SDG Stories

Background

"We must empower young people to be the agents of change we need to achieve the SDGs.

Their energy and vision are indispensable in building a more sustainable and equitable future for all."

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Young people are drivers of change, the leaders of tomorrow and the future custodians of sustainable development in the world. Convinced of the crucial role that children and young people can play in the Arab region to shape a better future where no one is left behind, ESCWA seeks to educate them on the values of the United Nations and raise their awareness of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goals (for more information, click here).

Our approach

The SDG Stories project is a new initiative to reach out to children and young people aged 8–16 years and involve them in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The main tool of the initiative is the illustrated book, "The ESCWA Stories", which is released every year. These stories address the situation of the Arab region and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs by providing sustainable solutions to multiple challenges. The characters are inspired from reality and focus on achieving social justice and equality, combating poverty, protecting the environment and contributing to the prosperity of their neighbourhood, which represents the Arab countries. The stories rely on an intergenerational dialogue between two narrators, namely a grandfather and his granddaughter, because sustainable development is an old yet new concept, extending from the past to the present and the future.

Our partners

Ministries of Education of the countries participating in the project.
National Commissions for UNESCO.
Network of the ALECSO clubs.
Private sector.
Civil society.

Our activities

Establish a club for "The ESCWA Stories" in each participating school, in which students aged 8–16 years participate and implement various sustainable development projects, inspired by the illustrated book, in their schools and communities.
Introduce the "ESCWA Stories" book into the official educational curricula.
Implement classroom activities (office visits, interactive readings, fruitful dialogues, writing creative stories inspired from "The ESCWA Stories", etc.).
Implement meaningful extracurricular activities (such as acting, singing and organizing theatrical performances, drawing paintings and murals, creating models and designing products through several techniques, including the use of recycled materials).
Celebrate the "ESCWA Stories Day" at the end of each academic year in the participating schools in the presence of educational, official and cultural figures, and students' parents. On this day, creative works and cultural and artistic activities inspired by the characters and events of "The ESCWA Stories" are displayed.
Participate in Arab and regional forums on sustainable development through artistic, cultural and creative activities.
Implement activities targeted towards community development by carrying out sustainable projects in cooperation with municipalities and local communities in the Arab countries.
Participate in purposeful summer activities within the framework of sustainable development.
Animating volume 1 of ESCWA Stories (Story 1, Story 2, Story 3, Story 4, Story 5).