Africa in the classroom
Africa resources
Africa is now high on the international development agenda. With a
series of exciting initiatives under way to deliver positive change for
Africa and its people, young people have a wonderful opportunity to learn
and understand their responsibilities as global citizens through exploring
issues such as development and fair trade. The publication of the
Commission's report in 2005 (see below) marked an important
opportunity for young people to debate the issues raised and to become involved
in helping to bring change to Africa.
In March 2005, the Commission pledged to put a copy of the report into every school in the UK. Our Common Interest— what does the Commission for Africa Report say? is part of a series of teaching materials which the Commission is developing to help promote discussion and learning about Africa.
The Commission is also developing the Learning Africa website, which provides resources to help teachers explore the development themes raised in the Commission for Africa Report in the classroom.
Link Community Development (LCD) is an education development agency working in South Africa, Ghana and Uganda which offers some exciting opportunities for UK schools to find out more about Africa. The website offers a range of resources for teachers, information about LCD's Student Voices for Education events and the opportunity to take part in an online e-vote about the global importance of education.
Link Community Development already supports over 340 school links with African schools, and offers a unique support package for schools at both ends. Email Link Community Development for more information, or telephone 020 7691 1818.
The Commission for Africa
The Commission for Africa was launched by Prime Minister Tony
Blair in February 2004, with the aim of taking a fresh look at Africa and the
international community's role in its future development. Five formal
objectives were established to guide the work of the
Commission, which was tasked with producing a final report by early 2005,
together with clear recommendations for the G8, EU and other wealthy countries
as well as African countries. The Commission's Report was published on 11 March 2005.
In the lead-up to the G8 summit in Gleneagles in July 2005, the commissioners took part in a number of outreach events in G8 countries to publicise the report and generate support for the work of the Commission. The first of these took place in Washington DC on April 15, where commissioners presented the report in the Congressional offices on Capitol Hill to a large audience which included World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.
Published: 21 May 2005
