“World”s Largest Lesson” takes global goals into classrooms

A new initiative, the World’s Largest Lesson, has launched to teach the UN’s new "sustainable development goals" (SDGs) to some 500 million boys and girls aged eight to 14. It will hold in classrooms in 100 countries during the week of September 28, said the United Nations Children’s Fund which launch the Lesson with Global […]

A new initiative, the World’s Largest Lesson, has launched to teach the UN’s new "sustainable development goals" (SDGs) to some 500 million boys and girls aged eight to 14.

It will hold in classrooms in 100 countries during the week of September 28, said the United Nations Children’s Fund which launch the Lesson with Global Goals Campaign.

The SDGs aim to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, fix climate change in the next 15 years.

A total 193 world leaders will commit to the targets, adopted by the UN General Assembly, on September 25, in the same week the Global Goals Campaign hopes to reach seven billion people in seven days.

“The World’s Largest Lesson will do more than teach children about the global goals. It will engage them in the effort to achieve those goals – educating them about the challenges that are shaping their futures and encouraging them to drive change in their own communities,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

“Young people can help achieve the global goals by holding their leaders accountable for the promises they are making – and by holding themselves accountable for building a better future for everyone.” 

Special learning materials, including books, animated films and comics, have been created to aid teaching.

Teachers in participating schools can select lesson plans based on themes most relevant for their pupils.

Public figures as Serena Williams and Kolo Touré are already backing the World’s Largest Lesson.

Richard Curtis, founder of the Global Goals campaign, called the Lesson " a fantastic opportunity to tell all children, everywhere what the Global Goals are and how they can play their part to make sure they are achieved."

 “It would be wonderful if all teachers could make sure the World’s Largest Lesson is taught at their school. By making the Global Goals famous we can give them the best chance of working around the world – and help make us the first generation to end extreme poverty, the most determined generation in history to end injustice and inequality, and the last generation to be threatened by climate change.”