Alternative Education Center students celebrated International Day of Democracy on September 15, 2021. They studied Vanhanen's Index of Democracy from 1820 to 2000 by mathematically and algebraically describing trends of political participation and electoral competition from various regions in the world and completing a coloring democracy math puzzle. They also engaged in a democracy debate using Kialo and a Q & A activity using Packback, discussing how democracy means to them, their community, and the world and how it can help meet and sustain the global sustainable development goal of peace, justice, and strong institutions.
The International Day of Democracy is celebrated annually to provide an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. The values of freedom, respect for human rights, and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy. Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society, and individuals can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.
