UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 1988 a small group of individuals came together to create an online educational network that had as its purpose: "to enable young people to undertake projects designed to make a meaningful contribution to the health and welfare of the planet and its people." Envisioning a world in which young people could use technology to collaborate to change the world, these educators sought to harness the power of the Internet for good.
In 2015, iEARN (International Education and Resource Network), now with organizations in 140 countries and linking millions of young people daily in online collaboration and engagement, launched a major effort to mobilize its global network and other global education partners to realize the world’s new 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of targets relating to future international development. See http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainab... for a full list of the SDGs and the targets of each.
In August 2015, iEARN also updated its “New Project Template” so that when an educator proposes a project, s/he will have an opportunity to include how their project proposal aligns with one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Between 2000 and 2015, the world sought to meet the Millennium Development Goals with real, but limited success. To successfully reach the new Sustainable Development Goals, it will be important for organizations to work together. iEARN looks forward to collaborating with other educational networks, youth groups and community and faith-based organizations to attain these critical Goals.
Educators who are facilitating or participating in iEARN projects are encouraged to review the SDGs to see how their students’ participating in iEARN project activities can help in achieving one or more of the SDGs and their 169 targets.