ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/OES/STORIES.2
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Information material
Publication Subject: The ESCWA Stories
Cluster: Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability, Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development, Shared Economic Prosperity, Statistics, Information Society and Technology, 2030 Agenda and SDG Coordination, Governance and Conflict Prevention
Focus Area: 2030 Agenda
Initiatives: SDG Stories
SDGs: Agenda 2030
Keywords: Agenda, Sustainable development, Youth, Social justice, Equality, Poverty mitigation, Environment, Justice, Peace, Education, Environmental protection
The “SDG Stories" Project, Phase II 2022–2023
January 2023
Building on the success of the first pilot phase of the "SDG Stories" project during the academic year 2021–2022, and after evaluating its implementation mechanisms, ESCWA continued to implement the project in schools located in Lebanon and the Arab region.
In view of the region's need for Arabic educational tools that introduce the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an interesting and simplified manner, as evidenced by data and studies on the educational curricula of the Arab region, ESCWA released "The ESCWA Stories, Volume 2". The book is written in classical Arabic language with an eloquent style that is accessible to our young people, reflecting their interests and urging them to work collectively to preserve human dignity and prosperity of the planet, and taking into account societal values. The book has been translated into English to reach the largest number of students in the Arab region.
Implementation of the project in Lebanon, Jordan and Kuwait during the academic year 2022–2023
In Lebanon: ESCWA has renewed its partnership with the Lebanese National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the seven schools that participated in the first pilot phase of the project. It has also established new partnerships with nine private and public schools, including schools for persons with disabilities in Lebanon.
In Jordan: ESCWA has established a partnership with Jordan National Commission for Education, Culture and Science through the Ministry of Education to implement the project in three public schools identified by the Minister of Education in Jordan.
In Kuwait: The project was implemented in two private schools as a first phase.
- The project's implementation mechanism in all participating schools from different Arab countries during the academic year 2022–2023:
- Establish a club for "The ESCWA Stories" in each school, in which students aged 8–16 years participate and implement various sustainable development projects, inspired by the illustrated book, in their schools and communities.
- Introduce "The ESCWA Stories" book into the official educational curricula.
- Implement classroom activities (office visits, interactive readings, fruitful dialogues, writing creative stories, etc.). All these activities revolve around the SDGs and are inspired by "The ESCWA Stories".
- Implement meaningful extracurricular activities (such as acting, singing and organizing theatrical performances, drawing paintings and murals, creating models and designing products through several techniques, including the use of recycled materials).
- Celebrate "The ESCWA Stories Day" at the end of each academic year in the participating schools in the presence of educational, official and cultural figures, and students' parents. On this day, the celebration features creative works and cultural and artistic activities, inspired by the characters and events of "The ESCWA Stories" and reflecting the extent to which SDGs are understood by students and impact their personalities and behaviours.
- Participate in Arab and regional forums on sustainable development through artistic, cultural and creative activities.
- Implement activities targeted towards community development by carrying out sustainable projects in cooperation with municipalities and local communities in the Arab countries.
Participate in purposeful summer activities within the framework of sustainable development.
Related content
2030 Agenda
Building on the success of the first pilot phase of the "SDG Stories" project during the academic year 2021–2022, and after evaluating its implementation mechanisms, ESCWA continued to implement the project in schools located in Lebanon and the Arab region.
In view of the region's need for Arabic educational tools that introduce the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an interesting and simplified manner, as evidenced by data and studies on the educational curricula of the Arab region, ESCWA released "The ESCWA Stories, Volume 2". The book is written in classical Arabic language with an eloquent style that is accessible to our young people, reflecting their interests and urging them to work collectively to preserve human dignity and prosperity of the planet, and taking into account societal values. The book has been translated into English to reach the largest number of students in the Arab region.
Implementation of the project in Lebanon, Jordan and Kuwait during the academic year 2022–2023
In Lebanon: ESCWA has renewed its partnership with the Lebanese National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the seven schools that participated in the first pilot phase of the project. It has also established new partnerships with nine private and public schools, including schools for persons with disabilities in Lebanon.
In Jordan: ESCWA has established a partnership with Jordan National Commission for Education, Culture and Science through the Ministry of Education to implement the project in three public schools identified by the Minister of Education in Jordan.
In Kuwait: The project was implemented in two private schools as a first phase.
- The project's implementation mechanism in all participating schools from different Arab countries during the academic year 2022–2023:
- Establish a club for "The ESCWA Stories" in each school, in which students aged 8–16 years participate and implement various sustainable development projects, inspired by the illustrated book, in their schools and communities.
- Introduce "The ESCWA Stories" book into the official educational curricula.
- Implement classroom activities (office visits, interactive readings, fruitful dialogues, writing creative stories, etc.). All these activities revolve around the SDGs and are inspired by "The ESCWA Stories".
- Implement meaningful extracurricular activities (such as acting, singing and organizing theatrical performances, drawing paintings and murals, creating models and designing products through several techniques, including the use of recycled materials).
- Celebrate "The ESCWA Stories Day" at the end of each academic year in the participating schools in the presence of educational, official and cultural figures, and students' parents. On this day, the celebration features creative works and cultural and artistic activities, inspired by the characters and events of "The ESCWA Stories" and reflecting the extent to which SDGs are understood by students and impact their personalities and behaviours.
- Participate in Arab and regional forums on sustainable development through artistic, cultural and creative activities.
- Implement activities targeted towards community development by carrying out sustainable projects in cooperation with municipalities and local communities in the Arab countries.
Participate in purposeful summer activities within the framework of sustainable development.
