Bringing the world closer to McKenzie-Smith Bennett

By Jason Misner
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, HDSB STAFF

McKenzie-Smith Bennett (MSB) educational assistant Lidra Remacka visited Palestine last November to help improve the teaching system. In the process, she introduced her school to a whole new world – and a bunch of new friends.

Remacka travelled to the politically-fractious Middle East with Sustainability Frontiers, an international alliance of sustainability and global educators dedicated to curriculum development and teaching innovation. Members of the alliance are concerned with formal and informal education, through a holistic approach, that transcends social, psychological and spiritual levels. 

The alliance was invited by the Teacher Creativity Centre, a Palestinian, non-profit, non-governmental organization working to ensure a peaceful and secure environment within schools. During her 10-day visit, Remacka spoke on the need for things like environmental, peace and civics/human rights education.

“Everything is inter-dependant of each other,” she said in explaining how so many issues relate to each other, creating a sort-of domino effect on society.

Before she left for the West Bank city of Ramallah, Remacka brought with her 80 student letters from her school. When she returned home, she brought with her 90 letters from students she met during her trip.

Remacka helped start a penpal network that has strengthened over time and gained the support of MSB staff and, just as importantly, the students. She hopes it broadens their global perspective and provides a bigger picture of their place in the world.

“One day these (students) can do something together,” she said with a smile. “You are global citizens. We share the same planet.”

Mai-Lynne, 13, said she has learned to appreciate Canada even more through the penpal network, having learned about Palestine.

“I’m more thankful I live in Canada,” the Grade 8 student said.

The students have exchanged correspondences three times so far.

The letters resemble the kind of interests and subjects near and dear to students in Canada.

One Palestine letter from “outgoing” Jihad Abed, who loves playing soccer and basketball, partly reads: “My favourite season is summer. I also like the summer vacation from school. Between October and November, it’s olive picking season. This is where we get our olive oil.”

Another student, hip-hop-loving Fuhmi Zhour, wrote: “…the sport I enjoy are football and swimming. The subjects I take are history, science, math, english and geography.”

MSB prinicpal Sharon French said she loves the penpal network because it helps expose her school  which is a bit more isolated than some given its north Halton location  to the world around them and have her students connect with kids they might not normally connect with.

“It was an amazing experience for her and it’s been good for our school,” French explained. “We’re a small school and fairly isolated in our part of Halton. For Lidra to bring the message of civics and responsibility and character education and growth and the commitment of the environment we focus on here is really important.

Albania-born Remacka, a former research assistant at the International Institute for Global Education of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at University of Toronto, said she made the trek last November to impress upon the people the issue of inner peace and environmental preservation.
“I’m lucky I went there and saw what was going on,” she said, adding she was “humbled” by the experience. “What I learned is freedom is the most important thing in our life… freedom in every aspect.”

Remacka’s background in education is impressive.

Among her accomplishments is the development of a human rights education program for girls in Afghanistan funded by Right to Play, Toronto, in 2004.

Remacka was also heavily involved as an international consultant with the Albanian Pedagogical Institute and Ministry of Education, particularly in the areas of integrated curriculum for Albanian students with special needs, helping prepare the integration of autistic students in the classroom.

She’s facilitated conference and workshop sessions on civic, environmental and global education for various international organizations, government bodies and non-governmental organizations. 

Remacka, a nominee for the Ontario Premier’s Award of Teaching Excellence in 2009-2010, said she hopes to visit Ramallah again this summer to continue her work.