Students from Cassadaga Valley Central School recently took part in a “Citizenship Day: A Global Perspective” program at JCC. Submitted photo

Recently, the ninth grade honors Social Studies class at Cassadaga Valley Central School, along with officers from the high school History Club, participated in a program sponsored by JCC called “Citizenship Day: A Global Perspective.”

The engaging event aimed to educate students on how to become better citizens and foster discussions about the Declaration of Human Rights.

The day commenced with a presentation by Andrew Beiter, the director of The Summer Institute for Human Rights in Buffalo. Students were organized into teams for a scavenger hunt, exploring local human rights organizations and pertinent issues. A discussion took place between students and a panel of international students from JCC.

The program was made possible through the Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Grant sponsored by JCC.

Upon returning to Mrs. Richir’s classroom, Cassadaga Valley students continued their engagement. They were tasked with creating posters focusing on a human right listed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Submissions included a description and title for their work, with JCC offering prizes for different grade categories.

Winners from Cassadaga Valley were “Know Your Right” by Aubre Bonasera and “Sonder” by Lily Green. Additional awards were given for outstanding work, including “Emotionless Means Colorless” by Anna Burlingame, “Equal Humans, Equal Rights” by Gabrielle Cunningham, “Every Person is Equal” by Addisyn Grissom, and “Bodies not Politics” by Catie Russell.

The impact of the program has been evident in students’ expanded worldviews. It has encouraged them to look beyond borders, recognizing the interconnectedness of the world. The focus on citizenship and the potential for one person to make a difference has resonated with the students.