As schools and other educational centers were closed down around the world, the education of nearly 1.6 billion learners, representing over 90% of the world’s total enrolled student population, were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis created new challenges for educators. Globally, in contexts ranging from places where teachers and learners have no computers, or Internet access, to others where online learning took a great leap forward, teachers have worked to find solutions and create new learning environments for their students to ensure that learning never stops. According to a UNESCO press release, some teachers traveled for hours each day to establish small study groups, others walked door to door to distribute school meals.
Due to unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, teachers had to proceed with education in the new system without much time to prepare. Education was provided through various methods, such as the Internet, mobile phones, television, radio broadcasts, or mails. Learning never stopped.
ASEZ was thankful for the hard work of educators, and launched the Thank-You-Educators Campaign, starting from last year when the COVID-19 outbreak prolonged and to this year. The members visited the educators of each university and gave them handwritten letters and gifts, expressing their gratitude.
On March 27, 2022, a concert titled, “The Future Starts With You,” was held to express gratitude to the professors for their hard work during the pandemic.
ASEZ members in Washington, DC, invited professors to participate in the online concert.
A few weeks before the event, they sent an invitation letter to their university professors in Washington D.C., expressing gratitude. The professors appreciated their invitation and asked them to invite them for future events of ASEZ.
On the day of the event, about thirty people took part, including professors at George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, Howard University, and the University of the District of Columbia.
Professor of the University of the District of Columbia said, “As ASEZ members were our friends who had always worked hard, I thought I should come when I was invited. Actually, I came to support. Some may have thought it is a matter of course to teach as an educator, but it is touching that the students recognize the hard work. I think that we will be able to overcome the COVID-19 crisis by supporting each other.”
ASEZ member, Lili Cordoba from Washington D.C. said, “As the living environment changes due to the pandemic, students only think about their own right to study and their environment, but in fact, professors have made great efforts to teach their students. I want their efforts to be known to people.”
Although the COVID-19 is going to end, consideration and care for each other stays in our hearts. We hope that this concert would deliver our gratitude to our professors and cheer them up.
