Red Cross: Free Training and Lessons
Help students think critically about the wars they are witnessing around the world.
Canadian Red Cross
Armed conflicts around the world continue to draw the attention of many concerned Canadians. Without the tools or outlets for proper reflection, many of us, students included, feel somewhat ineffective and despondent. Tackling global issues through the lens of Humanitarian Education and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) can help students understand states’ responsibilities to protect civilians in times of armed conflict. Humanitarian Education activities in the classroom provide the lens to help youth develop critical thinking skills about the violence they are witnessing on social and traditional media, and to discuss tools to help prevent and alleviate suffering due to war. Humanitarian Education trainings at the Canadian Red Cross help high school teachers of various subjects talk with their students about war.
Starting October 15th, the Canadian Red Cross is offering a FREE National Online Humanitarian Education Training running Tuesday evenings until November 5th. This training equips high school teachers to navigate challenging conversations about armed conflict in the classroom. Facilitated by subject matter experts, the National Online Humanitarian Education training walks teachers through FREE, ready-to-use lessons about humanitarian issues and International Humanitarian Law. Lessons complement subjects such as global issues, social studies, history, law, civics and language arts. Instruction is provided by Canadian Red Cross legal experts and international humanitarian practitioners in the field, alongside teachers currently implementing Humanitarian Education activities in their classrooms. Additional asynchronous content is available, and a certificate of recognition is provided to teachers who complete all components of the training.
Helping students explore humanitarian dilemmas through a lens that prioritises the importance of IHL and humanitarian values can be an antidote to polarizing conversation about armed conflict. Students can expand their own critical viewpoints on the humanitarian consequences of armed conflict when they are provided the opportunity to learn the basic rules of IHL and see how it is applied, investigate judicial and non-judicial avenues for justice, and explore real humanitarian success stories.
You can help your students think critically about the wars they are witnessing around the world. Register for our FREE National Online Humanitarian Education Training today to access Humanitarian Education lessons and to workshop challenging questions from your students with subject matter experts.
This training is made possible thanks to supporting partners: the Social Studies Educator Network of Canada/Réseau pour l’enseignement des sciences sociales du Canada, and the University of Ottawa Faculty of Education/Faculté d’éducation de l’Université d’Ottawa.
For questions about Humanitarian Education at the Canadian Red Cross, email HumanitarianEducation@redcross.ca
