WESSA, together with many countries around the world, is celebrating the actions taken towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the FEE Global Action Days: a week-long showcasing of the revolutionary work carried out by members of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
WESSA is the implementing NGO in South Africa for five FEE programmes: Eco-Schools, Learning About Forests (LEAF), Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE), Blue Flag, and Green Key. In 2017 there were 853 registered Eco-Schools with over 640 000 learners and 4 265 teachers participating. The projects are linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with their focus on SDG 4: Quality Education.
Through the Global Action Days celebrated from 16 – 22 April 2018, we are highlighting the activities of participating schools around the country, to showcase and share the positive actions they have coordinated, promoted and participated in throughout the year with a variety of projects that fall under several of the 17 SDGs. These actions taken by South African participants will receive the recognition they are so worthy of on an international stage. The event is open to students, parents, communities and NGOs, both inside and outside the FEE network, and participation by all is encouraged.
The 17 SDGs (adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at a historic UN Summit) came into force on 1 January 2016. With these new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change. The SDGs, also known as Global Goals, build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and aim to go further to end all forms of poverty, ensuring that no one is left behind. These Goals are unique in that they call for action by all countries with all income-levels to promote prosperity while protecting the planet, recognizing that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and addresses a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
While the SDGs are not legally binding, governments are expected to take ownership and establish national frameworks for the achievement of the 17 Goals. Countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review of the progress made in implementing the Goals, which will require quality, accessible and timely data collection. Regional follow-up and review will be based on national-level analyses and contribute to follow-up and review at the global level.
If you would like to participate in the Global Action Days simply register online, plan your action and document it by taking pictures, making a video, or writing an article. Join FEE’s Facebook Global Action Days group, share your action, and inspire the rest of the world! Registration is mandatory and you can do so here: www.ecoschools.global/global-action-days/register/
For more information please see www.fee.global/global-action-days or contact Serena Vanotti on serena@fee.global.
#GlobalActionDays
#GlobalGoals
CONTACT
Serena Vanotti
Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) Programme Assistant
Email: serena@fee.global
Delana Eksteen
WESSA Programme Manager: Eco-Schools
Tel: 066 302 4584
Email: delana@wessa.co.za