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What we do

Global Dignity Day

A project with so many supporters among teachers, school and university students because it raises important questions about dignity and offers engaging and effective formats for discussing them and working on them together.

Global Dignity Day
Global Dignity Day

Global Dignity Day (globaldignity.org) is an independent, social, politically and religiously neutral initiative whose goal is to encourage young people — school and university students — to be guided by a sense of their own dignity in their everyday actions.

Five dignity principles

  1. Every person has the right to a life of dignity.
  2. A life of dignity means having the opportunity to reach your full potential.
  3. Dignity means having the freedom to make your own choices while respecting the rights of others.
  4. We are guided by a sense of our own dignity in the choices we make and the actions we take.
  5. Our own dignity is inseparably connected to the dignity of others.

«“What makes this global event special is that it evolves every year — together with the world we all live in. New ideas, tools, and solutions are added, and more and more people get involved. Every year, our educators look forward to this event in a special way, and we always receive many questions about when registration will open. In my view, this level of engagement strongly reflects the importance of freedom as a key value for Ukrainian society.”».

Oleksandr Elkin — Head of EdCamp Ukraine’s Board, National Chair of Global Dignity in Ukraine

Dignity song by Nadirah X
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Dignity song — Ukrainian version
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Around the world

The international Global Dignity Day initiative was launched in 2006 by members of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders community — Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Finnish philosopher Pekka Himanen, and American entrepreneur John Hope Bryant.

The idea behind the movement is simple yet incredibly important: everyone has the right to live a life of dignity. Today, conversations about dignity take place in schools, communities, and professional communities around the world. Over the past 20 years, the Global Dignity movement has reached more than 80 countries and engages 1 million people every year.

Around the world

«“There are so many challenges before us that need to be addressed, from catastrophic climate change to everyday threats to democracy. And I know this: if dignity is protected and respected in our world, all the other challenges we face can be overcome. That is why the global work to protect dignity plays such an important role.”».

Richard Branson — entrepreneur, member of the Global Dignity Honorary Board

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In Ukraine

In Ukraine

Global Dignity Day has been held in Ukraine since 2015, when the EdCamp Ukraine community became an official ambassador of the initiative.

For Ukraine, dignity is a lived experience of fighting for freedom, human rights, and the ability to be yourself. That is why Dignity Day has become a space for open conversations about values, responsibility, and the country’s future.

The event is supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Institute of Education Development, the State Service of Education Quality of Ukraine, and the Educational Ombudsman of Ukraine. Every year, new partners join the initiative.

«“Dignity is about respect for ourselves and others, about our choice to act transparently and responsibly, to interact openly, and to keep our promises. We believe that dignity is one of the key values of a strong society.”».

Mykhailo Fedorov — Minister of Defense of Ukraine, former Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development

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What makes up Global Dignity Day

The main goal of the initiative is to teach young people — school and university students — to be guided by a sense of their own dignity in their everyday actions and behavior.

What makes up Global Dignity Day

One of the key elements of the initiative is a discussion-based Dignity Lesson lasting approximately 2.5 hours:

Three logical blocks

Students exchange ideas about dignity without being judged, then share real-life stories and record their own reflections in a letter to themselves for the following year.

Dialog as equals

Educators, invited guests, and children and young people explore together what dignity means in everyday actions.

A new thematic focus every year

Each new wave explores a unique theme within the broader concept of dignity, such as artificial intelligence or digital safety.

Real-life stories

School and university students share their own experiences.

Guests you trust

The conversation often brings in military personnel, volunteers, business leaders, and media professionals.

Any format

Any format

The lesson works equally well online, in person, or in a blended format.

Timeline

Orientation webinar

Second week of November

An introductory online meeting to learn about the theme and updates for the new edition.

Dignity lessons

Nov 21 (Dignity and Freedom Day) – Dec 10 (Human Rights Day)

Lessons using EdCamp Ukraine materials, which educators adapt to their audience and format.

Reporting

By Jan 31

We collect feedback on the events held, and educational institutions receive certificates for their work.

Impressive reach

  • 731,851

    participants have joined the initiative over 10 years

  • 4,684

    educational institutions have become ambassadors for the values of dignity

  • 11

    years in Ukraine

What do educational institutions receive?

Guide

Every year, the EdCamp Ukraine team creates a methodological guide. It is a modern workbook where, through exercises, creative activities, and honest conversations, students explore their own values.

Guide

Methodological support

Everyone who registers for Global Dignity Day receives everything they need to conduct events “from A to Z”: step-by-step guidance, a volunteer guide, posters, and more.

Certification

Educators receive a professional development certificate for conducting Dignity Lessons at their educational institutions. The initiative is a professional development program that meets all the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. We are also working to ensure that everyone interested can receive a certificate for volunteer work during Global Dignity Day.

Certification

EdCamp calendar

Every year, we create a new and unique wall calendar-planner, which becomes a gift for everyone who shares a report on their Dignity Day event on time. It is a flip calendar in which, alongside public holidays and weekends, we highlight important international days dedicated to kindness, equality, responsibility, and freedom.

EdCamp calendar

Testimonials

  • “Dignity is my inner compass. It is not about what other people think of me, but about whether, in the evening, looking in the mirror, I can say: I acted honestly, even when it was difficult and no one was watching.”

    Nazar, age 16

  • “Today, our dignity is our intention to help our Armed Forces of Ukraine. The warmth of our hearts, our prayers, and our moral and material support for our Defenders are the most essential and the best expressions of our dignity in these times.”

    Liudmyla, college instructor, Chernihiv oblast

  • “Dignity is when you respect yourself and value who you are, while also respecting other people. It means that you act the way you want to, that you are not ashamed of your actions, and that you do not allow others to treat you unfairly.”

    Arthur, age 15

  • “Dignity is when we have no electricity or heating, but the children wanted to attend a Dignity Day event, and I wanted to organize it. And now we are here talking about dignity because I have dignity, and my children deserve an education.”

    Hanna, English language teacher, Kyiv oblast

  • “The hardest thing for people is to hold on to their sense of dignity in difficult situations, when they face a choice: to compromise their principles or to act with a clear conscience. In any case, we must strive to remain true to our country, our family, and our convictions, and to find satisfaction in doing so. Only in this way can we change the future for the better.”

    Hanna, primary teacher, Chernivtsi oblast

  • “If you see that someone is sad and you try to cheer that person up instead of laughing at them, that is dignity too.”

    Daria, age 11

For more stories, impressions, and results from Dignity Days in Ukraine, visit the Global Dignity Ukraine or follow hashtags #gdignity and #gdignityUkraine.

register

Registration opens in early October.