New resource helps young Kiwis end world poverty

1 September 2009

Prime Minister John Key recently pledged to help Pacific Island countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Council for International Development and the Global Education Centre are launching an exciting new educational resource on the Millennium Development Goals - eight global targets that, if met, would halve the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015.

CID and the Global Education Centre welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to the MDGs and expect that the release of our new resource will build support for John Key's ambition to see the Millennium Development goals achieved in the Pacific.

"Our new resource has a unique focus on the role of Aotearoa New Zealand in meeting the MDGs, and it shows young people how they can make the world a better place", says Rachel Tallon, Schools Programme Manager of the Global Education Centre.

The resource, which is free to download at http://www.globaled.org.nz/resourcekits/, is designed for use in intermediate and secondary schools, and is also suitable for youth groups.

"What's more, our new schools resource links students to the UN Stand Up, Take Action campaign - taking place from 16-18 October 2009", says David Culverhouse, Executive Director of CID. "Last year over 116 million people worldwide took part in the Stand Up campaign, and this year's target is for over 7000 New Zealanders to take part", says Mr Culverhouse.

On October 16 2009, young Kiwis from Invercargill to Whangarei will be organising Stand Up events including free concerts, special assemblies and tree planting campaigns in support of the Millennium Development Goals. The Stand Up campaign encourages people to call on world leaders to honour their commitments to the MDGs and take action against extreme poverty

For more information on the schools resource kit, or the Stand Up campaign contact Bridget Pipe-Fowler, CID Campaign/ Events Coordinator on (04) 496 9615 or bridget@cid.org.nz.