In January, RCE Hangzhou hosted a forum on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), with ten principals from primary, secondary, and high schools speaking at the event.

A number of new ESD activities planned for 2019 were announced, including a music festival and an SDGs soccer competition.

Current activities were also presented, such as RCE Hangzhou’s ESD program with Alibaba Foundation called ‘River Angels’, which started in September 2018. The program provides a platform for educators, agencies, and NGOs to develop STEAM courses and activities about SDGs, with the goal for 10,000 students from 100 primary, secondary, and high schools to become qualified river conservation supporters and practitioners.

RCE Hangzhou director Prof. Weidong Wu also announced the creation of an ESD promotion centre in Tonglu County. During the past 15 years, the Qiantang riverside county of Tonglu has evolved from an underprivileged rural area to a new ecological county in China. In the future RCE Hangzhou plans to organise at least 1,000 youth to visit Tonglu for SDG study tours.

(Photo credit: RCE Hangzhou)