What is Linking?
Linking is the process by which communities across the world form sustained partnerships. These may be at many different levels from twinned towns and cities to youth groups, health institutions, colleges and schools.
Linking ideally involves people to people contact, leading to equal, mutually beneficial relationships across cultures, with the aim of understanding the reality of each others’ lives, and thereby contributing to changes in both societies.
Linking should be guided by the principles of ‘equality’,'mutuality’, ‘reciprocity’,'honesty’,'critical thinking’ and ‘reflection’.
Potential benefits of linking
- Bring personal understanding of global issues around poverty, access to healthcare, education and the rights of women and children to members of the wider community beyond and across specific communities of interest, ethnicity, culture and occupation.
- Breaks down stereotypes.
- Motivate staff and reduce turnover and reverse the ‘brain drain’.
- Take staff beyond their usual sphere of experience through opportunities to work in multi-disciplinary teams and contribute to their professional development.
- Enhance education and curriculum development on Global Citizenship among pupils.