Amplifying Student Voices and Inspiring Local Action at ICSD with SDSN’s Global Schools

Author: Abigail Chifusa, Global Schools Project Officer

Tags: Global Schools, Feature

On September 18th, the Global Schools Program (GSP) hosted a side event in conjunction with the 11th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD). 

The event, titled “Amplifying Student Voices: Inspiring Local SDG Action through Student-Led Initiatives,” celebrated and showcased the impactful contributions of young students towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Led by Santha Nair, Project Officer for Partnerships and Events at GSP, the event highlighted the progress made in achieving SDG 4 - Quality Education. It emphasized the crucial role of student leadership in localizing the SDGs and promoting them within their communities.

A key highlight was the presence of remarkable students who shared their efforts in advancing education through Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Amanda Abrom, Director of GSP, acknowledged the pivotal role of these young advocates and their dedication to driving the SDGs forward.

The event boasted a diverse representation of students from different countries:

• Eshaan Jain, from the USA: Eshaan is an Eco-Ambassador and co-founder of AllForOceans. He’s passionate about driving positive changes by utilizing ESD principles.  

• Vinayak Sinha from the USA: With plenty of volunteer experience, Vinayak is passionate about making a meaningful impact in his community by learning about climate change and what must be done to address the issue.

• Students from “V Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Ignacego Jana Paderewskiego in Bydgoszcz” school in Poland: Led by Global Schools Advocate Joanna Zielińska, the group of students has been learning about the SDGs and implementing related projects in their community to bring meaningful change. 

• Students from Jordan, including Raneem Zakarneh, Mwaffaq ‘Mohammad Jamil’ Shwikani, Zaina Al-Shawabkeh, and Leen Yousef Amer Al-Sarraj: All are involved in raising awareness and finding sustainable solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. 

• Jiale (Coco) Zhu from the USA: Coco’s artistic talents have played a significant role in her advocacy for sustainable development.

Through dynamic presentations and engaging panel discussions, they showcased their innovative projects, campaigns, ideas, and initiatives aimed at sustainable development and SDG attainment. These young leaders discussed their motivations, the impact of their actions, and the valuable lessons learned on their inspiring journeys.

In a world where youth involvement is pivotal for a sustainable future, the ICSD Side Event hosted by GSP served as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that students are not just the leaders of tomorrow but also active contributors to today’s global challenges. Their dedication and innovation inspire us all to work collectively toward a more sustainable world.