RCE Greater Atlanta - 2019

RCE Greater Atlanta Youth Network SDG Training Modules
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
RCE Greater Atlanta Youth Network SDG Training Modules
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Atlanta
Contributing organization(s) : 
CIFAL Atlanta; Georgia Institute of Technology; Kennesaw State University; United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Kristina Chatfield
Organizational Affiliation: 
Georgia Institute of Technology
E-mail: 
kchatfield30@gatech.edu
Name: 
Isabella Stubbs
Organizational Affiliation: 
Georgia Institute of Technology
E-mail: 
istubbs3@gatech.edu
Name: 
Binbin Jiang
Organizational Affiliation: 
CIFAL Atlanta - Kennesaw State University
E-mail: 
bjiang@kennesaw.edu
Name: 
Lolade Owokoniran
Organizational Affiliation: 
CIFAL Atlanta - Kennesaw State University
E-mail: 
lowokoni@kennesaw.edu
Name: 
Vanessa Godinez
Organizational Affiliation: 
CIFAL Atlanta - Kennesaw State University
E-mail: 
vgodinez@kennesaw.edu
Format of project: 
PowerPoint
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Web link: 
https://dga.kennesaw.edu/cifal/sdgtrainingcoursesandresources/youthandsdgse-learningcourse.php
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
No
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
United States
Location(s): 
Greater Atlanta region, Georgia
Address of focal point institution for project: 
CIFAL Atlanta
Kennesaw State University | Division of Global Affairs
3391 Town Point Dr NW, Suite 1700
Kennesaw, GA 30144

Ecosystem(s):
Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
The Atlanta Metro region is vibrant and diverse, with a history of advancing civil rights and economic growth, while struggling to reconcile systemic racism. With the 10th largest economy in the U.S. and the largest in the Southeastern U.S., Metro Atlanta’s 2015 GDP of $339 billion ranked it in the top 35 economies globally. Atlanta grew as a transportation hub for the southeastern U.S. Natural resources abound and the environmental assets of the region have facilitated its growth. Challenges include the area’s rapid expansion and urbanization, compounded by issues such as climate change, human migration patterns, and agricultural intensification.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
RCE Greater Atlanta has identified seven priority SDGs: Good Health & Well-Being, Zero Hunger, Sustainable Cities & Communities, Climate Action, Quality Education, Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, and No Poverty. The two biggest system-level challenges that Atlanta must address are Equity and Resilience. A legacy of systemic racism has created disparities, including access to fresh food and areas of high environmental contamination. Infrastructure systems are under increasing stress and these pressures impact natural systems, and social and economic indicators. Increasing the capacity and resilience of these systems to manage more volume and absorb shocks is another key sustainability challenge.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Rationale: 
We currently have the largest population of youth our planet has ever seen. Today’s generation of young people will not only be the primary beneficiaries of the successful implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), they will be the driving force behind that successful implementation, as the success of the SDGs primarily depends on their dreams, the actions they take, and the key roles they will play as they transition into tomorrow’s leaders. Our investment of time and resources is needed to create targeted, compelling and impactful SDG training tools that will form the foundation for building the capacities and competencies of our Youth Network, thus equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to effectively grasp and address the unique challenges facing our local communities and our world.
Objectives: 
Training participants will be able to:
· Identify RCE Greater Atlanta’s seven priority SDGs (No Poverty; Zero Hunger; Good Health & Well-Being; Quality Education; Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities & Communities; Climate Action)
· Describe the origins and purpose of the Sustainable Development Goals
· Identify key challenges in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals both locally and in international contexts
· Identify global leadership principles
· Demonstrate both international and intercultural competences
· Recognize the importance of cultivating an interdisciplinary approach to sustainable development
· Recognize how young people can harness their influencing power to help shape a new, sustainable society
Activities and/or practices employed: 
Partnership with UNITAR to develop 7 units - one for each priority SDG - each with sub-modules designed to educate students on each SDG, as well as highlight case studies and best practices using community organization and industry partners who are active with RCE Greater Atlanta, as well as focus on an international example of SDG implementation.
Size of academic audience: 
The project is still in development, but we estimate that thousands of student across the globe will access these materials.
Results: 
Project is just launching in Fall 2019
Lessons learned: 
Project is just launching in Fall 2019
Key messages: 
Online training program comprised of interactive modules covering the history of the SDGs; identifying the social, economic, and ecological sustainability needs of our community; teaching skills for collaborating with diverse stakeholders to create and implement action projects to equip youth in our region and beyond to become sustainable development problem solvers.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
The formation of a Youth Network, focused on college students in the Atlanta region, is a primary goal of RCE Greater Atlanta.
Funding: 
The SDG Training Module project was funded by a grant from the Turner Foundation, along with in-kind and financial contributions from Kennesaw State University and Georgia Tech.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct
Update: 
No