistant Professor, Sultan Qaboos University of Oman, Ms. Nomsa Mpalami, Editor, Lesotho Distance Teaching Centre of Lesotho, Mr. Horin Kim, Teacher, Gonggeun Elementary School of the Republic of Korea, Dr. Marco D. Meduranda, Education Programme Supervisor, Department of Education, Division of Navotas City of Philippines and, Mr. Jinnarat Manojai, Student, Assumption University of Thailand, where they showed how their experience with APCEIU had impacted their lives and how they are practicing GCED in their local educational grounds.

They all expressed their appreciation to APCEIU for providing the opportunity to participate in various activities related to GCED and for the support in carrying out projects to spread GCED in their own countries. Through the video message, online participants were able to closely observe how GCED has changed people’s lives and what kind of activities they are practicing to spread GCED.

Lee Chul-soo, “You and I, ‘We’ Share the Same Sky”, Special Artwork Commemorating 20th Anniversary & Production of APCEIU’s 20th Anniversary Video

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of APCEIU, Mr. Lee Chul-soo, a leading Korean woodblock artist, produced a special artwork entitled “You and I, and ‘We’ share the Same Sky” and sent it to APCEIU. This work, which expresses the connected global village with the connected constellation and an expanding earthenware, conveys the message that all life in the universe is connected as one, well showing the spirit of APCEIU pursuing solidarity and cooperation. This work was decided to be permanently displayed at APCEIU.

Through the presentation of the 20th Anniversary video, APCEIU was able to further promote the past activities and the future vision of APCEIU, all of which have been paving the path to a culture of peace.

Significance of the virtual ceremony of the 20th anniversary of APCEIU

Participants who showed unity in a single virtual space regardless of the distance and covid-19 crisis hinted at the hopeful future of the global village amidst rising hatred, stigmatization and discrimination, and infused hopes and wishes to all Global Citizens around the world.

APCEIU 20th Anniversary Virtual Ceremony YouTube Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUD5kx45nVA&t=4194s

APCEIU 20th Anniversary Video Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKlvEn9M7N0

URL:

Virtual Ceremony Commemorating APCEIU’s 20th Anniversary > APCEIU News - APCEIU (unescoapceiu.org)