"What we do today will be the children's future"

 “Listen to the Children – We will take over this planet after you”

The awareness of environment, sustainable development and democracy can only be raised if you listen and learn from the children. That was the main message of the first day of the seminar What we do today will be the children´s future, which took place on Wednesday the 31th of May 2006 in the Stockholm Concert Hall. Over 80 representatives from all over the world came together to discuss their experiences and ideas in working for a sustainable development and a better future of all children and youth.

 - We must intensify children’s awareness, curiosity and knowledge
 - that is the ground for every improvement in the future, emphasized the Swedish Minister of Environment, Lena Sommestad.

 - It would be necessary, that every child learn about how nature and sustainable development works, said Lena Sommestad. All the speakers of the seminar shared the convincement, that this cannot be achieved by just telling the children, what they are supposed to think and do. Instead, new ways of interaction and learning should be developed together. Or, as Loren Acton, a former astronaut from the United States of America, put it:
 - There is something very unique we can learn from children: They are enthusiastic and they have trust. These two matters we must preserve.One possibility to learn more about the environment is Laurel Spring School, founded in 1991. The project was presented by Marilyn Mosley, the President of the Global 500 Forum, which is part of the United Nations Environmental Program UNEP. The Laurel Spring School has until today offered over 2700 pupils in 26 countries learning programmes on environment and sustainable development, which are designed after every child´s learning needs. The Childrens Meeting Place was in the centre of the discussion: The idea of a tree as a gathering and discussion place for teachers, city mayors, artists, children and others. This presents a possibility to not only have children sit down and listen, but to find a new way to raise creativity and action in them, stated Kajsa Dahlström, the president of Globetree. This method of learning has spread to many areas of east Africa, such as Uganda, which will host the next World Championship in Cooperation.

 - If you try to raise a child´s interest and creativity in a school or a work shop, they will just get afraid and silent. At the tree meeting place, they can relax and be open for new ideas”, explained Michael Mugeni, the mayor of Busia in Uganda. The Children´s Meeting Place has spread to many municipalities in Sweden. One example is Strängnäs, where this form of cooperation between children and local politicians has lead to new possibilities for kids to participate in communal decision making. Or, as 10-year old Josefin from Strängnäs explained it:
 - When adults plan to build something which involves kids, for example a playground, they have to talk to us and let us bring our ideas. You should listen to us, as we will take over this planet after you.

 Detailed seminar program - Please click here! (57.96 KB)