EDUCATION FOR INTERNATIONALISM

An important part of socialist education is challenging the idea of the nation and the promotion of internationalism. We challenge the notion of the nation because it is a category that creates boundaries, yields discrimination, and promotes the exclusion of others. However, we recognise that the reality divides the world in terms of nation states therefore within socialist education we promote the practice of ‘I am not my country’ – the practice that an individual is not responsible for the actions of their country or government. We want to see a world without borders where all humans have the right to move, live, work and love freely anywhere

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in world with freedom from discrimination or stigma. An important part of our work is anti-racist education and education against the idea of nation. Especially for organisations inside Europe, it is useful to start A REFLECTION PROCESS ABOUT RACISM inside groups and organisations. Especially as socialists, we are often a bit too quick to say that we are anti-racist - but are you really? Do you listen to and believe the experiences of discrimination of racialised people? Do you talk about colonialism (in the past AND today) with children and young people? Do you acknowledge that your way of thinking and doing things is very much shaped by a Western world view, and not the only and best one? Being aware of white privilege and biases is a first very good step on the way to become an internationalist!

SPAN THE WORLD WITH FRIENDSHIP!

The best way to experience internationalism for your group is of course to get in touch with other IFM-SEI organisations from other countries. You can send each other videos, exchange game ideas, learn about each other’s countries and, of course, try to organise a camp together or meet at an international camp of IFM-SEI!

Other ideas to live international solidarity with your group:

Show your solidarity to the public and start a campaign, e.g. about the forgotten conflict in Western Sahara.

Actively include refugees and migrants into your organisations and empower them to become leaders.

Spice up your own camp and invite people from sister organisations.

Run a group night on a relevant international topic, e.g. the death penalty worldwide, Fair Trade, socialist experiences in different world regions.

Get involved in IFM-SEI’s global projects, attend our seminars and network meetings.

Organise a street action against racism and discrimination in your town.

Learn more about the topics of migration, refugees and racist visa policies through our ON THE MOVE handbook.

Find more ideas about how to live internationalism with IFM-SEI in our IFM-SEI