Written by Hafiz Jawad Sohail, Global Schools Project Officer
At the heart of its mission, Global Schools (GS) is dedicated to fostering "Education for a Better World." Through its efforts to engage hundreds of educational communities worldwide at grassroots levels to fully embrace sustainable development, GS has achieved significant milestones. These accomplishments underscore meaningful progress as GS steps into 2024, building towards more impactful contributions by engaging a diverse and robust community of practice involved in educational development at local levels.
One key initiative of GS is its support for capacity building in local communities. This is achieved through promoting education for sustainable development (ESD) and integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into school environments. Recently, GS was invited to an event in Pakistan, which is among the top ten countries affected adversely on the vulnerability index in regards to the climate crisis. In 2022, the country faced floods impacting millions of people and communities. Infusing sustainability education in the country can affect behavioral practices and mindsets of the next generation, in order to build resilience and environmental consciousness in the face of looming uncertainties and ever-unfolding crises.
Moving towards future partnerships and collaborations, GS was approached by 'The Educators, a Project of Beaconhouse’. With over two decades of significant influence in the educational sector, this network boasts an extensive number of schools and educational campuses in Pakistan across more than 250 cities, nurturing over 200,000 students. GS was invited to The Educators’ SDGs based STEAM competition for grade 5 students across their national network and campuses. This event was live streamed and featured 14 shortlisted teams from various regions across Pakistan. It was centrally judged by a powerful team of women educational leaders who appeared at the Lahore Headquarters.
In an effort to further strengthen GS’ initiatives, Hafiz Jawad Sohail, the Project Officer for Partnerships and Events at Global Schools, played a pivotal role. Originally from Pakistan, Hafiz attended an event at The Educators Head Office in Lahore in person, serving as the Chief Guest and representing the Global Schools Program. He praised The Educators for their work in integrating SDGs into STEAM education for fifth graders and passed on regards from Amanda Abrom, the Global Director of GS, to the managing team at The Educators. Highlighting a critical observation, Hafiz emphasized the remarkable contribution of women educators and female leadership in developing resources and shaping the minds of young champions. He pointed out that the global community should recognize and value the efforts of women in educational leadership and their role in building intergenerational trust, now more than ever.
Recognizing the potential benefits of this partnership, Global Schools places a high priority on fostering future collaborations based on our common dedication to ESD. This collaboration aims to connect locally-led initiatives with global networks, aligning our efforts towards a sustainable future.
