| Award from Character Education Partnership |
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Jeewan received a Promising Practices award in 2006 from the Character Education Partnership located in Washington D.C. It was the first time teachers outside of the US have received this award. The Character Education Partnership recognized earlier last year four York Region District School Board teachers/administrators with Promising Practices Awards. The CEP is a national, non-partisan coalition of educational organizations, and individuals dedicated to the advancement of quality character education. Jeewan’s Promising Practice focussed on Participatory Democracy in the Classroom. His project called Project Helping Hands evolved because he wanted to allow students to see themselves as democratic participants in classroom activities and in shaping and guiding their curriculum that was used in daily instruction. It was important for Jeewan to help them develop the ethic of being self-directed learners within a larger learning community and to understand the power and responsibility that came with knowledge and education. Participatory democracy requires students to be self aware, empathetic and to demonstrate initiative and leadership, responsibility, optimism, fairness, integrity, courage, respect, honesty and perseverance. The project “Helping Hands” was developed as a way to tie the Board’s Character Matters program with its commitment to “inspire and prepare learners for life in our changing world community”. It is based on a practical approach to learning and a desire to impart humanitarian values to our students. Through involvement in projects supporting relief efforts around the world, students continue to understand their role in this global village as one based on learning, action and change. Helping Hands grew from one school to over twenty-three schools and students were able to assist other students and families in Iraq, Grenada, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan and India. After the devastation of the tsunami in the South Asian region, The Helping Hands project raised over $77,000 relief – 100% of which went into direct aid via the Canadian Relief Foundation. |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 24 August 2009 ) |
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