About the project
About the project
This project aims to empower young people to become actively involved in achieving the Goals. The information and activities on this website are open to youth groups, schools, and young people everywhere. The Global Village project is being undertaken by the Woodcraft Folk on behalf of the International Falcon Movement (IFM-SEI).
Through the Global Village programme, young people will explore ways in which such a human-centred, democratic approach to future peace, development, and justice can be constructed by children and young people.
Adversities such as conflict, poverty, infectious diseases and human rights violations threaten the survival and dignity of millions of people today. Communities and individuals are unevenly affected by the challenges of globalization. These problems are not adequately addressed by conventional approaches alone. The UN Secretary-General has called on the world community to advance the twin goals of 'freedom from want' and 'freedom from fear'. A new human-centred approach has to be developed if these issues are to be addressed in an effective and comprehensive way.
-- United Nations Commission on Human Security
This idea is closely linked to the work which the Woodcraft Folk and IFM have already undertaken on sustainability which has looked at, for example, the idea that the major conflicts the world will face in the years to come will result from the inequitable access to, and use of, the world's resources.
Similarly, 'freedom from want' for large numbers of the world's population will only be possible if more sustainable lifestyles are adopted by those who currently take more than their fair share.
Conflict, imperialism, racism, underdevelopment and exploitation are not problems that have disappeared with increasing globalisation - they have worsened. The impact of these evils on the future for children and young people around the globe is devastating. Millions of children suffer horror as labourers, prostitutes, soldiers and refugees.
Global Village 2006 will aim to raise awareness of what needs to be done if future generations of children are to grow up 'free from want' and 'free from fear' and empower young people to pursue this goal.