As tomorrow’s knowledge bearers and decision makers, young people play a key role in implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 4 and the objectives set out in the German Sustainable Development Strategy in particular make it clear that young people should be considered and included in the process of implementing the SDGs.
- Goal 4 calls for inclusive, equal, high-quality and lifelong education for all.
- The German Sustainable Development Strategy focuses on increasing education and participation opportunities for all children and young people, strengthening continuing-education opportunities, and education for sustainable development.
With this in mind, the German Council for Sustainable Development launched its sustainability education competition “Ready, set, future!” (Zukunft, fertig, los!) in late summer 2017. The aim of the competition was to find good ideas for conveying the 17 SDGs. With the project, the Council targeted traditional education institutions, e.g. early-childhood settings, schools, vocational schools and higher-education institutions, non-formal and informal education providers and further- and continuing-education institutions. Via the project, the Council also addressed potential opinion shapers from the political arena, business, civil society, academia and the media.
Almost 100 entries were submitted. The jury – made up of Council members Alexander Bassen, Ulla Burchardt, Kathrin Menges and Dominik Naab plus Susanne Salz, former event manager for the UN SDG Action Campaign – chose the best competition entries and nominated a total of 22 contributions (German).
These ranged from SDG apps, simulation games and video productions to seminars, sponsored runs and training SDG Scouts. Most of the entries came from higher-education institutions, associations, youth groups and foundations. They were aimed primarily at schools and higher-education institutions. The nominees come from Bavaria, Berlin, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Schleswig-Holstein.
On 30 January 2018 the nominees had the opportunity to present their ideas to selected sustainability experts from the business world, the political sphere and society at the event “Speed dating for #SDGeducation”.
The sustainability education competition “Ready, set, future!” (Zukunft, fertig, los!) contributes towards implementing the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development.
