Education & Awareness – Page 2

Forty Three Years and 120,000 Lives Later

“In February of 1979 Tehran was in chaos”. Says my grandmother, who lived during the Islamic revolution. Months ago when we spoke, she was unsure of how long the protests would last. She said: “we’re far from a revolution, people will get scared away”. She was hopeless then, but in our most recent conversation she said proudly, “Iran is in chaos. This is a revolution”.

How Canada’s MAiD Laws Leaves Vulnerable Individuals Open to Abuse

On June 17, 2016, a hallmark decision regarding Canadian health policy was made. Bill C-14 was passed, legalizing medically assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia in Canada in the form of MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying). For many Canadians who lived with terminal illnesses, as well as loved ones who had been a witness to their pain, this was a moment to rejoice and celebrate. While this was a definite step forward for Canada, recent implications regarding the use of this policy have been deemed problematic by critics, as an increasing number of people are turning to assisted suicide as a method of liberation from poverty or other social injustices. Stronger social safety nets and more well-developed policies regarding the uses of MAiD are needed to curb this disturbing trend. As Canadians, we need to ensure that not only do we have the right to die with dignity, but to live in dignity as well.

Are Women Disproportionately Affected By Poverty?

The word “feminism” may not evoke much sympathy now compared to the past. Especially in progressive countries such as Canada, it may seem less vital to focus on women’s rights than other minorities’ rights. However, the liberation of women from patriarchy still has a long way to go. Patriarchy persists in modern society, despite women’s historical efforts to destroy it, forbidding women today from succeeding as much as they should.

Slacktivism

In the Digital Age, the term ‘slacktivism’ has been thrown around considerably. While it originally had a positive connotation when it was coined in 1995, the term slacktivism has come to refer to actions performed on the Internet that are believed to have little to no effect on the real world, and are instead done to make the participants feel good about themselves (Christensen, 2011). From online petitions to hashtags and posts, actions that fall under the umbrella of slacktivism have been used in discussions regarding topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement, sexual assault, and mass poverty. And while some in the present day are critical of slacktivism, there are still groups of people who believe in its benefits.

Eliminating the Health Disparities Faced by the LGBTQ+ Community

Until 1973, homosexuality was listed as a disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Although the evolution of our society has led to some understanding of the importance of protecting people from discrimination in healthcare settings, some clinicians still harbour harmful anti-LGBT attitudes. Healthcare professionals take an oath to “do no harm” when treating patients. If medics do not uphold this rule, how are they ensuring that absolutely no harm is being done? Creating an affirming and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community requires a combination of understanding members as their own population whilst treating every LGBTQ+ person as a unique individual. This article highlights some strategies that current (and prospective) healthcare professionals can use to ensure that.

Campus UNICEF Book Review: Almost Home

Kevin Ryan and Tina Kelley’s Almost Home: Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope familiarizes us with the life stories of six young people, who felt a lack of belonging at certain phases in their lives. It places emphasis on the various struggles they went through in early childhood and adolescence, and how they used the lessons learned to better themselves. Covenant House (a charity that looks after the well-being of homeless and trafficked youth) played a massive role in their improvement. The issues that this non-fiction sheds light on include family violence, prostitution, teen parenthood, rejection based on sexual orientation, and aging out of foster care without a family. In addition to the heartbreaking yet inspirational stories from the youth, the book reveals a set of alarming statistics with regards to the issues, making it all the more important to raise awareness about homelessness and the dangers affiliated with it.

Decolonization of Education: The Alberta UCP Curriculum Draft

The Alberta UCP’s K-6 curriculum draft produced a lot of controversy with the public and with Alberta’s teachers. Teachers and parents expressed feelings of frustration, anger and disappointment because they felt that the curriculum was racist and effectively omitting important lessons in history. The Edmonton school board asked education minister Adriana LaGrange to rewrite theContinue reading “Decolonization of Education: The Alberta UCP Curriculum Draft”

BENT ARROW AND THE NEED FOR CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC SERVICES

TRIGGER WARNING: RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS, ABUSE

Founded in 1994, the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society is a nonprofit specifically dedicated to serving Indigenous communities. They offer a comprehensive range of services including employment, housing, and cultural resources. Their target population includes a diverse age group, such as children,youth,seniors and families. Their mission is to “build upon the strengths of Aboriginal children, youth and families to enable them to grow spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally so that they can walk proudly in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.”

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EXPOSES THE NECESSITY OF FAST INTERNET SERVICE FOR RURAL STUDENTS

How Does Poor Internet Service Affect Rural Students? With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities and schools across the country were forced to shut down, sending millions of Canadian students back home. While these have been difficult times for all students as they deal with the unique challenges and unpredictable nature of online schooling,Continue reading “THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EXPOSES THE NECESSITY OF FAST INTERNET SERVICE FOR RURAL STUDENTS”

CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2021: WHAT YOUTH NEED TO KNOW

Hello UNICEF Readers! We are so excited you’ve clicked on this blog, as today we’ll be addressing everything you need to know for the upcoming Federal Canadian Snap Election! With constant campaigns, social media updates, and news articles, it can be hard to make sense of what’s happening and how to get involved. We’re here to help! Today, we break down Canada’s electoral system, the purpose of this election, a brief summary of the parties running, and some extra tips. We feel it’s important for youth voters to be informed, and we hope this blog helps you better understand how this upcoming election will work!