Statement of Solidarity with Educators and Learners in Conflict Zones Around the World.
Statement of Solidarity with Educators and Learners in Conflict Zones Around the World.
AEE Board of Directors
Violent conflicts across the globe have highlighted the current emergency that education finds itself in - direct impacts on educational access and infrastructure and the tragic loss of life among students, educators, and the communities that support them.
As an international community of experiential educators and practitioners, the AEE Board of Directors expresses solidarity with members of our association and with all educators and learners affected by these conflicts, regardless of nationality, religion or political affiliation.
We believe in the fundamental right of every person to access safe, inclusive and quality education; this right is non-negotiable, even in times of conflict.
We recognize the compounding effect of past, present, and potential future violence on existing educational inequalities and the mental health of learners around the world.
Paulo Freire wrote, "Education does not change the world. Education changes people. People change the world." In moments like these, experiential education is a philosophy rooted in the belief that all young people deserve the opportunity to learn through doing, through reflection, and through connection with their communities.
On behalf of all our members and member organizations, the AEE Board affirms and supports the role of experiential education in building resilience, fostering wellbeing, and sustaining meaningful learning for young people during and after periods of crisis.