WMF-World Savvy Education Collaboration

Brooklyn, United States

Background

The world’s cultural heritage represents a testament to history as well as a window to the future. As societies around the globe become more diverse and interdependent, a sustainable future depends on our capacity to transcend geographic boundaries and social differences and to enable collective action. Our shared heritage serves as an important tool for recognizing diversity and fostering cooperation. With this in mind, WMF has partnered with World Savvy, an organization dedicated to educating and engaging youth in community and world affairs. By combining WMF’s knowledge and experience in the heritage field with World Savvy’s education mission and network, this collaboration seeks to prepare the next generation of leaders to learn, work, and thrive as responsible global citizens.

How We Helped

WMF and World Savvy developed a program of study that builds upon WMF’s work in the heritage conservation and World Savvy’s existing curricula regarding sustainable communities, and integrates global issues into the classroom across disciplines. The curriculum consists of four units based on the World Monuments Watch and WMF projects at the Qianlong Garden in the Forbidden City, China; the village of New Gourna, Egypt; and the Church of San Pedro Apóstol in Andahuaylillas, Peru. The units are geared toward grades 6–12 and use a project-based learning approach, whereby students explore a range of concepts (including geography, history, math, science, and arts) through WMF’s work and the creation of their own student projects. Educators are encouraged to download the units and submit student work to WMF, so that student ideas can inform the field and build public engagement in heritage concerns.

Why It Matters

The project-based learning units are being disseminated to more than 5,000 teachers through World Savvy's online curriculum library and Global Educator's Network. By encouraging creativity and innovation, these programs of study aim to raise awareness about shared heritage around the world while at the same time building important skills for critical thinking. Ultimately, by utilizing conservation as an education resource and tool, WMF seeks to engage a new generation in collective action that integrates heritage into the fabric of society and connects people and places in new and profound ways.

Last updated: July 2021.

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