As Ministers from 25 countries arrived in Iceland this week for the International Summit on the Teaching Profession, they were welcomed just beyond passport control by various drawings from Icelandic children.
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The drawings showing the jobs children aspire to do in the future, are displayed throughout the airport. A number have been animated by Sinead McCarron, a teacher working in Iceland and a talented graphic designer. These animated drawings are being played on screens throughout Keflavík Airport – bringing colour, creativity and a sense of possibility to the arrivals hall.
The Summit is taking place in Reykjavík, where drawings are displayed as large-scale posters across the city-centre, sparking conversations among delegates as they arrive.
Inspiring
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The children’s drawings are part of our Drawing the Future Iceland study, which we are doing in partnership with the Government of Iceland. The aim of the study is to seek insights into how their children think about the future – their career and education aspirations and who, and what, is influencing these – including the impact of school, family, geographical location, and social media.
It is part of launching Inspiring the Future in Iceland. As there isn’t quite a direct translation of the word ‘inspiring’ in Icelandic it is called it ‘Stækkaðu framtíðina’, which translates into English as ‘Expand the Future’.
The programme connects schools with volunteers from a wide range of professions, helping children discover new possibilities and futures they might never have known or ever imagined they could do. It aims to ensure all children and young people, wherever they live in Iceland, have the chance to meet role models from the world of work who can inspire and show them the opportunities open to them – regardless of their background or location.
Bringing aspirations to life
With education leaders from around the world gathered in Reykjavík, the project totally brought children’s voices into the spotlight – which is as it should be for an education summit!
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Find out more about the programme in Iceland Learn more about Inspiring the Future here