Building Resilience Through SDG Education: Reaching Displaced People and Local Communities

The Civil 20 India Working Group on Sustainable and Resilient Communities, alongside the UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development, organized multiple training sessions focused on Sustainable Development, Disaster Resilience, and Energy Literacy. These sessions were aimed at building SDG literacy and resilience among local community members from colleges, universities, and schools. With over 200 participants, these sessions not only provided essential knowledge but also awarded certificates to recognize the commitment of the attendees.

A notable two-day Disaster Resilience workshop was held in Sikkim, in collaboration with the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), International Consortium on Landslides (ICL), and the International Program on Landslides (IPL). This event drew 85 participants from institutions such as Nar Bahadur Bhandari Government College, Deorali Govt Girls’ Senior Secondary School, and Tadong Senior Secondary School. The workshop focused on building civilian and community resilience, equipping participants with practical skills for disaster preparedness and response.

A Level I training session on Sustainable Development Concepts was conducted at Janata Bhavan Hall in Gangtok, engaging 34 teachers from local schools. Topics included SDG formulation, ecology, community sustainability assessments, and participatory methods like Participatory Rural Appraisal. The program introduced SREE (Sustainability and Resilience for Community Engagement and Empowerment), an indigenous platform for sustainability assessment, along with insights into NITI Aayog’s initiatives. Following this, Mrs. Ranjana Lama, an arts teacher, conducted an awareness session in her school, emphasizing the role of sustainable practices in daily life and fostering a culture of sustainability within her community.