Youth Festival 2021
Engaging young people across Scotland and Malawi to lead the conversation on Climate Change, and Race and Equality.
The 2021 Scotland Malawi Partnership Digital Youth Festival was a week of engaging online events and activities reaching over 250,000 people. The programme was designed by young people, to inspire and support more young people in Scotland and Malawi to engage in our historic partnership. Centering around the key themes of Climate Change, and Race and Equality, the week was provoking, challenging and inspiring.
Events included a range of youth-led webinars, podcasts, competitions and the launch of our brand new Youth Committee-run Instagram @scotmalawiyouth. For schools, we recognised the immense challenges faced this year, and are offering a showcase of commissioned Global Education resources from specialist partners, and teacher training, to use anytime throughout 2021. All schools are welcome to get involved from Scotland and Malawi, whether you have an existing link or not.
Running from 15-19th March, the week was both a celebration of our countries’ relationship, and a deeper look into some of the complex issues that underlie it.
If you have any questions about the Youth Festival, we welcome you to contact our Youth & Schools Officer on youth@scotland-malawipartnership.org.
You can catch up
It's easy to catch up on the 2021 Youth Festival if you missed anything:
- Tune In - Listen to 3 podcasts spanning Scotland and Malawi, led by our Youth Committee members
- Watch back - 3 live webinars led by young Scottish and Malawian voices on Climate Change, Race & Equality and Climate Justice
- Learn & Develop - Download Global Education resources for teachers, youth leaders and educators. Available throughout 2021
- Follow - Follow our brand new Youth Committee-led Instagram channel: @scotmalawiyouth
Tune In
We welcome you to listen back to our Youth Committee led Podcasts discussing Race & Equality, Climate Change and Climate Justice. Links below.
Plus, during the 2021 Youth Festival we offered lots of ways to join us live through Facebook Lives and Twitter Take overs. Look back on our social channels for all the content.
Climate Change
Young Voices on Climate Change with Kathy and Chifundo
Catch up on "Young Voices" - a podcast about Climate Change where young environmental rights activists, Kathy from Scotland and Chifundo from Malawi, come together to talk about climate change issues.
Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Climate Justice
Young Voices on Climate Justice with Dani and Friends
Join Youth Host Dani as she explores issues of Climate Justice through the reflections of young people and many more, across Scotland and Malawi.
Dani seeks to find out what climate justice means in both contexts of Scotland and Malawi, and how we might use these insights in defining our climate and social justice efforts looking to the future.
Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Race & Equality
Young Voices on Race & Equality with Ryan & Josephine
Explore Ryan's impressions of his school trip to Malawi, and Josephine's experience as a Malawian student living in Edinburgh.
Race and Equality are by far topics that bring people from different backgrounds and cultures together, sharing their voices with the aim to reach one goal : Unity.
Join us, as two members of the Scotland Malawi Partnership's Youth Festival team, as we discuss some key issues that youth today are facing with regards to these key issues.
Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Watch back
Watch back to three webinars led by young Scottish and Malawian voices on current hot topics…
- What do young people in Scotland and Malawi think about Race & Equality, Climate Change and Climate Justice?
- What are their feelings about the future?
- What do they want to feel empowered to do…
These three dynamic webinars were planned, organised and recorded by members of the Youth Committee Festival Team and friends.
Kathy & Chifundo – Climate Change
“We are at war! The enemy looks stronger, eager to wreak havoc! Have you seen him? Just look into the mirror. The face you see is your greatest adversary. Ironically, it's also the same face that can end this war. How? Simple! Dedication to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal Number 13… Yes! Urgent action against Climate Change!”
Ryan & Josephine – Race & Equality
“From a range of young perspectives, this webinar will address questions like: How can we promote open dialogue between young people in different contexts? What misconceptions might hinder the potential value of partnership in climate efforts? What does ‘Black Lives Matter’ mean for Malawi’s climate efforts?”
Dani Lagus & Friends – Climate Justice
"From a range of young perspectives, this webinar addressed questions such as:
How can we promote open dialogue between young people in different contexts?
What misconceptions might hinder the potential value of partnership in climate efforts?
What impact has colonisation had on Malawian agency in setting its own climate agenda and what might a country like Scotland be able to do to mitigate this?
What does ‘Black Lives Matter’ mean for Malawi’s climate efforts?"
Meet the Young Climate Leaders in Scotland and Malawi
During the Youth Festival, we heard from nine ambitious young Climate Leaders. Each leader talked about the work and initiatives they are already involved in and discussed ideas for better international cooperation in tackling the climate crisis.
Young speakers are all part of the 2050 Climate Group in Scotland and Malawi, partnering with our sister office MaSP (Malawi Scotland Partnership).
You can watch all three sessions via the links below:
Learn & Develop
Teachers, Youth Leaders & Educators
We understand the last year has been like none other for schools and youth groups in both Scotland and Malawi, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to take part in this year’s Youth Festival in light of the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19.
That’s why we’re featuring a range of engaging member organisations, who have created specially commissioned resources on our key topics of Race & Equality and Climate Change. These can be downloaded and delivered any time that suits you within 2021. The material is suitable for home-learning and the classroom.
All we would ask is that you share the link to colleagues who are not already engaged with the SMP to allow them to see what we have to offer as we strive to engage the Global Citizens of tomorrow.
All resources were released on Day 1 of the Youth Festival, 15th of March, and are available until the end of the year.
If you do happen to find you would like a live workshop, we are able to connect you with your chosen organisation(s) directly to organise this. Please contact our Youth & Schools Officer on youth@scotland-malawipartnership.org to be put in touch.
Based on teacher feedback, and the uniquely challenging situation schools are under, we moved from live content to pre-recorded video content, which schools can use whenever and however they wish. However, if teachers would like a live engagement, they are welcome to contact on youth@scotland-malawipartnership.org and we can put them in contact with the facilitators and see what is possible.
Should you be inspired to learn more about Global Citizenship through Continuing Professional Development or activities for your class/youth group, we highly recommend the below:
Resources:
- Global learning resources | British Council
- Signposts for Global Citizenship - Explore Global Citizenship (signpostsglobalcitizenship.org)
- Learning for Sustainability (youthlinkscotland.org)
Teacher development opportunities:
Win prizes in both countries
Our Youth Festival challenges closed to entries at midnight on Sunday 25th April, and we were blown away with the stellar effort from young people trying out a new dance or language!
The quality was high and the judging was hard... but based on best effort, attention to detail and creative delivery, we are so pleased to announce the winners and runners up below.
Winners will receive a tablet, and runners up will receive a Mi-fi device - both prizes for intended use of improving opportunity for connection between our two countries.
Follow the SMP Youth Instagram account @ScotMalawiYouth here for the latest.
We would like to thank our sister organisation Malawi Scotland Partnership specifically for supporting so many Malawians in their brilliant entries, and in advance for sending out all the prizes.
Gaelic-Chichewa Competition
Winner: Andrew Machika
Runner-up: Maia Palamuleni
Congratulations!
Highland Dance Challenge
Winner: Anny Moyo
Runner-up: Gloria Bayamukama
Congratulations!
