MAY ADVOCATES OF THE MONTH

Written by Abigail Chifusa, Global Schools Project Officer.

Every month, the Global Schools Program takes time to celebrate the amazing work of educators who are bringing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to life in their classrooms and communities. 

For the month of May, we’re shining a spotlight on eight outstanding advocates from around the world who are making a real difference. These educators are going beyond the traditional role of teaching, inspiring change, inspiring their students, and showing what it means to be a global citizen.

Kritika has been an inspiring presence in her school community, spreading awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a Global Schools Advocate. 

She started her journey with a workshop for fellow teachers, introducing them to the goals and their importance. From there, she rolled out engaging activities with students across different grades, focusing on SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). 

Kritika also brought SDG themes into school events, using special assemblies and celebrations to create space for reflection and action around global issues.

Mary is the kind of educator whose passion naturally draws people in. Since becoming a Global Schools Advocate, she’s truly made a positive impact on both learners and colleagues. 

Her work has helped bring the value of education for sustainable development (ESD) into focus for her entire school community. 

By involving learners in hands-on projects and encouraging curiosity, she’s ignited a strong shift in how students approach their learning, and in how they see their own potential to shape a better world.

Miroslav has found a unique way to merge literature and sustainability. By fusing the SDGs into his English Language and Literature classes, he has  not only engaged students but also inspired fellow teachers to dig deeper into curriculum alignment. 

His research touches on topics like ecocriticism and critical post-humanism, pushing boundaries and encouraging a more holistic, thoughtful approach to education. 

Miroslav has built a culture of collaboration at his school, showing what’s possible when educators come together with a shared vision.

Hina is all about action and she is involving her entire school community in her initiatives. By embedding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into her lessons, she’s created a learning environment where students, parents, and teachers all contribute to a culture of sustainability. 

Hina’s next big goal? Appointing 17 SDG ambassadors from her teaching staff with each one championing a specific goal. It’s a brilliant way to spread awareness and ownership across the school and strengthen the connection between local efforts and the global agenda.

Venant’s work as a Global Schools Advocate is nothing short of inspiring. He has integrated SDGs like Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Life on Land (SDG 15) into over seven lessons, reaching more than 300 students. 

But Venant didn’t stop there, he has also led four school-wide activities involving 400 students and teachers. He has gone from teaching about biogas as a clean energy source to organizing tree-planting drives and awareness campaigns, helping students see the real-world impact of sustainable actions and empowering them to lead the way.

Jenny has turned project-based learning into something truly impactful for sustainability education. 

She has integrated the SDGs into interdisciplinary projects across grade levels, helping students make meaningful connections between their studies and global challenges. 

In her upper grades, Jenny’s students took on the George Washington Carver Science Fair with projects centered around clean water, health, and sustainable cities. Eighth graders explored colonization through the lens of justice and inequality, creating powerful visual stories that connected history with today’s struggles.

In the lower grades, Jenny collaborated with teachers to develop a curriculum around Indigenous land stewardship, ancient innovations, and social systems with each tied to the SDGs. 

Her leadership shows just how deeply she believes that global education starts right in the classroom. She’s passionate about helping students of all ages understand the SDGs in ways that feel real and relevant to their lives. By encouraging them to become changemakers and connecting what they learn to the world around them, she truly brings the spirit of the Global Schools Program to life.

Derin brings passion and purpose to her role as an educator and Global Schools Advocate. 

As a scuba diver, she has witnessed the beauty and fragility of the oceans, and she brings that urgency into the classroom. 

Through her work with the Global Schools Program and eTwinning, Derin creates real-world projects that get students thinking about their impact on the planet. 

Derin is all about making sustainability personal, relatable, and inclusive, and her students are better global citizens because of it.

Gülfem has taken a whole-school approach to sustainability that’s truly remarkable. 

In March, she introduced the SDGs through Socratic questioning and student-led research, creating space for deep thinking and conversation. 

Her empathy-based case studies tied to SDGs 5 (Gender Equality),  10 (Reduced inequality), and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), got students exploring social justice issues and sharpening their problem-solving skills.

Gülfem has supported PYP teachers in co-developing SDG-infused units, such as the one inspired by “Where Children Sleep,” which connected students to global inequalities. Her “Kindness Tree” initiative and inter-school “Friend Pens” project encouraged peaceful, inclusive values. 

Gülfem also led a workshop for 60 primary teachers to align the IB PYP framework with the SDGs, showing her commitment to building capacity at every level.

Through counseling sessions on gender dynamics and emotional wellness, she reinforced SDGs 4 (quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) . 

Her efforts have truly demonstrated a school-wide commitment to sustainability, helping both teachers grow in their roles and empowering students to take action. 

Congratulations to these exceptional advocates! If you are an educator and you found this inspiring, the application window for our next cohort of advocates is currently open. Visit our website to learn more and apply here.