Social Justice Resources
July , 2010
Teacher Resources – Websites – Organizations
www.commontheads.ca
through OSSTF website
http://bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?
id=6218
http://www.bp208.ca/
http://www.warchild.ca/news.aspx
http://www.msf.ca/en/index.html
http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.or
g • Grassroots newsletter
http://www.unaids.org/en/
http://www.worldvision.ca/Education-
and-Justice/Pages/Education-and-
Justice.aspx
karen.wilson@hwdsb.on.ca
Common Threads is the name of the Ontario Secondary School
Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) International Solidarity Program.
In collaboration with an international partner, the Common Threads
team travels overseas and conducts research on a critical current
topic.
Upon returning, the team designs comprehensive “classroom ready”
lesson plans in accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Education
curriculum. Each project includes a program video, CD-ROM and
supporting assessment rubrics. Course expectations are also
included in the material, making it easier to select the appropriate
courses.
Programs/Resources
Guatemala and Sweatshops
South Africa and HIV/AIDS
Bolivia and Safe Water
Brazil and Food Security – should be out in about a year
BC Teacher’s Federation
• This database allows you to choose grade levels, subject areas
and themes in finding resources related to social justice
• Themes include: basic needs, environment, gender equality,
human rights, infrastructure services and private sector
developments
• Developed by BC teachers and supported by the federation and
CIDA
Butterfly 2008 (through the CIDA website)
• Teacher Zone provides resources for HIV/AIDS and other
classroom resources
• Eg. Millennium Development Goals and Emily’s story (showing
students their connection to the developing world)
War Child
• War Child Canada is a charity that provides urgently needed
humanitarian assistance to war-affected children around the
world. It also helps generate awareness, support and advocacy
for children’s rights everywhere.
• Keep the Beat is a group/school initiative which involves
students playing music to raise money
• The site also has stories and connections to resources.
Médecins Sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders)
• MSF has been an organization that has spear-headed the
campaign for cheaper drugs.
• Provides pictures and letters of children living with AIDS share
their stories.
• Information and links to other programs and projects
Stephen Lewis Foundation
• Information about Grandmother’s campaign and website
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
• Recent press releases, news and statistics
World Vision (Education and Justice)
• Get Hungry Photo Challenge – where young Canadians add a
photo-message of why they hunger for change for the
1

http://www.acloserwalk.org/
http://www.friendsofwfp.org/
Social Justice Resources
July , 2010
karen.wilson@hwdsb.on.ca
government to fund development programs – a great project for
students to investigate the issues and add their messages.
• Issues of coverage include child poverty, HIV/AIDS and child
soldiers
• Many other resources available for download or purchase.
A Closer Walk (A file about AIDS in the World/A Story about the Way
the World Is)
• A Closer Walk is about people everywhere acquiring knowledge
about the realities of AIDS in the world, and then passing that
knowledge along to others
• A DVD is available to purchase for personal and/or educational
use
• There are also activities which include journals/stories about
people affected or infected with HIV/AIDS in various countries
including South Africa, Haiti, India and Uganda.
Friends of the World Food Program
• Shows the main causes for food crisis
• Includes video clips (YouTube) providing visuals connecting the
mains issues