This week I meet Mia Eskelund Pedersen, Co-Founder of Amala, formerly called Sky School - which has developed the first high school diploma for refugees and young persons who are displaced. In this episode, we learn about her inspiring journey to create a much-needed solution to one of the world’s problems using education as a force for unmistakeable change and opportunity.
Mia and Co-Founder Polly Akhurst conceived of Amala, a blended learning model working to provide high school diplomas and short courses in leadership and conflict resolution to displaced persons, whilst working for the International Office of the United World Colleges in London. If you’re as yet not familiar with the mission statement of the United World Colleges, they are a global education movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
Transformational education experiences create people who work to create change. As someone who worked within the United World Colleges movement, I seem to be drawn to changemakers who themselves have spent time within that system. Mia is one of those people. In this episode she explains how Amala took shape and its impact on the students who have undertaken courses with the organisation, as well as paying tribute to educators and organisations who have lent their support along the way.
