Kids4SDGs

Maxwell loves to watch television, especially the programmes on Nickelodeon. He also likes to do research on sexual discrimination, education, health, leadership and politics. He considers himself a clever and enthusiastic changemaker. He is already working on a campaign to increase the minimum age of purchasing tobacco and alcohol from 18 to 21 years old. He had been inspired by a friend who collaborated on a similar kind of campaign in America. Maxwell dreams of a world in which the work of human rights organisations is not necessary anymore, because everyone respects each other. A world in which children have room to participate in making decisions on their rights and where there is enough opportunity for everyone. What is the problem? Maxwell notices that few people around him know what the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are. The SDGs have been drawn up by the United Nations with the aim to bring an end to poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030. The SDGs are meant to make the world nicer, fairer and cleaner. In Maxwell’s community, education is qualitatively poor and little attention is being paid to the environment. He wants to do something about this and therefore he is taking action. What is Maxwell’s solution? With his project Kids4SDGs, Maxwell wants to focus on the improvement of knowledge about the SDGs among children between the age of 6 and 19 years old. He is aiming at education and environment. In this way he wants to motivate children to take action on these two themes. Maxwell will start with giving weekly information sessions about SDGs (aimed at environment and education) at two schools in his neighbourhood. He will, amongst other subjects, talk about how one can become a changemaker and how important it is to stand up for your own community. During these sessions the students will also learn writing and presentation skills. After that they will plant trees with the participants to make the world a greener place. At the same time a social media campaign will be launched to send his message to a wider audience. What is the goal? The aim is to encourage children to become changemakers for the two SDG themes: education and environment or other themes which the children are interested in. “ The world is ours, if we don’t do everything in our power to make it a better place, we would have failed not only ourselves but future generations as well.” – Maxwell How will Maxwell work? Maxwell will arrange with two schools where the weekly information sessions can take place. He will draw up the content of the information sessions and he will make sure that this will be carried out correctly by his team. He will also be in charge of the social media campaign. W ho does Maxwell need? · Maxwell is working with two different organizations. Colleagues from both organizations will help him with his project · His 20 young volunteers who are helping by giving the information sessions · KidsRights to connect him with other changemakers globally What does Maxwell need? · Ideas, successes and challenges from other changemakers