EMIDIO Boto wants his students to have an understanding of how governments work around the world.
The Melville Primary School teacher was recognised for his efforts in the classroom with the United Nations (UN) Association of Australia WA Division Education Award at the Perth Town Hall on October 26.
“The UN are looking for teachers who run programs that promote global citizenship,” he said.
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READ NOW“They are acknowledging teachers who do special programs that educate children in that manner, so I have over the past few years run a program that fosters the whole community of the world.
“Kids take up a different nation, they ‘travel’ to each other’s countries, they act as diplomats, they learn about each other and we do focus on the sustainability and development goals, which are the 17 different goals that the UN has developed to improve the world.
“The kids have to identify in each country what the targets of those countries are, such as clean drinking water and gender equality, before they then come up with strategies so the countries can reach those targets.”
Mr Boto said he felt awkward about receiving recognition because he felt like he was just doing his job.
“A lot of people find the programs I do fun but the reason why I do them like that is because I find them fun as well,” he said.
“That’s motivates me, not only seeing the kids getting into it but I get a kick out of it as well.
“For me, it’s about the kids understanding that things are being done around the world. We get a lot of information about how bad the world is but we do have a giant organisation which is working to improve things.”