Improving the quality of life of youths with disability through the EkoSkola programme

Abstract

Since its inception, the concept of sustainable development has strived to achieve a balance between environmental, social, cultural and economic concerns as a means to improve the quality of life of individuals. Various conferences hosted by the United Nations have identified in education an important vehicle to achieve sustainability. Thus education should be re-oriented to equip individuals with the necessary awareness, knowledge, attitudes and skills that would empower them to participate in decision making processes that help them shape their lives. However, traditionally, various marginalised groups, amongst which people with disabilities, have been excluded from such processes, slowly becoming invisible in discourses related to both SD and ESD. With the scope of bringing about social change and based on an emancipatory research paradigm, the study aimed to map the journey of eleven youths with disability, attending a local Resource Centre, through the first year of implementation of the EkoSkola programme. Using qualitative research methods, through observations and interviews, the study analysed how ESD influenced the committee members both on an individual and at a group level. The results outline that though to different extents, EkoSkola provided the participants with opportunities to actively participate in decision making, and to expand their capabilities by reinforcing and acquiring skills. This enabled the students to satisfy some of their basic human needs and thus improve their quality of life.