UNESCO
This site is indebted to the United Nations Educatioinal, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its tireless work improving educatioin in Africa and all over the world. There efforts to gain peace through education is comendable, so much so, that we would like you to take time to learn more about this invaluable organization. Please read this brief discription of their work, and visit their official website here.
UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on 16 November 1945. For this specialized United Nations agency, it is not enough to build classrooms in devastated countries or to publish scientific breakthroughs. Education, Social and Natural Science, Culture and Communication are the means to a far more ambitious goal : to build peace in the minds of men.
Today, UNESCO functions as a laboratory of ideas and a standard-setter to forge universal agreements on emerging ethical issues. The Organization also serves as a clearinghouse – for the dissemination and sharing of information and knowledge – while helping Member States to build their human and institutional capacities in diverse fields. In short, UNESCO promotes international co-operation among its 193* Member States and six Associate Members in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. *As of October 2009
UNESCO is working to create the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect for shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture. This role is critical, particularly in the face of terrorism, which constitutes an attack against humanity. The world urgently requires global visions of sustainable development based upon observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which lie at the heart of UNESCO’s mission and activities.
Through its strategies and activities, UNESCO is actively pursuing the Millennium Development
Goals, especially those aiming to:
• halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty in developing countries by 2015
• achieve universal primary education in all countries by 2015
• eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005
• help countries implement a national strategy for sustainable development by 2005 to reverse current trends in the loss of environmental resources by 2015.
• UNESCO and the United Nations Millennium Goals
UNESCO in Africa
UNESCO is helping to build the scientific and technological capacity of Africa, and UNESCO supported projects and networks are helping to fill in the scientific information on Africa's resources and environment/ On 10 October, UNESCO’s Executive Board adopted the Plan of Action for Africa proposed by the Director General of UNESCO with emphasis on three flagship projects. These are:
* the initiative for capacity-building in science policy;
* science, technology and engineering education; and
* the establishment of an African Virtual Campus.
Still, Africa needs to greatly strengthen ints science and technology capacity. First, it has to improve the health of its peoples and produce more food and other products from its agriculture. It needs an infrastructure -- roads, railroads, power, communications -- that better serves its people. It needs a people who are more scientifically and technologically literate.