On September 11, 2023, the closing ceremony of the course UN Sustainable Development Youth Empowerment Program for Junior High School Students in Jing’an District—Global Heroes of the Planet was successfully held at Shanghai United International School Peiming Campus (hereinafter referred to as Peiming Campus). The course was sponsored by the Education Bureau of Jing’an District, co-undertaken by the Jing’an Education Cooperation & Exchange Center and Peiming Campus, and co-sponsored by Shanghai Lianyu Culture Communication Co., Ltd.
The course “UN Sustainable Development Youth Empowerment Program for Junior High School Students in Jing’an District—Global Heroes of the Planet” focuses on project-based learning (PBL) around 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN. After the initial recruitment and selection, nearly 30 students had the opportunity to participate in the SDG “Global Heroes of the Planet” course. During the course, students gained an understanding of the UN, recognized the significance of 17 SDGs in real life, and realized that each individual is part of a global movement. Through learning, communication, and teamwork, students designed innovative solutions to support UN SDGs.
At the closing ceremony, each team of students presented speeches on their learning outcomes with different themes to all the teachers and students.
The “A Plate of sand” team highlighted the importance of protecting marine resources under the theme of “Protecting Marine Resources” and presented measures for improvement from macro and micro perspectives. “These measures can enhance human protection of the oceans and marine life at various levels, ensuring the balance of marine ecosystems and sustainable development for humanity,” they said.
The “Zoo” team used examples such as the “September 11 attacks” and the Russia-Ukraine Conflict to emphasize the importance of peace. They expressed their determination to uphold world peace.
The “Wu Yanzu” team presented their solution for achieving “responsible consumption and production” based on their own perspectives. They proposed that “economically disadvantaged individuals and families can apply to purchase essential goods in urban areas for free”. Additionally, they anticipated potential challenges in implementing this plan and offered solutions from economic and manpower perspectives.
The “You Are Always Right” team focused on the issue of “No Poverty” and provided a comprehensive analysis from four aspects: current situation, goals, causes, and improvement measures. They proposed various methods such as establishing foundations and donating money to inspire people around the world to collectively assist those in poverty. They also suggested donating unwanted clothing, books, and daily necessities. Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of development strategies that benefit impoverished people and promote gender equality and called for the formulation of reasonable policy frameworks at national, regional, and international levels to accelerate investment in poverty alleviation efforts.
The “Self-Improvement for Success” team began their presentation by highlighting “World Oceans Day” and expressed their concern for the preservation of life below water included in the “SDGs”. They gave examples to demonstrate “how human activities are causing detrimental effects on the world’s oceans”. The team shared practical knowledge on protecting the oceans and called for everyone to start taking small actions in their daily lives to cherish and protect marine resources and biodiversity.
In team presentations, students showcased confidence and eloquence, demonstrating their deep reflections on the theme of “sustainable development”. Liu Yueliang, the course lecturer, provided analysis and comments for each team, hoping that students would be able to transform their knowledge of SDGs into practice. She encouraged students to become true Global Heroes of the Planet and make the world a better place.
Issuance of Camp Completion Certificates (slide left and right to see more)
After listening to the students’ presentations, Ms. Cheng Qin, the dean of students of Peiming Campus, felt very delighted. She remarked, “Through their learning and exploration of UN SDGs, students have become aware of significant global issues. They have made their efforts to change the world and expressed their concerns to more people by giving speeches. This is truly commendable. The closing of the camp does not mark its end; rather, it is just the beginning. I hope that the students will continue learning and contribute to making the world a better place”.
Han Kai, project leader of the course, introduced background and significance of the “Global Heroes of the Planet” course to the teachers and students. She emphasized that global SDGs are the goals that the world hopes to collectively achieve by 2030. Understanding the future development trends of the world is of great help to students in choosing their future majors and professions.
After participating in the course “UN Sustainable Development Youth Empowerment Program for Junior High School Students in Jing’an District—Global Heroes of the Planet”, students expressed their commitment to protecting the earth as both students of Jing’an District and members of Global Heroes of the Planet. During more than one semester of course study, teachers led students to identify real-life problems, play thought-provoking games, and solve problems through group discussions. This not only developed the students’ critical thinking and communication skills but also broadened their international horizons and enhanced their global citizenship literacy.
The course “UN Sustainable Development Youth Empowerment Program for Junior High School Students in Jing’an District—Global Heroes of the Planet” successfully concluded! It is believed that this course has provided students with a unique and unforgettable learning experience!
Remarks of Students
The rapid development of modern technology has allowed AI to take over many tasks. ChatGPT can chat with us, answer questions, and even help us write articles. AI voice can mimic the voices of celebrities to sing songs. The world is becoming more diverse, but it seems that we are getting used to living in the virtual world while neglecting the unique value of human thinking and reality in the real world. Meanwhile, issues such as poverty and the threat to our survival posed by climate change still exist.
These issues may not be resolved immediately, but they require continuous attention and effort from humanity, including the strength of young people. As Liang Qichao once said, “If the young people are strong, the country will be strong.” Thus, the club of Global Heroes of the Planet has emerged. In this club, we pursue independent thinking, broaden our horizons, and focus on future global vision.
Through course study and games, we immerse ourselves in different situations and constantly reflect and express our opinions. We also engage in discussions about complex global issues in the real world. This helps us develop a sense of global citizenship and enhances our ability to think independently and express ourselves. We may think that students focus on learning, but it doesn’t mean we cannot do more. We need to reexamine the world through our observations and reflections. The world may change because of our little actions. After all, the world will be ours and we must have broad horizons.
Finally, I will conclude with a quote from our course teacher: Be the change you wish to see the world!
—Zhou Jiang Yichen