The partnership will identify, mentor, and unlock youth-led social entrepreneurial projects for the SDGs in selected IB students and educators around the world.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) and SDSN Youth are partnering to train 40 teachers and students selected for the recently announced Global Youth Action Fund in social entrepreneurship and innovation on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This partnership is part of the IB’s commitment to elevate, empower and support youth voices and an extension of the dialogues conducted through the Festival of Hope.
Under the support of the Social Entrepreneurship Lab (SEL), the partnership is intended to spark local, bigger, broader, and bolder student-led and teacher-supported projects that bridge the gap between 21st century challenges and local sustainable solutions to advance progress during the second half of the SDG era.
“SDSN Youth is extremely thrilled to enter into partnership with the IB. In this second half of the SDG era, the 1.2 billion young people who are the future custodians of the planet stand to lose the most if the triple planetary crisis continues unabated. Through the Social Entrepreneurship Lab (SEL) we shall prepare the next generation of problem solvers with cutting-edge skills, tools, and global networks critical to turn ideas into action for people and the planet'', noted Mr Brighton Mukupa Kaoma, Global Director at UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network-Youth.
The IB will identify a diverse group of educators who will spend the next months with SDSN Youth to acquire leading-edge skills in SDGs, Innovative methodologies including human-centered design and experimental learning approaches. After a rigorous two-month training, teachers will be assigned to a small group of Global Youth Action Fund awardees to mentor through the programme.
Designed to unite the global community in this challenging moment, the Festival of Hope is about creating spaces where millions of young people can bring diverse voices and experiences and turn complex challenges into positivity and hope. Today, there are 1.8 billion people between the ages of 10 to 24, they are the largest generation of youth in history. About 90 percent live in developing countries, where they make up a large proportion of the population. Their numbers are expected to grow—between 2015 and 2030 alone about 1.9 billion young people are projected to turn 15 years old. Provided with the necessary 21st century skills and opportunities needed to reach their potential, young people can be a driving force for translating the 2030 agenda into local innovative solutions.
Applications for the Global Youth Action Fund open on 9 May 2023 and close on 20 June. Any student aged 12 to 19 enrolled in a secondary school is welcome to apply.
