Children at schools in the UK speak out about the Global Goals

Home > Children at schools in the UK speak out about the Global Goals

When world leaders adopted the new Global Goals for Sustainable Development in September, children and young people across the globe took part in a historic initiative to learn about what the new goals meant for people around the world. For one week, schools everywhere got involved in the World’s Largest Lesson, during which they held lessons and assemblies, organised events and created songs and videos.

Here in the UK there was a flurry of activities in Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools, where pupils and staff got together to ensure everyone learnt about the new goals. At Torriano Primary School in London, children and staff created their own film to raise awareness of the Global Goals. Pupils also spent the week learning about the goals and their link to children’s rights, while a task force of children created homework to take home to parents and carers.

In Birmingham, children at Parkfield Community School spent a week learning about the new Global Goals. This got them thinking about human rights and what they can do to make a change. “Our World’s Largest Lesson learning was very important,” said one pupil, “because not everyone has their rights and we learnt the difference between those who do and those who don’t have rights.”

“By 2030 we need to improve our world,” said another Parkfield Community School pupil. “We can start by recycling and not wasting food.”

At Regis School in the south of England, young people reflected on the actions they have taken and will take to make the world a better place. They put their commitment to fight for global justice on flags to create one giant bunting.

Cross and Passion College in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, held a special assembly for the World’s Largest Lesson, while children at Kirkstyle Primary School in Kilmarnock, Scotland, explored some of the world’s greatest issues for the future and discussed what needed to be done to achieve the best for all children. This was just the start for Kirkstyle, where pupils have now committed to holding weekly assemblies focusing on each of the 17 goals. The new Global Goals for Sustainable Development set a target to eradicate extreme poverty, tackle climate change, fight inequality and injustice, and end violence against children by 2030. They count for everyone, everywhere. And it was great to see so many children and young people in Rights Respecting Schools across the UK take part in the World’s Largest Lesson to make sure everyone knows about these new ambitious goals. Keep it going!