MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

 
In late March, our social studies classes gave presentations that attracted a lot of attention. We called it our annual Baraka Project. “Baraka” is a word that means “blessing” or “water of life” in many languages. The assignment this year centered around the World Health Organization’s Millennium Development Goals. Four goals in particular were selected for the project:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Develop a global partnership for development

Pretty lofty goals, huh? Each student was to select one goal and their challenge was to answer the following questions:

A)  What is standing in the way of achieving the goal?
B)  What is already being done about the goal?
C)  What still needs to be done to address the goal, and what kind of economic investment will it require?

Students had to prepare a presentation that included a 5-minute lecture on the three challenges and then show a persuasive exhibit—a podcast, digital film, visual slideshow or graphic novel. Most students chose to create iMovies, and they were extremely moving. A few actually brought tears to my eyes.

We invited audience members to critique the presentations. More than 55 professionals from Battelle, OSU and many other organizations came to serve on panels for the students to present their ideas.

My e-mail describing the project and requesting panel members was sent around Columbus and was ultimately posted on local online bulletin boards that feature innovative educational projects. As a result, I was contacted by several people who were very excited to learn that our students were given an assignment like this.

The project even led to another new partnership. One person who attended the exhibitions was so impressed that she wanted to become a research or intern mentor. As a result, student Alyssa Steed is now working with her on a real project to research the feasibility of sustainable school kitchens in developing countries.  Alyssa will receive high school credit for her junior capstone research course, a Metro required course.