Celebrating Global Schools August Advocates of the Month

Written by Stacy Nyathi, Project Lead, Communications

It's that time of the month when we spotlight the outstanding Advocates for the month. This August, we celebrate 10 Advocates who have gone beyond their mandate to equip their learners, fellow educators and the community on how to achieve a greener, more peaceful and sustainable world. In this blog, we share how they do that in their respective schools, communities and countries.

As a Global Schools Advocate, Jessica Ream has facilitated projects that empowered students to actively engage with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One such initiative began with a student-led school assembly, where learners proudly introduced the SDGs they had researched and chosen to champion. Inspired by their new roles, the students became “SDG Detectives”, tasked with observing their school and local community for individuals taking meaningful action toward achieving these goals.

Another project, Good Life Goals helped learners understand the actions needed for the SDGs. Equipped with specially designed stickers, they recognized and celebrated these change-makers, sparking enthusiasm, awareness, and a ripple effect of positive action throughout the community. This project not only deepened students’ understanding of global issues but also strengthened their sense of agency and responsibility as young global citizens.

Sana Shahid’s six-month journey as a Global School Advocate has been a testament to her dedication to fostering global citizenship and sustainability in education. With a strong belief in the power of inquiry-based learning, she has integrated the principles of the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) into her work, inspiring young learners to explore real-world issues with curiosity and responsibility.

Her advocacy has been deeply connected to the Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on Life on Land (SDG 15) and Climate Action (SDG 13). Through engaging projects and meaningful discussions, she has guided her students to understand the importance of preserving biodiversity, protecting natural habitats, and addressing the urgent challenges of climate change.

One of the highlights of her journey was leading the PYP Exhibition, where students showcased their research and action plans on environmental issues. Under her mentorship, they didn’t just present facts, they inspired their community to take concrete steps towards a more sustainable future.

Sana’s role as a Global School Advocate has not only strengthened her commitment to the planet but has also empowered her learners to see themselves as agents of change, capable of making a difference in their local and global communities.

Henry organized presentation-interaction sessions for the learners at IMA/MEVA Collège Saint-Louis de Bourdon on the importance of education for sustainable development. The children learned that their country is a member of the United Nations (UN) and that the 17 Sustainable Development Goals also concern them. Henry explained to them that we must work together to achieve these goals by 2030. The learners questioned Haiti’s lack of progress in implementing the SDGs. Henry explained to them that this is where Education Sustainable Development (ESD) comes in. He stressed to the learners that are responsible for encouraging leaders to implement the SDGs, through leaflets, photos, and videos shared on social media. 

Additionally, Henry organized training workshops and conferences for children in two schools: IMA/MEVA and Collège Saint-Louis de Bourdon, where they discussed the SDGs. Over the course of six months, the workshops reached approximately 450 students and 12 teaching staff. Henry’s approach ensures that children learn while they are also having fun. 

As a Global Schools Advocate at Millennia World School, Mahrukh has demonstrated exceptional commitment to integrating Education for Sustainable Development throughout her educational community. Building upon the school's foundation as a Climate Action School through Take Action Global, she has successfully facilitated comprehensive workshops that align and enhance sustainability education across multiple disciplines.

Mahrukh has overseen significant hands-on ESD initiatives that directly engage students with the Sustainable Development Goals. Under her guidance, students have conducted energy consumption surveys, waste audits, and implemented school-wide recycling campaigns. Her climate action leadership has been particularly impactful, coordinating field visits to nature reserves where students have planted approximately 1,000 trees, including mangroves and fruit trees. She has also spearheaded several community-wide campaigns focused on waste reduction and composting, while establishing school gardens that explore farm-to-table concepts.Through her leadership, Mahrukh has fostered genuine community engagement and created lasting environmental impact, effectively translating global sustainability goals into meaningful local action and community transformation.

From February to August 2025, Karim Abidi served as a Global Schools Advocate, dedicating his efforts to fostering a culture of sustainability and global citizenship at Baku Idrak Lyceum. Deeply believing in the power of education to shape a better future, Karim engaged over 100 teachers, hundreds of students, and their parents in initiatives that brought the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into everyday school life.

He organized interactive workshops, group projects, and eco-focused activities, provided methodological support to teachers, and guided the school in developing a tailored action plan so that sustainability became an integral part of the school’s identity rather than just a theoretical concept. As a result, the school strengthened its culture of environmental responsibility, and students embraced values of empathy, inclusivity, and social responsibility, emerging as young leaders capable of driving positive change both within their school and in the wider community.

In her role as PYP Coordinator, Samantha has led and supported numerous initiatives aimed at weaving the Sustainable Development Goals into everyday school life. From playing a key role in shaping the PYP5 Exhibition and organizing a school-wide Earth Day Assembly, to guiding teachers in integrating the SDGs into their lesson planning and taking students’ learning beyond the classroom walls, her efforts have touched every corner of the school. Through her dedication and commitment, Samantha has made a lasting impact on the entire school community and she is eager to see how the new focus on Education for Sustainable Development will inspire even greater change in the year ahead.

Graham-Douglas Georgie Tubobanimi's Global Schools Advocates journey has played a pivotal role in promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) within schools and communities. He has integrated ESD principles into Computer Studies for Senior Secondary Schools, ensuring students gain both technical skills and awareness of global challenges. Through his advocacy, he has trained over 200 educators on implementing SDG-focused curricula and empowered hundreds of students, introducing them to STEM innovation, digital literacy, and sustainability projects such as flood detection systems, the AquaBio app, and the NenaSat-1 satellite simulator. His work bridges classroom learning with real-world problem-solving, fostering a new generation of globally minded, solution-driven young leaders.

Bela Verma actively champions Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) by integrating it into the PYP curriculum and inspiring authentic student action. She leads the SDG Club, comprising of 21 ambassadors across the Primary School, fostering student leadership, global citizenship, and community engagement. Through purposeful initiatives, teacher collaboration, and inter-school partnerships, she empowers young learners to think critically, act responsibly, and contribute meaningfully to local and global challenges.

Dr. Kierstan Connors, affectionately known as Dr. KFC, joined the Global School Advocates program this Spring 2025. As a Director of University and Career Counseling for a nonprofit school group in China and the USA, she has access to all secondary grade students and teachers to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) integration and develop long term projects that are cross-disciplinary and purposeful.  She passionately loves the United Nations resources and peer, mentor, veteran access to world class ideas and projects. This mandate and SDG program goes beyond the glo-cal school commitment as an IB World School celebrating its 15th year in Shandong Province with partnerships with USA high schools. 

The Global Schools Advocates continue to demonstrate that education for sustainable development is the key to a sustainable future. To learn more about the Global Schools Advocates Program, read our latest impact report. Download it here.