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In September 2015 UN member-states approved the Agenda on sustainable development until 2030. Its main part consists of 17 sustainable development goals and 169 subordinate tasks to be reached by 2030.
Experts say that SDG goals are common and global tasks, standing in front of humanity, waiting to be accomplished. Belarus is a part of the Agenda and annually reports about progress on international level.
Out of 17 SDG’s # 4 “Quality education” is one of the most integral parts.
Since 2017, in the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after M. Tank there is a special structural unit Coordinating Center "Education for Sustainable Development". Its main functions are to promote the implementation of the principles of sustainable development in our country, to promote the methodology of education for sustainable development among representatives of various educational institutions; support for social partnership and intersection cooperation; expansion of innovative activities of educational institutions in the field of ESD.
The key factor for the realization of priority programs is professional competence of teachers – authors of educational programs, organizers of experimental and innovative educational projects, managers in the field of education as well as creation and maintenance of network cooperation between all ESD subjects.
According to the information presented by Inessa Zubrilina, head of the Coordinating center “Education in terms of sustainable development”, the center has achieved dozens of republican, regional and local projects, and representatives of the center took part in international projects, aimed for promotion of “ESD” among youth and kids.
Some projects draw attention and interest. These are: the Republican competition “Kids about SDG”, it helps kids to understand ideas and values of sustainable development; Youth forum “SDG: till 16 year olds and over”; Youth festival “Young vote for SDG” – it is an annual meeting of authors of media projects dedicated to popularize ideas, values and goals of sustainable development among various age groups.
Every 2 years Maksim Tank university hosts a ten-day festival “Education in frames of sustainable development for everyone” – this is a place for the joining of efforts and experience exchange between organizers of non-stop education and experts in the field of ESD.
Youth ambassadors play important role in promotion of SDG in Belarus. These ambassadors are representatives of a student community and their motto is “Together towards sustainable future”.
Ambassador of SDG 17 "Partnership for Sustainable Development", student of the Faculty of Law of BSU Stefania-Vitalia Vinnichek believes that it is quite expedient to create Youth associations, parliaments, unions on the basis of each Center for additional education of youth.
This system will enable youngsters to independently organize youth events, make collective partnership decisions, maintain a common financial budget, organize charitable gatherings and interact with government officials as an alternative to active suffrage.
Vladislava Stolerova - SDG 5 Ambassador "Gender Equality", studies at the Faculty of Aesthetic Education of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after. M. Tank. She is aware of the need to educate young people and the importance of combating gender stereotypes, she believes that the promotion of the Goals will help us all become more conscious and improve the quality of life.
In turn, Dmitry Mikhalkin is the SDG 16 Ambassador “Peace.Justice. Efficient Institutions”, he is a MITSO law student and he is convinced that peace, justice, human rights and fundamental freedoms are vital elements for the stability and well-being of societies around the world.
Youth Ambassadors are convinced that education promotes peace and encourages active participation in the life of one's community and future profession.