Sustainable Development Goal 8 is an initiative to “promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all.” Established by the United Nations, it is a key to promoting economic empowerment in communities which aligns with United Planet’s mission of bridging communities across borders. Connecting and empowering international communities is our grassroots way of creating a more unified global community. Such a community has the power to overcome the shared challenges that the world faces; challenges such as providing decent work conditions. This is why one of our team members took a flight to New York and be part of the solution.
On Tuesday, June 18th, the United Nations’ Civil Society organized an interesting conference called “Voices from the Mine: Exploring Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 and Decent Work in the Informal Mining Sector”, focused on challenges around the mining (artisanal in particular) sector in Sierra Leone and other parts of the world.
The key points of the discussion that most of the panelists and participants agreed on and advocated for included adopting strategies for a more participative approach to sustainable mining, formalization of the mining sector, and inclusive policies to ensure full participation and shared responsibility of costs and benefits for all. ILO, the World Bank, and all interested parties from the private as well as public sectors are invited to get involved in the process. People essentially aspire for a more inclusive and prosperous world; they would like to see communities where the local voices are heard and included in all aspects of the process – design, implementation, and evaluation; they would like to see communities where everyone benefits from the resources that are being exploited and drawn out of their lands; they aspire to see the locals from their communities live a decent and peaceful life.
In its 2017 report on the Progress of the Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations’ Secretary-General called for the need to strengthen and consolidate the global partnership and cooperation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals [which] require coherent policies, an enabling environment for sustainable development at all levels and by all actors, and a reinvigorated Global Partnership for Sustainable Development,” (United Nations, 2017).
As an international non-profit organization with a mission of bridging communities across borders, United Planet’s approach has always been clear: Connecting people and organizations at the grassroots level, engaging with and building relationships that nurture trust and true partnerships in order to help address our shared challenges. Since 2001, our heroes (volunteers) have been carrying on this mission in various ways helping to build and empower local communities in addressing local challenges in the areas of education, environmental sustainability, and global health.
To continue building upon this mission and further its engagement with communities, United Planet is working with schools – through United Planet School Chapter Program– to help “activate the youth” to develop their global leadership skills and become agents of their own development in their local communities, as would say our Board Member and former Boston School District Superintendent, Dr. Amara. Through this virtual exchange program, students work on community-based projects to learn about issues facing their local communities, develop life skills, and engage in defining their own solutions while sharing and learning about the challenges their peer students from other schools face.
This is how United Planet’s mission aligns with these goals. Now, the question to you is how can you or your organization get involved in helping implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? There are 17 SDGs covering all sectors of the economy. No matter your industry and area of intervention, you can always help! To get involved:
- Choose your Sustainable Development Goal(s)
- Learn about the Specific Target(s) for your SDG(s)
- Engage and implement your SDG(s)
- Assess and Report your Progress
- Celebrate and Maximize your Impact
Need guidance on where to start? Visit the Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Platform, connect with the United Nations Civil Society unit in the Department of Global Communications at the United Nations, or talk to us and we’d be happy to direct you to the right resources. United Planet’s volunteer abroad programs are another resource that can help you make a positive impact on achieving these goals!
Source:
United Nations (2017). Report of the Secretary-General, Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=E/2017/66&Lang=E.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
