Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the 8th International Conference on Global Citizenship Education (ICONGCED) in Seoul, South Korea. Although I’m sharing this a bit late, the experiences and lessons I took away are still fresh, and I’m excited to finally share them with you.
My work revolves around using art to inspire and educate young people. So, naturally, I was thrilled to join a global conversation on how education can empower youth to become active, responsible global citizens.
During the conference, I participated in a plenary session on “Transforming Education for Transformative Learning.” This was a great platform to discuss the role of the arts in education. To break the ice, I started with a little joke: “They say art can transform the world—if only we could get the kids to stop doodling on the walls!” It got a good laugh and helped set the tone for a lively discussion about how art can be a powerful tool not just for creativity, but for critical thinking and social change.
I also had the pleasure of contributing to a session titled “Youth as Change Agents,” where I shared insights from our work at The Little Art. I talked about how we use art as a medium to encourage young people to think critically about their roles in society. While art often provides an escape from life’s challenges, I emphasized that it also offers a space to experience and process these challenges in meaningful ways. However, I also acknowledged the difficulties in measuring the impact of art on education, given its deeply subjective nature.
“The education system should be continuously evaluated and adapted to ensure it remains responsive to the evolving needs of society and global landscape.”
Beyond the formal sessions, the conference was full of rich, spontaneous exchanges. Whether it was over coffee, at a networking dinner, or in the hallways, the conversations were always inspiring and full of fresh perspectives. I left Seoul with a renewed sense of purpose and many new ideas to bring back to our projects at The Little Art.
Looking back, my participation in the 8th ICONGCED was more than just a professional milestone—it was a reminder of the joy and power of combining humor with serious discussions, and of how much we can learn from each other when we’re open to both laughter and lessons.
I’m grateful for the chance to have been part of such a transformative event, and I’m excited to continue this important work, always with a bit of humor and a lot of heart.
Umair Mushtaq
Complete 8th International Conference on GCED Report in PDF
Unpacking GCED: Transformative Learning for Critical Empowerment
