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Passionate Dundas Valley students seek to Change the Way with virtual conference

A passionate group of Grade 11 students in the Global CONNECT class at Dundas Valley secondary won’t let a pandemic stop them from inspiring youth to change the world for the better.

They’ve worked all semester on hosting a Virtual Human Rights Conference, to be held Wednesday, January 13 on Microsoft Teams. Planned by students, for students, the days will offer guest speakers, student panel speakers, workshops and opportunities for discussion and feedback throughout the day.

Secondary students are welcome to register online on their HWDSB Commons website. (Requires an HWDSB Commons login.)

“As young Canadians we firmly believe in the need to take a stand in support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals,” student Catianna Mann said. “This is our planet and we have to do everything we can to sustain it, for our future and the future of the generations to come.”

Every student attending will be able to choose two of the four available sessions; the focus is based on the United Nations video Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times, posted online for attendees to watch.

In the Global CONNECT course, students learn and develop leadership and interpersonal skills to envision what they want their future to look like and how to get there. The conference lets them step outside of the classroom to consider ways to make a change, and empower others to do the same.

“The amount of learning that happens with this level of commitment and passion makes me fall in love with teaching all over again,” said teacher Pieter Toth.

The conference empowers youth to have a voice and share it while making authentic connections with the world. Its focus is on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and four main topic areas: Poverty & Inequality, Justice & Human Rights, Gender Equality, and Climate & Planet.

“I am personally most passionate about climate change,” said student Julia Sharp. “I try to live as much of an eco-friendly life as I can, and express my opinions and worries about climate change, its impacts, and causes to others. This conference is important because we need to work together even when we are physically apart.”

How to register:

• Log in to the HWDSB Commons and visit globalconnect.commons.hwdsb.on.ca (or search the Commons for “Change the Way”)
• Once on the website go to the heading titled “Change the Way Virtual Conference”
• Find the button that says “Sign Up for Conference”
• Click that button and you will be directed to a form on Microsoft Forms.
• Fill out the form and read the attached form.
• Click “Submit” and you are registered!