๐Total Donation 1,000,000โฉ($750)๐ฅณ
The birthday donation campaign, which started in 2021, has now reached its third iteration. It's not easy to contemplate and communicate how problems can be solved, but in the process, I feel I have learned a lot. This year, being able to hear the stories of activists who raise their voices directly in the field will be even more memorable.
There are times when one can feel powerless when faced with incredibly challenging social problems. It may seem like there's nothing I can do. However, when I hear about the efforts of NGOs and activists working towards solving these problems, I gain courage. Confirming those who contribute their voices fills me with hope.
thanks to everyone who sent their support this year, I was able to learn a lot and feel hopeful once again.Sincerely, thank you!
๐I interviewed activist Su-young from the youth human rights group NAEDA, who participated in the Ministry of Education's major debate and spoke up!
Q: Is there a reason for choosing the theme 'Eliminating Violence in Schools and Healing Victims'? A: I grew up experiencing school violence, which I see as a manifestation of the various forms of violence in Korean society. Classrooms are microcosms of our society, and to contribute to solving this issue, I chose it as the topic for this birthday donation.
Q: What happened? A: Student rights ordinances faced a crisis, with concerns raised by the United Natioms and the National Human Rights Commission about attempts to abolish them. Despite student rights being seen as conflicting with teachers' rights, statistics from the Ministry of Education show lower incidents of educational activity infringements in areas with student rights ordinances.
Q: How are they related? A: To create a safe school for all, regular discussion tables where everyone can participate equally are crucial. However, Korea lacks institutional mechanisms for students to voice their concerns. Discrimination based on ageism persists, viewing students more as 'young individuals to be educated' rather than autonomous beings.
Recognizing students as equals is essential to address complex issues in schools. This process can lead to discussions on school violence, teacher guidance, and human rights for all members. Otherwise, someone will inevitably be excluded and isolated from the system.
Hence, I chose the youth human rights group NAEDA (@crs_naeda) as the beneficiary for this year's birthday donation, actively voicing for student rights on the ground.