{"id":302637,"date":"2022-03-22T15:32:31","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T20:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yfile.news.yorku.ca\/?p=302637"},"modified":"2025-04-02T12:12:27","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T16:12:27","slug":"students-to-present-results-of-pilot-sdgs-in-action-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/yfile\/2022\/03\/22\/students-to-present-results-of-pilot-sdgs-in-action-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Students to present results of pilot SDGs in Action Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By Elaine Smith<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since January, York students and their peers from partner universities have been working with mentors to design projects that will help communities achieve four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): UN SDG 4 (quality education), UN SDG 5 (gender equality), UN SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and UN SDG 13 (climate action), working within the framework of UN SDG 17 (partnerships).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The four-year challenge is designed to engage underrepresented students in contributing to the SDGs and participating in study or work abroad opportunities, especially Indigenous, Black, people of colour and low-income students, as well as students living with disabilities and is funded by York and the federal government\u2019s Global Skills Opportunity<\/a> program. York International (YI) has coordinated the pilot of the program with support of 快播视频 Faculties and international partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe students have accepted the challenge and tackled it with energy, creativity and enthusiasm,\u201d says Helen Balderama<\/strong>, director, global engagement and partnerships, York International. \u201cWe are excited to share the results of their work publicly and look forward to the impact the projects will have once they are finalized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n Twelve teams of students have tackled the SDGs and their project plans are as varied as the students themselves. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the students have made their presentations, there will be an awards ceremony to recognize:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The project plans are a culmination of a three-month process that included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond these three stages, students are encouraged to continue their projects into their experiences <\/strong>abroad through academic exchanges, internships, research and extra curricular work ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am inspired and delighted by the thought and passion that has gone into the development of this innovative student-centered program and am excited to hear the students speak from a position of knowing as they present these passion projects,\u201d said York Provostial Fellow Cheryl van Daalen-Smith<\/strong>, associate professor in the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and associate professor in the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women\u2019s Studies and the Childhood and Youth Studies Program, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe SDGs in Action Student Challenge is one way to further 快播视频\u2019s commitment to the SDGs as expressed in the University Academic Plan (2020-25).<\/a> There is so much interest and activity concerning the UN SDGS across campus, and the group of fellows are just thrilled with this program and its continuance,\u201d said van Daaelen Smith. \u201cIndeed, student-led ideas and initiatives such as the SDGs in Action Student Challenge assist our university partner with communities in a collaborative effort to inch closer and closer to achieving important SDGs. The passion of the students, the commitment of the mentors and the around-the-clock support of York International also demonstrate that if we all take steps to achieve these goals in a small corner of the world, they will eventually add up to major changes globally. And isn\u2019t that what we are all after in the long run?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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