YOUTH FOR SUSTAINABILITY DIALOGUES

WHAT IS IS ABOUT?

We see that many young people around the world have brilliant ideas and outstanding talent, carrying out social impact projects with local communities at the grassroots level. They are making an invaluable contribution towards reaching the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Youth For Sustainability Dialogues (Y4SD) will offer these young people a platform to share their work with a wide audience of age peers and experts – educators, journalists, entrepreneurs, development professionals – around the world.

This platform that will help the youth examine challenges in their local environment, showcase their projects and initiatives, and come together as a youth movement that is truly ‘glocal’ towards the achievement of SDGs. Mentors and expert panels will be available to the participants for their guidance and help.

HOW WILL WE DO IT?

Every two weeks, we will hold a Y4SD session dedicated to specific SDG, which is chosen in alignment with the UN’s SDG Planning Calendar, Annual International Days or any other relevant or significant event. As many of the goals are interlinked and depend on each other, each session will include 2-3 secondary SDGs that provide a unique perspective on the main topic of the session.

Each Y4SD session will bring 2-3 young people, who give a short presentation on their project idea, implementation and impact. An invited expert from the field will listen and share their feedback with the teams.

NEXT SESSION: SPECIAL EDITION

SDG SHUTTERBUT PHOTO COMPETITION

22 December - 5 January

We are inviting young people around the world to pick up their cameras and capture the issues and solutions related to the UN’s SDGs in their local communities.

Tell a story in 3 photos, where you can bring out an issue in your neighbourhood or display the work you have done to solve a particular problem. Photos shot using a mobile and camera are equally acceptable.

Your photos will be evaluated by a panel of international judges and the winner will get the opportunity to win certificates and a Masterclass with a renowned photographer! Top entries will be presented to the UNDP and UN as part of a coffee table book.

PREVIOUS TOPICS

SDG2: Sustainable Food Production and Food Security from the gender lens

CDF Kalindi College & MasterPeace Cameroon

The 16th of October is World Food Day. This year, the UN’s World Food Program received the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to combat a surge in global hunger during COVID19. How can we ensure that local communities have access to nutritious and healthy foods, producing it in a sustainable manner? How does this contribute to building peace? And finally, how might we empower women in the process?

SDG5: Empowering LGTBQI+ through Decent Work

Project Transformation & MasterPeace Kosovo

When the UN created its global goals, various equality groups pushed for the rights and needs of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people to be taken into account. These groups can experience multiple discrimination and violence, due to their intersecting LGBT status and gender. What can the youth do to change this? Can a focus on employment and (social) entrepreneurship be the solution?

SDG8: Traditional arts - a dependable source of livelihood?

Project Rivaayat & Helping Hand International

Practising arts that is handed down over generations is often not an economically viable option for artisans. New age materials, technology and cheaper rates are often drivers for the exodus. In absence of any organized activity in this sector and the products not being adequately remunerative, more and more artisans are taking up alternate employment. What can we do to support traditions and creativity while generating income? How can we marry the goals of sustainable income and safeguarding the world’s cultural heritage?

SDG4: Creating inclusive spaces for quality education and promoting innovation in learning

GNSD: Sister Schools & MasterPeace Nepal

The UN has proclaimed that education “plays a key role in building sustainable and resilient societies and contributes to the achievement of all of the other Sustainable Development Goals”, including improved health, gender equality and reduced inequalities. In this session, we’ll hear from two teams who are committed to providing quality education to hard-to-reach communities. What are the barriers for ensuring that all children have access to education, which is indeed one of their basic rights? How can we overcome resistance and barriers by authorities and teachers, and bring more innovation to educational spaces?

SDG5: Youth Against Gender-Based Violence

Project Aashayein & MasterPeace Nepal DajuVai

This year is like no other. Even before COVID-19 hit, violence against women and girls had reached pandemic proportions. Globally, 243 million women and girls were abused by an intimate partner in the past year. Meanwhile, less than 40 per cent of women who experience violence report it or seek help.

In April 2020, as the pandemic spread across the world, the UN Secretary-General called for “peace at home”, and 146 Member States responded with their strong statement of commitment. In recent months 135 countries have strengthened actions and resources to address violence against women as part of the response to COVID-19. Yet, much more is needed. For the 16 Days of Activism, UN Women handed over the mic to survivors, activists and UN partners on the ground, to tell the story of what happened after COVID-19 hit.

At this Y4SD session, let us hear from the youth, as we welcome our participants from India and Nepal.