Three Dubai schools that piloted an employee global volunteering programme for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have seen their efforts take center stage with its worldwide implementation. DP World, Linklaters and PwC worked in partnership to pilot the World’s Largest Lesson in three Dubai schools, King’s, Hartland and Jebel Ali. The programme places company employees into classrooms around the world to help children learn how about the UN’s SDG’s which focus on social and environmental issues and how to make our world better.
The three companies are partners of IMPACT2030, an international business sector initiative focused on engaging employees to communicate the UN’s SDG’s into schools. IMPACT2030 has now launched new ‘Employees for the Global Goals’ resources to help companies and their employees teach the SDG’s to children and inspire change. The multi-lingual materials, released at the United Nations Private Sector Forum following Global Goals Week recently, include ‘Employees Teach the Global Goals’, which will help support quality education for all in line with SDG number 4.
Of the students who took part in the pilot in Dubai, 94% said they had learned more about the SDGs, and 92% said they now care more about social and environmental issues.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “As a major global company we can play an important role in bringing about change, working with partners such as IMPACT2030 to achieve the UN’s goals and helping to mobilise our employees to take action. Dubai was the pilot for this initiative and once again has demonstrated its leadership, this time in educating future generations about the world in which we live.
“The goals will only succeed through a collective effort, and by uniting companies to act on vital areas such as education, we can work towards a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone. We believe that working in a responsible way is essential to building a strong business and our partnership with IMPACT2030 is part of our commitment to build a vibrant, secure and resilient society. We look forward to continuing to work together to drive change.”
To support efforts on achieving the SDGs IMPACT2030 has created a Regional Voice Network. DP World was the first company in the UAE to join Impact 2030 and is now a Regional Voice Lead, driving awareness of the coalition, corporate volunteering and the SDGs. DP World was also recently named Sustainability Champion at the CSR Excellence Awards in recognition of its wide-ranging sustainability work around the world. Its “Our World, Our Future” sustainability programme focuses on four key areas: the environment, employees, safety and society.