Why is it important for young people to learn about the SDG?
Today the world’s population is predominantly young, so achieving the 2030 Agenda is above all essential for young people. Based on its success, the young people will be able to build their future, to empower themselves and achieve their dreams.
Consequently, young people must play a central role in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, since decisions taken at the global level affect their future.
Here are some of the reasons the young people should learn about the goals:
- Early exposure of young people to sustainability concepts makes it easier to attain Sustainable development goals.
Educating for sustainability should begin at an early stage because it is in childhood when young people develop their basic values, attitudes, and habits, which may be long lasting.
- Sustainable Development Goals are Universal goals.
The SDGs are universal goals for everybody. The issues addressed by the goals are present everywhere. Learning about SDGs helps young people develop knowledge and understand how everything everywhere is inter-connected. So, they need to make SDGs a part of everyday life. That way they will grow-up to be aware and act to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
- Young people learn about empathy and compassion.
When children know about SDGs such as those related to poverty, health, and education they begin to understand the different challenges facing communities all over the world and compassion is being built in their hearts.
- Young people have the power to make their voices heard.
Today, thanks to the massive use of technology, communication channels and influential media are predominantly used by young people; they can help raise awareness of the socio-economic and environmental problems that we face.
- Knowledge and awareness make young people ACT.
Once the young people understand the SDGs and why they are important, they will be inspired to make positive changes, in their own way, they will be civically engaged and globally aware and can come up with new ideas to solve them.
Education for SDGs is important because in order to create a more sustainable world and to engage in the process, one needs a profound transformation of how they think and act. Education for sustainable development aims at developing competences that empower individuals to reflect on their own practices, taking into account their footprint in all the fields, to consider the future and to act responsibly.
