Fostering Social Cohesion in Schools & Beyond
What's in the toolkit?
The Social Cohesion Toolkit is comprised of several components that work together to promote social cohesion within a school and its surrounding community. One of the primary components is the assessment tools, which enable educators and administrators to evaluate the existing levels of social cohesion and identify areas that need improvement. These tools are essential for creating targeted interventions that address the specific needs of a particular community. The toolkit also includes a wide range of activities that can be used at the school level by different stakeholders, including teachers, staff, and students. These activities are designed to promote communication, empathy, and understanding between different groups within the community and encourage students to engage in positive behaviors that foster a sense of belonging. For example, activities may include group discussions, team-building exercises, or cultural events. In addition to these activities, the toolkit includes strategies for engaging with the broader community through community service projects or partnerships with local organizations, for example. These strategies help to create a sense of unity and shared purpose between the school and the surrounding community.
Who is it for?
The Social Cohesion Toolkit is designed for a range of different stakeholders, including educators, administrators, school leaders, community leaders, schools, and NGOs. It is essential for anyone who is invested in promoting social cohesion and creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment. Educators and school leaders can use the toolkit to develop strategies and activities that promote social cohesion within the school community. Community leaders and NGOs can use the toolkit to collaborate with schools and promote social cohesion within the broader community. Using the toolkit at all levels of a school community is essential because it ensures that everyone is working together towards a shared goal. By involving all students, teachers, staff, and community members, schools can create a sense of ownership and investment in promoting social cohesion.
How is it to be used?
Using the toolkit requires commitment from all members of the school community. Schools must prioritize social cohesion as a key value
and make it a central part of their mission and vision. By incorporating social cohesion into their broader goals, schools can ensure that it remains a top priority over the long term. For optimal use of the toolkit, it is essential for schools, educational centers, and other organizations to utilize all its components. The initial step involves a comprehensive evaluation of social cohesion among all stakeholders through the use of the assessment tools designed for both educators and students. The analysis of the assessment results needs to focus on the different indicators highlighted in the assessment tools and how well each one is met. Following the initial assessment, the institutions need to launch training for all stakeholders on the activities in the toolkit in the order they are presented. Each organization needs to make sure that they work first on creating a platform for all the stakeholders to get to know each other through the first set of activities under each section. Following that initial phase, they need to work on building a sense of belonging and trust through team-building activities. The last group of activities that need to be worked on are those that aim at building agency among the children and teachers. Along with the activities that target all stakeholders within the school, the toolkit provides strategies
and community engagement tools, enabling educational institutions to build their ties with the wider community. The toolkit should be used in conjunction with other assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and identify areas that require additional support. Regular evaluation would help ensure that the toolkit remains relevant and effective in promoting social cohesion over time.
What is Social Cohesion?
Social cohesion is a comprehensive, dynamic, and multifaceted concept that has been explored and defined by various scholars and organizations, each emphasizing different aspects of this intricate term.
