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Share a slice of compassion
The Panel
Chair: Mike Stevenson (MS): Inspirational thinker and speaker
Ewan McVicar (EM): One of Scotland's foremost traditional singers, songwriter and storyteller
Isabelle Boyd CBE (IB): Head Teacher of Cardinal Newman School in Bellshill, frequently recognised for its work in global citizenship
What role do you feel philanthropy plays in the modern classroom?
MS. Sharing and giving comes naturally to children. When they learn that responsibility for the world around us, they gain a powerful personal attribute and it opens their minds to new perspectives, cultures, ideologies and lifestyles.
EM. It is a simple, effective and time-tested way for students to learn about and act on their instinctive duty as human beings to care about the needs of others.
IB. Philanthropy is at the heart of education - Scottish education is world-renowned for equalitarian approaches.
Why is instilling a sense of philanthropy in students important?
MS. Compassion - the ability to look beyond ourselves and contribute our ideas and support to those less well off - is deeply embedded in Scottish history. That, along with our intellectual and innovative contribution to the world, should be a source of pride and a driving force for our young people.
EM. Philanthropy is a first step towards addressing financial inequalities in the wider world.
IB. If we want well-rounded successful learners and worthwhile participative citizens, we must teach and model care of and respect for others.
Do you have practical examples where work you have been involved in has made a lasting difference?
MS. I visited a school in a South African township and saw the fruits of a ten-year long partnership with a school in Edinburgh.
The impact of that relationship was immense - a school library, new management structures, a soup kitchen, books and computers were the physical manifestations. There was also a palpable air of confidence around the school - a sense that they can and will achieve, an ability to present their thoughts and ideas to visitors to their school and to showcase with pride their creativity. But any sense of this being a one-way benefit was quickly dispelled. Pupils and staff from Scotland learn about positivism, cultural pride and resourcefulness - they experience a world beyond their ken and they develop humility and a whole host of emotional and social skills.
EM. What began in 1997 as a simple visual arts exchange between schools in Scotland and Africa, under the title The Bird Exchange, has produced several apposite examples. In 2007, involvement in the exchange by a class in Livingston led firstly to them donating the proceeds of their Enterprise project to Kids In Need (KIN), then to a shelter for ex-street kids in Kampala, then to them fundraising and making a DVD to send to KIN and then to the whole school becoming an ongoing sponsor of KIN.
IB. We have a highly successful senior citizens club, which is organised jointly by the school and local social workers. The club meets weekly in school and is run by a teacher with volunteer sixth year students. The activities are designed to support our local older community and to bridge the generation gap and break down barriers. This is philanthropy on our doorstep.
Money is tight. Isn't it time to focus on getting our own house in order?
MS. This is precisely the time to promote old virtues of compassion and philanthropy - values in the West are shifting from greed back towards a sense of community and selfless responsibility.
EM. The world is our house. We have a duty to get it in order, and we have more of the wherewithal than most of our fellow residents.
IB. Values don't change with the wind, don't change with fashion or even with the economy!
What resources, support or advice would you point teachers towards if they are embarking on this?
MS. I would start with the no-cost human resources that exist in abundance across Scotland - people with extraordinary stories to tell. Immigrants who have fled war zones, international aid agencies, business people who invest in the community, agents of regeneration and medical specialists. Let them tell their stories and start classroom discussions.
EM. The Bird Exchange has spawned a community recording studio in Kampala, and most recently a wider and simpler approach to inter-country school contacts called Bridge Builders. Contact Bridge Builders or The Bird Exchange through
IB. There are many excellent resources available to teach and support young people in this type of work. They are produced by SCIAF, Scottish Catholic Education Service and other charities and organisations. There are good examples on the LTS website about global and local citizenship.