Calgary Board of Education

Published purpose

This project twins Samuel W. Shaw School in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with Excelsior High School in Kingston, Jamaica. Students examine three themes: increasing food security, stimulating sustainable economic growth, and securing the future of children and youth. Using resources such as video conferencing, Skype, local media, social networking, and blogging, students work to spread awareness of the project and the lessons learned throughout their communities. The students’ activities include viewing a documentary film on food production, growing edible gardens, and preparing research projects on the environment that they present to one another. This project is part of a two-year pilot initiative designed to engage Canadian and developing-country teachers and students in joint learning projects. The International School Twinning Initiative (ISTI) aims to provide an enriched interactive learning environment to benefit both Canadian and developing-country classrooms. Through the ISTI, Canadian students and teachers gain greater insight into international development, a greater appreciation of their role as global citizens, and an enhanced ability to communicate international development issues. The ISTI is part of the Global Citizens Program, which seeks to raise awareness and increase knowledge of international development and provide opportunities for youth to participate in international development.