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Global identity aims to strengthen young people’s awareness of who they are in the world through relationships with people, place, and environment.

What is global identity?

Global identity is at the heart of global citizenship. Global identity strengthens young people’s sense of self and belonging within their local and global communities. In this clip, rangatahi from Ngā Taiātea Wharekura in Kirikiriroa reflect on what global identity means to them.

Rangatahi from Ngā Taiātea Wharekura reflect on what global identity means to them.

© Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence

Relationships are central to developing a global identity. These relationships include:

  • relationships with people

  • relationships with place

  • relationships with the environment.

Each of these relationships is explored in more detail below.

Relationships with people

Young people develop a strong sense of self through building positive relationships with whānau, peers, teachers and people within their local and global communities. These relationships help learners to affirm who they are within the context of others. Learning about their whakapapa, or ancestral connections, also strengthens young people’s connections to people and place.

Relationships within the local community

Learners develop a strong sense of belonging by building positive relationships within their local world. Teachers and schools also play an important role in affirming this sense of self within the context of others. Relationships that value and affirm learners’ culture are an important foundation for identity development. 

In this clip, Associate Minister of Education Hon Jan Tinetti talks about the importance of global identity being grounded in a strong sense of belonging within the local community.

Associate Minister of Education Hon Jan Tinetti talks about the importance of global identity at the Growing Global Citizens in Aotearoa Teacher Forum 2021.

© Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence

Relationships within the global community 

Young people’s sense of identity is also affirmed through positive relationships within the global community. Sharing experiences, interests and values with cultures other than their own enables young people to feel a sense of connection to and belonging within the global community. This helps them to reflect on who they are within the world.

Relationships with place 

Young people’s sense of belonging is strengthened through their relationship to place and space. Developing a strong connection to their local and global ‘place of standing’ is important for learners' identity development.

Relationships with local place

The local community is an important context for learners to establish strong connections to their local place. Teachers can create experiences that assist learners to build these positive connections. 

From a te ao Māori perspective, tūrangawaewae connects young people to whenua (land) and whakapapa (genealogy). This place of standing embraces geographical, genealogical and cultural roots. It connects young people’s sense of self to a much deeper, holistic and interconnected place of belonging. 

This tohu (icon) represents global identity. The two white triangles represent maunga (mountains). These maunga are examples of stability and connection to identity and whenua. The blue triangle represents the individual (rangatahi or young person) who is firmly connected to their identity and sits confidently underneath the shelter of their maunga.

Global identity. Designed by Nikki Kennedy, Taputapu.

© Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence

Relationships with global place

Global identity encourages learners to develop a sense of connectedness to the wider world. Our unique geographical positioning within the Asia-Pacific region unites Aotearoa New Zealand to our Pacific, Southeast Asian, North Asian and Latin American neighbours. 

The Pacific Ocean connects Aotearoa New Zealand to our neighbours within the Asia-Pacific region. This sense of interconnectedness across the moana (ocean) provides a way for learners to develop a deeper awareness of and relationship to their global place of standing. This sense of place encourages learners to reflect on who they are within the wider world.

Relationships with environment

Our physical environment plays a key role in supporting learners to develop a sense of belonging. People form strong and deep connections to the land, water,  air, and wildlife, with each of these environments offering a way for learners to strengthen their sense of belonging. This relationship with environment takes place in both local and global contexts.

Relationships with the local environment

Building strong connections with and relationship to the local environment connects learners to their local place. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the bush, mountains, farms, parks, beaches, rivers, lakes, estuaries, sky and wildlife form an important part of our natural environment. Our daily lives connect and intersect with our environment, providing an important place to share experiences and memories. Young people’s sense of self is strengthened by learning about how to protect and care for their local environment.

Global identity strengthens young people’s sense of self within their local and global communities.

© Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence

Relationships with global environment

Building a strong relationship with the local environment enables learners to reflect on their relationship to land, air, water and wildlife within the global environment. Natural environments and habitats within our global community provide a powerful point of connection for young people. 

Learners can apply and further extend their knowledge and understanding of how to protect and care for natural environments and habitats through collaborating with others in the global community. 

Provocations

What would happen if all young people had a strong sense of global identity? Consider how this would change the way that they:

  • interact with each other

  • participate in school

  • engage in their local and global communities 

  • respond to global challenges

Useful links

Visit the Ministry of Education’s Pūtātara website for ideas to incorporate tūrangawaewae (understanding where I stand) into teaching and learning. 

Learn more about local stories, legends and the history of iwi in your region through the TKI online resources catalogue.

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