In a continuously evolving world, there must be constant development in education initiatives for sustainability in the face of relentless transformation. One way to do this is by upholding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduced by the United Nations (UN) in 2012 to address global environmental, political, and economic challenges.<\/p>\n
Our article \u2018Understanding the Significance of Sustainability Requires Development of New Research\u2019<\/a> stresses that in order to achieve these SDGs, the community must always be on the lookout for change. In the same vein, educational institutions and organizations must make transformative adjustments to existing knowledge and methodologies to anticipate and mitigate tensions that occur alongside widespread structural\u00a0change.<\/p>\n Even now, educational organizations across Africa uphold these tenets regarding sustainability. So, here are five initiatives that promote the UN\u2019s sustainable development.<\/p>\n The Green Business College<\/strong><\/p>\n SDG 2 intends to reach zero hunger worldwide, and education is key to working towards that goal. The Green Business College<\/a> in Johannesburg, South Africa, seeks to address this. Not only do their courses like organic gardening, food preservation, and beekeeping address gaps in sustainable food production \u2014 they also empower students to cultivate entrepreneurial aspirations. These courses have allowed graduates to own businesses, such as Tsepiso Moloi\u2019s hot sauces and Ongkopotse Seleka\u2019s Uncle OG\u2019s Jams. It also expands access to healthy food through small farms and fresh produce, addressing Africa\u2019s \u201cdouble burden of<\/p>\n malnutrition,\u201d which refers to both hunger and obesity.<\/p>\n Bridge Kenya<\/strong><\/p>\n SDG 4 seeks to ensure that children and young people access quality education and learning opportunities. Bridge Kenya<\/a> upholds universal access to quality education, by providing educational resources to children from the most underserved communities. Bridge utilizes a technology-powered teaching model that has consistently led students to outperform their peers on national tests. They do this using a model with standardized lesson plans and teacher feedback monitoring that has successfully advanced learning by 1 to 1.5 years.<\/p>\n Able Child Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n SDGs 5 and 6 focus on gender equality and clean water and sanitation \u2014 serious obstacles to inclusivity in educational spaces. This is particularly true for girls with disabilities who are disadvantaged by the lack of knowledge and confidence in managing their hygiene, health, and sanitation practices. Able Child Africa addresses this, having developed a youth-led project that provides disabled girls with resources and education for maintaining good hygiene and reproductive health practices. With funding from Jersey Overseas Aid and in partnership with UWEZO, they empower girls in Musanze, Rwanda, by fostering inclusive spaces. They introduce simple modifications to school facilities and inclusive teaching methods and conduct peer and group mentorship for girls with disabilities to gain more confidence.<\/p>\n Protea Heights Academy<\/strong><\/p>\n SDG 7\u2019s focuses on affordable and clean energy, the adoption of which can allow schools to reallocate funds and resources away from energy bills and maintenance to educational resources. Protea Heights Academy<\/a> in Western Cape, South Africa, has partnered with award-winning global solar micro-leasing marketplace Sun Exchange to power their educational facilities with solar. Already specializing in STEM, Protea Heights Academy empowers its students \u2014 and other educational institutions \u2014 to solve global problems through sustainable means. Through this initiative, they are future-proofing Western Cape schools by reducing their carbon footprint and transitioning to more affordable, clean energy.<\/p>\n