Edmonton Catholic Schools students take part in national dialogue on human rights
Since 2023, Edmonton Catholic Schools has partnered with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to participate in the annual Be an Upstander showcase.
The program invites students to explore injustice and respond with truth, beauty, and goodness. Through project-based learning, students examine human rights topics that matter to them and share their work at the national showcase.
Each year, students from various ECSD schools take part. Past topics have included houselessness, period poverty, self-esteem in boys, youth mental health, and the connection between food and the environment. The program supports curriculum in religion, language arts, and social studies.
Catholic Social Teaching teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are upheld and responsibilities are met. The Be an Upstander program brings this area of Catholic Social Teaching to life for students.
The showcase is an amazing opportunity for youth to interact with decision-makers, families, and our community. It allows them to profile their work and highlight ways to make the world a better place for all.