For those who may not be familiar with it, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is abold global Agenda that 193 member states of the United Nations set out to achieve in 2015. When the signatories follow through, and governments, the private sector, and individuals across the globe make deliberate efforts towards the Agenda 2030, the Goals appear surmountable. After all, the dawn of the internet has created a global village that connects everyone and, therefore, has been a critical element in spreading awareness about the SDGs, sharing progress stories from different countries across the globe. Something thathas been aggravated by the recent pandemic.
Personally, when COVID-19 hit, I developed a new appreciation for the power of the Internet in unifying people across the globe for a common goal. Governments, civil society organizations, and private institutions were sharing information ranging from updates to safety recommendations. This information became widely available and was able to reach even the most remote communities that had limited access to the Internet. The #StayHomeStaySafe hashtag became a worldwide phrase.
The pandemic, albeit a dark era, also showed us the power of the Internet and how we can use it to foster unity of purpose, information sharing, and providing platforms for engagement for the benefit of our planet.
Sharing Is Caring
Literally, sharing is caring. It is caring about our environment, our world, and our future. The five dimensions of the Agenda 2030 are Planet , Peace, Prosperity, “People” and “Partnership, or the 5 “Ps “ out of this People and Partnership demonstrates that we can do more as people when we collaborate. There are some of us who have access to information about the SDGs, the causes and effects, we need to share that information with those who have limited access.
I believe we need to talk more about the SDGs, and make them “trend” offline as they do online.
Taking Action Everywhere, With Everyone: Community Gatherings
Community gatherings remain one of the most effective ways of spreading awareness. They are great platforms for interacting, as people can exchange information and ideas in real time. These gatherings often discuss issues affecting the community and chart the way forward regarding possible solutions. It is critical that the SDGs cascade to the community level. When parents are aware, they can also be agents of change.
It’s also paramount to engage local leadership of the communities to assist in raising awareness about the SDGs. These are key stakeholders who can mobilize and encourage community members about the essence of the Goals. Local leaders can inspire confidence and can translate the broader goals to the localized context. This also means that the SDGs are adequately implemented based on the priorities of the community, which can assist with a much more positive uptake.
Concluding Thoughts
I believe the above are some simple but effective measures we can implement even in individual capacities. While there are steps being taken across the world to develop ICT infrastructure and improve internet access, we need to complement these efforts, being cognisant of the fact that we are halfway through the Agenda 2030 and the challenges we are up against need everyone’s effort.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is not a mandate for teachers alone. The Internet has a wealth of information about SDGs, and if you have access, you can educate yourself and educate the next person creating a global movement. This Blog and website is an example of it.