Lockdown Learners
India
The Lockdown Learners initiative is featured in the UN Innovation Network’s “Best of 2020" publication
In support of UNODC’s Education for Justice initiative, the “Lockdown Learners” is a series of free-of-cost, interactive dialogues with students and educators in India on topics pertaining to COVID-19 and its impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (especially SDG 16), peace and the rule of law. It includes sensitisation of students on issues such as cybercrime, misinformation, gender-based violence, discrimination and corruption, among others. The Lockdown Learners series also aims to provide a platform for students to receive mentorship and knowledge support to use their skills to promote awareness among these issues and share their ideas and solutions to address some of these problems.
With a special focus on engaging with economically disadvantaged groups and students from rural and low-income groups, the series has applied innovative approaches such as using audio recordings on Whatsapp, fostering exchange of notebooks and creating offline youth-driven action clubs in support of SDG 16. Capacity and network building among educators on teaching issues pertaining to peace and the rule of law is also being undertaken. The response has been extremely positive, with students thinking about ways to address social issues through dialogue, critical skills, knowledge and unified action, and educators reporting positive behaviour changes among students.
UNODC is also providing knowledge support and mentorship to a range of student-driven initiatives in support of E4J, such as creative websites and games prepared by students from Karnataka and Punjab, songs prepared by Delhi students, artwork prepared by students in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Short film: "A Matter of Rights: E-ducation under Lockdown"
Pierrot's Troupe
A no-cost partnership was established with India’s noted theatre group, Pierrot’s Troupe, and its Director, Dr. Sayeed Alam, who created a short film highlighting digital divides in support of the Education for Justice Initiative.
Dynamic Blog Space: "Una Voca"
Legacy School Bangalore
Students of Legacy School Bangalore created a webpage to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on peace and SDGs. It features amazing videos, artwork and an interactive mythbusters game.
Student-led Dialogues
Students and educators of Delhi-based schools convened student-led dialogues on peace and SDGs in support of the Global Goals week, UN 75 and E4J.
Tagore International School, East of Kailash
Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan
Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar
Deep Dive Dialogue on Promoting Peace and the Rule of Law through Education
In this edition of UNODC's Deep Dive Dialogues, eminent Indian educators and global UNODC experts focused on innovative approaches in education to promote peace and the SDGs and building capacities of young people to emerge as problem solvers. The theme assumes significance in the wake of COVID-19 and its impact on young people, vis-à-vis education and the rule of law.
Lockdown Learners Series: Strengthening youth engagement on peace, justice and SDGs through innovation and impact
Songs: "Castles in the Air" and "We are One"
Ahlcon International School, Delhi
Asavri Verma and Ananya Verma, students of Delhi's Ahlcon International School, have composed two beautiful songs, “Castles in the Air”, calling for peace and hope amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and “We are One” on discrimination.
Dynamic Blog Space: "Perspectives"
Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi
A group of students from Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan (Delhi) have joined hands to create a vibrant webpage, through which they wish to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on peace and SDGs.
Video: Reflections on Cybercrime
Kothari International School, Noida
Students of the Kothari International School, Noida (Uttar Pradesh) have created a set of videos, reflecting on COVID-19 and emerging risks such as cybercrime and online safety.
UNODC-Dainik Jagran Dialogues on Education for Justice, Peace and SDGs
In collaboration with one of India’s largest media groups, the Dainik Jagran, UNODC co-convened a series of focused online dialogues, emphasising the importance of Education for Justice, Peace and SDGs amid COVID-19. In these dialogues, educators and young people deliberated innovative approaches in education to promote a culture of lawfulness, as well as rethinking youth engagement on social themes and peace post COVID-19.
Youth at the Forefront
Innovative Approaches in Education
Rethinking Student Engagement on Social Issues Post COVID-19
Rap Song by Abza Dorbala
Kamla Nehru Public School, Phagwara, Punjab
Rap Song composed by Abza Dorbala, a student of Kamla Nehru Public School (Phagwara, Punjab), on SDG 16 and discrimination.
Series of Videos: Reflections on COVID-19 and Emerging Risks
Mount Litera Zee School, Amritsar
Students of Mount Litera Zee School (Amritsar) created a set of videos, reflecting on COVID-19 and emerging risks such as misinformation and discrimination.
Special Videos: Reflections on E4J and the Lockdown Learners series
Students of various schools extended support to UNODC and E4J through these videos, sharing their experience of associating with the Lockdown Learners series
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Jhajjar, Haryana
Ahlcon Group of Schools, Delhi
Kothari International School, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
To know more and explore collaborations, please contact: Mr. Samarth Pathak, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia - samarth.pathak@un.org