Celebrating June Advocates of the Month

It is that time of the month once again when we celebrate the most outstanding Advocates, who are taking their mandates further. This month we are celebrating nine Advocates whose work in education for sustainable development is a testament of the potential that teachers have in solving the planet’s greatest challenges one lesson at a time. From advocating for education for education for sustainable development (ESD) on global stages to hands-on implementation of sustainable development activities outside the classroom, these advocates demonstrated remarkable leadership.  

As a Global Schools Advocate, Burçak Gökmen has demonstrated leadership in integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into classroom instruction and school-wide projects through the Global Schools Program. Through a rich variety of interdisciplinary and student-centered activities, she has fostered awareness, responsibility, and active engagement among students toward building a more sustainable world.

In the classroom, she has led impactful initiatives such as Earth Day-themed renewable energy projects (SDGs 7 and 13), traffic safety and first aid awareness programs (SDGs 3 and 11), Down syndrome equality campaigns (SDGs 3, 4, 10 and 16), and other sustainability-focused activities. These were accompanied by hands-on experiences such as poster exhibitions, scenario-based discussions, essay writing, and model city designs that connected the biology curriculum to real-world sustainability issues.

At school-wide level, she has contributed to the creation of SDG-themed boards, organized scientific quiz competitions under SDG 4: Quality Education, and collaborated with other schools on creative contests (SDGs 5, 10, 13, 16 & 17). Advocating for inclusive education and gender equality in science, she has also designed innovative lesson plans aligned with SDGs 5, 7, and 11, which have been shared with fellow educators and implemented across schools.

By actively participating in international platforms such as the United Nations SDSN Conference and FEE Global Action Days, and by mentoring and sharing content with other educators she has not only enriched her own teaching practices but has also contributed to the wider educational community.

Burçak believes that the foundation of quality education begins in the classroom, where students are empowered with knowledge, critical thinking skills, and values that shape a more sustainable and equitable future. Her advocacy continues through dynamic lesson planning that promotes sustainability, equality, and global citizenship.

Kim is passionate about spreading awareness about the SDGs in school and her community in northern New York.  She is especially focused on SDG 12 and SDG 4. 

Kim organized a handful of change-makers in her high school Earth Stewards group to educate the administration about plastic pollution. As a result, these young leaders successfully reduced single-use plastic in the cafeteria.  

She also initiated a sustainability task force in her school district after meeting with the administration about improving the composting system currently in place. After only a couple of meetings, the task force has already applied for a grant to build vermicomposting bins for the classrooms and has formed a relationship with the local paper mill to increase recycling. She also convinced the administration to allow her to teach a "sustainability service center" where she will guide students with hands-on projects focused on helping the planet and the school district. 

Within the community, Kim is a part of a group at the local library. The Community Circle is in the planning stages of strategically placing raised bed gardens around town to make food accessible to senior citizens and to educate local youth.  

Along with building community with the local library, Kim is taking advantage of Katharine Burke's offer to form a book circle to discuss her new book, Earthwards.  She organized a group of like-minded individuals who will discuss how to foster ecocentrism through transformative ecological education.  In addition to taking care of the 4500 trees that Kim has planted over the last few years on her property, she will also volunteer at a kids' nature camp this summer to apply what she learns from the book circle. 

As an Advocate, Kim draws a lot of inspiration from other compassionate educators within the network. 

Muzhda Rahbar is a dedicated Global Schools Advocate committed to promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her advocacy empowers students to become changemakers through inclusive education, youth engagement, and school-based initiatives.

While her work spans the full spectrum of the SDGs, her most recent efforts have focused on SDG 5: Gender Equality, in collaboration with Flying Wings Online School, and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, in partnership with Gowharshad Begum Online School. These initiatives have included organizing impactful online events that amplify youth voices, foster dialogue, and encourage action toward gender equity and institutional justice.

Muzhda continues to build partnerships with international schools and development organizations to strengthen the reach of ESD, particularly in underserved communities. Through her ongoing efforts, she inspires young people to lead with purpose and advocate for a more just, equal, and sustainable future.

She serves as a passionate Global School Advocate who introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to her students, integrating them meaningfully into her English language curriculum and assessments. By doing so, she encourages her students to adopt the SDGs as a way of life and to think beyond the classroom. 

She has conducted multiple workshops and presented at both national and international conferences in Jordan, sharing her experiences and inspiring others. In addition, she has trained over 400 teachers and supervisors on how to effectively implement SDGs and ESD into their curricula. Through the use of technology, she also empowered her students to create impactful awareness campaigns about the SDGs, fostering global citizenship and digital literacy.

Global Schools Advocate actively promotes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Education for Sustainable Development. By collaborating with schools, educators, and communities, they foster awareness on issues like sustainability, inclusion, and cultural understanding. 

In May, she focused on SDG 6 by educating children on reducing water wastage and inspiring them to pledge responsible water use. Oluyemisi also advanced SDG 4 through a community book donation campaign, reinforcing the importance of quality education for all. The advocate empowered young people to become thoughtful, active global citizens.

Rumbidzai Muskwe works at Assalam International School in Zanzibar. She has demonstrated great dedication as a Global School Advocate by promoting awareness and action on multiple SDGs such as SDG 3,6,12,15 and currently 13 over the past few months. 

Apart from classroom teachings, Rumbidzai Muskwe has worked with her students to organize and lead various campaigns, including efforts to combat littering and promote waste management, water conservation  and rainwater harvesting through simple containers that are currently in use.  She facilitated trees, flowers and vegetable planting activities in school and homes. Beach cleaning every month has become a norm for her students, they also collect plastic bottles and recycle them into earrings. Rumbidzai Muskwe has recruited and mentored student advocates who tirelessly promote environmental protection within the community. Furthermore, she authored a 40 page workbook on SDG 6 for her students, the book has comprehension passages and thought provoking questions.

As a Global Schools Advocate, Rabab is committed to embedding the Sustainable Development Goals within the fabric of school life, with a strong focus on inclusion, empathy, and meaningful student action. 

Through her guidance and support in the PYP8 Exhibition, she empowers students to take real initiative—demonstrating how the SDGs can be applied to create tangible change and contribute to a better world. Rabab is passionate about inspiring her students to be active, responsible members of their communities—encouraging them to be role models, changemakers, and self-driven individuals who believe in their power to make a difference and lead by example.

Education becomes transformation when students find their voice on global stages.

As Global Schools Advocate of the Month, Nihan Yeter is celebrated for turning classrooms into platforms for change. Through her leadership in PreMUN, SDG-focused events, and international certificate programs, she empowers students not just to learn English—but to speak up for a better world. Her work bridges local learning with global vision, shaping a new generation of changemakers.

Nickie is a curious science teacher who has used her term as an advocate to amplify sustainable development objectives in her classroom and beyond. 

In her classes, she has redesigned various units to embed SDG focused learning. For example, her grade 7 scientists learned about sustainable use of natural resources in their host country, Laos. Grade 10 learners explored solutions to climate change issues which they selected and evaluated. Nickie’s wider work has included assisting in organizing a solutionary summit at her school where all secondary students engaged in authentic activities centered around the sustainable development goals. In preparation for this she shared her passion for sustainable fashion with mixed grade students. The students learned sewing techniques including embroidery in order to upcycle, repair and repurpose clothing. She looks forward to continuing to seek opportunities to reach a wider audience.

If you have been inspired by these Advocates and wish to integrate SDGs into your teaching, visit our website to access our free resources that are available in 15 languages. These include lesson plans, activity guides, and case studies.