This conversation with Cecê Ovelar blew me away.
In less than 15 minutes Cecê Ovelar clarifies why we need to move away from a reliance on one, typically US-centric approach to DEIJ work in international schools. He explains why we must focus on community voices, not theories and debate as we try to make our schools spaces for everyone. We discuss language accessibility, and the harmful focus on singular ideologies and bias towards US-centric approaches.
𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐄𝐈𝐉 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤:
1️⃣ Language is an inherent barrier, not simply the idea of translating, but also using accessible English for those who may be conversational but cannot access academic language.
2️⃣ Many international schools try to replicate the colonial cultures of the US or Western Europe. These communication styles and community-building methods are more focused on integration rather than inclusion, and imposing them on diverse, transient international school populations can lead to harm and inequity.
3️⃣ We must increase the diversity present in our teaching and the exposure to examples of expertise and success around the world. To make our schools international, the curriculum must be international – teach about local and regional equity champions, not always US examples.
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐞𝐜ê:
𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EsK4lV_k8P_AUlrR4mRvR30rcnpyZF98IVdtW1rRtwo/edit?usp=sharing
𝐈𝐒𝐃 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 & 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬: https://www.isdakar.org/student-life
Check out the clip below and watch the full episode at to learn a key approach to DEIJ work that can support your DEIJ journey.
Cecê Ovelar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cec%C3%AA-ovelar-78a4461bb/ – https://kilombu.org
𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄 𝐒𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDbZETyeDvms7tIrUO5X4Gg?sub_confirmation=1
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