Flossie calls on Dublin kids to share global change ideas

THE international aid agency, GOAL, is inviting primary school pupils from Dublin to share their local actions for global change through its exciting new Changemakers Award.

The award aims to show young people that a sustainable and fair future is achievable through the right actions.

It will introduce children to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and ask them to share the actions they are taking to contribute to creating a better world.

Speaking at the launch of Changemakers, GOAL’s Global Citizenship Manager, Nina Sachau, said: “As a humanitarian aid agency GOAL is acutely aware of the challenges the global community is facing into the future.

“Climate change, poverty, migration, and global injustice – and hearing about this can be a bit overwhelming, especially for young people. 

“We have to make sure young people believe a sustainable and fair future is achievable and equip them with the tools to help contribute to the future.

“With the new Changemakers Award we want to introduce the Sustainable Development Goals to the classroom and celebrate, broadcast and share the great ideas primary school pupils are already putting into action to create a better world. 

“We are lucky we have a generation of incredibly well informed, open minded and active young people and educators, doing so many things every day to bring about change.”

The award is open to 3rd, 4th, 5th and to 6th primary school classes who are being invited to get to know the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to share the local actions they take that contribute to their achievement.

As part of the competition teachers will be provided with curriculum linked lesson plans that introduce children in an engaging and fun way to the SDGs.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were signed by all United Nations members with the aim of ending poverty, inequality, stop climate change and protect our oceans, flora and fauna by 2030.

The judging panel is 12-year-old climate activist and student, Flossie Donnelly; GOAL Deputy CEO Mary Van Lieshout; children’s author Sarah Webb and presenter and broadcaster Johnathan McCrea.

Entries to be submitted online via email to [email protected] or by post by sending it to GOAL, by the 20th of December 2019.

• On January 22 the winners will be announced and contacted along with all the project ideas uploaded on www.goal.ie/goalchangemakers and publicised in the media.