The Sustainable Development Goals laid by the United Nations are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They focus upon the global challenges related to climate, environmental degradation, poverty, inequality, prosperity and peace. All the UNSDG Goals are inter-connected and in order to leave no one behind, it’s imperative that we introduce these goals one by one at the grassroots level.
At Manav Rachna International School, Mohali, a few of these vital goals were picked up and simplified into applicable implementations in the form of the ‘Big Projects’ by the Early Years wing. These practices were incorporated into the curriculum from the onset of the very first academic session and have been enthusiastically implemented by the staff, parents and the little ones alike.
The major goals covered under the Big Projects are:
- Save Food (Goal 2- Zero Hunger)
- Save Water (Goal 6- Clean Water and Sanitation)
- Save Electricity (Goal 7- Affordable and Clean Energy)
- Save Fuel (Goal 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities)
- Save Paper (Goal 12- Responsible Production and Consumption)
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Goal 12- Responsible Production and Consumption)
Each of these Big Projects is directly in tandem with the UNSDG Goals mentioned alongside and are implemented at the children’s level with feasible school activities and corresponding home tasks. The Big Projects are undertaken as a part of the curriculum during various CREST themes and the activities in both the Life Skills sessions and Circle Time are interconnected with the ongoing Big Project to inch the young minds closer to their sustainable goals.
A few examples of the hands-on activities during the Big Projects were learning how to minimize food wastage in the cafeteria during meals, differentiating appliances that run on electricity and hence saving the latter, simple circuits, pledging to be a ‘Water Warrior’, carpooling to save fuel, junk and mess day to recycle waste plastic and other materials, and saving paper along with creating handmade sheets from shredded waste.
Both the Teacher and Parent involvement ensures that the emphasized goals are embedded into the conscience of the children and henceforth pragmatically applied by them in their day-to-day life or years to come
