introduction
education
environment
art and culture

introduction

On the Line was a millennium project that explored and celebrated the lives of people who live along the zero degree meridian line – a line which passes through Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Algeria, Spain, France and the UK.

The original idea for On the Line came from Jon Snow, the Channel 4 presenter who wished to add an international dimension to the millennium celebrations. An On the Line partnership was formed between Oxfam GB, World Wide Fund for Nature and Channel 4, with more then 40 other organisations involved.

On the Line took all those who participated on an incredible journey along the Greenwich meridian line. The aim was to give people a vision of life beyond their own borders.

On the Line encouraged charities, schools, business people and individuals to see beyond their daily lives and to establish real contacts with people who live life at the same time across the world. The sun may rise and set at the same time along the meridian line, yet there is a kaleidoscope of culture, colours, food, religions, music and dance to be discovered. And so from North to South On the Line inspired thousands of people of all ages to share ideas, skills and experiences.

education

A central aim of On the Line was education, inspiring the younger generation to learn about each other. For this reason, 5000 schools took part in various projects including school linking. Thanks to this initiative, 500 schools actually connected with their counterparts via letters, photos, videos and emails. On the Line addressed education in its widest sense, incorporating a wide variety of initiatives, focusing on issues such as global citizenship and sustainable development.

environment

Environmental issues were a vital part of the project. On the Line aimed to inspire people to think and act globally to sustain our planet. New educational resources to support On the Line were produced for teachers by WWF-UK.

art and culture

Art and culture were also a central theme. New music was created from traditional forms to excite and entertain audiences along the line. A poetry competition in West Africa saw 1,000 children take part. And the VSO Artists in Schools project involved ten artists in schools residencies reaching 3,000 children.

"On the Line has turned the image of 'development education' on its head," said Anna Feuchtwang, On the Line Director. "We have been able to celebrate countries through arts and culture, making the link to environment and development, without talking about crises or desperate need."

In the UK, the season of On the Line programmes by Channel 4 reached an overall audience of 11.5 million, representing 21 per cent of the population.

On the Line was and will remain much more than a moment in time. Children along the meridian will grow up with broader horizons establishing friendships that will last beyond our lifetimes. The coming together of communities and the forming of lasting partnerships will lead to a better understanding of our vastly different lives.

Have a look at the On the Line slide show, or see all the On the Line partners that were involved in the project.