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AEP Online |
The Role of Education in Tsunami Relief EffortsIn response to the devastation caused by the December 26 earthquake and tsunami, massive relief efforts have been mounted across the globe. To this extent, educational publishers have played several important roles: pledging financial support, donating products and services to schools in the impacted countries, and--almost more importantly--reaching out to their audiences with educational materials about the disaster and information on what can be done to help. "As with any major national or international event of this magnitude, we know that children of varying ages are exposed to information and images through television, newspapers and the Internet," said Rebecca Bondor, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Scholastic Classroom Magazines. "We believe that it is our responsibility to provide age-appropriate information to help [them] make sense of world events and reassure them about their own safety." Over the past two weeks, Scholastic News Online and Classroom Magazine publications have both featured a number of special reports on the events, accompanied by critical thinking questions to facilitate classroom discussion and links to relief organizations. Discovery Communications responded by airing a special presentation, "The Next Wave: The Science of Tsunamis," on its Discovery Channel US, and offering a number of resources on the disaster on its Discovery Education and Discovery School websites. Finally, "Asia's Tsunami," the special report on the TIME for Kids website, features an email bag where kids can find letters about the tragedy written by their peers, in addition to articles on building a tsunami warning system and pictures of the waves and their aftermath. Working closely with organizations such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), many publishers have dedicated time and money toward helping the millions of affected children return to a sense of normalcy by getting them back in school. This Friday, Evan-Moor will donate a sum of money to the "Save the Children" charity for every employee who wears an Evan-Moor shirt to work. Scholastic has donated educational products to schools in the impacted countries to this end, and will establish a relief fund specifically earmarked for rebuilding and repairing damaged schools. "Nothing will signal hope more clearly than rebuilding and reopening schools," said UNICEF Director Carol Bellamy in a January 3 press conference. "Being in a learning environment gives children something positive to focus on, and enables the adults around them to go about the business of rebuilding with greater confidence."
Questions, ideas, or in need of more information? Please contact Stacey Pusey at 856-241-7772. |
Find out how you can help by visiting the US Fund for UNICEF |
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