Global Schools
“Empowering schools and teachers globally to educate children on the SDGs”

Global Schools is an initiative led by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth) in support of UNESCO’s Global Action Program on Education for Sustainable Development (GAP-ESD). The vision of the program is to generate interest about sustainable development in schools in an effort to educate and engage students with the SDGs and to encourage them to prioritize the goals in their lifestyles, behaviors, education and professional careers as these goals provide a framework for a better world that children could live in the future.​The program aims to do this by transforming learning environments globally and making schools the hubs of education and leadership on SDGs, ultimately becoming vehicles for empowering and mobilizing students and young people​ ​to​ ​help​ ​implement​ ​the​ ​SDGs​ ​in​ ​their​ ​communities.   

Theory​ ​of​ ​Change

Today, more than half of the world’s population is under 30 years of age, making millennials the biggest generation of young people the world has ever seen. Being the best-educated generation that has ever existed, millennials have the potential to change the course of history and lead the planet on a path to greater prosperity, peace, and, ultimately, sustainable development. For successful implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, young people’s imagination, creativity, and idealism must be cultivated and used as a means to achieve this dream. However, to harness the power of youth, firstly, there is an urgent need to educate them about the importance of the SDGs and secondly​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​them​ ​with​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​implement​ ​these​ ​goals​ ​through​ ​local​ ​action. Currently, many young people are not familiar with the concept of sustainable development and its global implications. This reinforces the need for a program that brings SDGs closer to students, teachers, and schools in a serious attempt to build consciousness and leadership around this agenda.

Program​ ​Vision

“Generate interest about sustainable development in schools in an effort to educate and engage students with the SDGs and to encourage them to prioritize the goals in their lifestyles, behaviors, education and professional careers.”

Aims​ ​& Objectives

Support​ ​the​ ​implementation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Global​ ​Action​ ​Programme​ ​on​ ​Education​ ​on Sustainable Development​ ​through​ ​the​ ​Global​ ​Schools​ ​Program:

1. Integrate​ ​the​ ​Sustainable​ ​Development​ ​Goals​ ​into​ ​school​ ​settings.
2. Increase​ ​the​ ​capacities​ ​of​ ​educators​ ​and​ ​teachers​ ​to​ ​more​ ​effectively​ ​deliver​ ​education on​ ​the​
3. Sustainable​ ​Development​ ​Goals​ ​(SDGs).
4. Provide​ ​youth​ ​with​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​engage​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Sustainable​ ​Development​ ​Goals (SDGs)​ ​at​ ​the​ ​local​ ​level.