Do you have a passion for solving social challenges to improve lives? Do you want to learn about the world’s “to-do list” – the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), empower yourself to become a changemaker and activist through the knowledge in the localized context of the SDGs and where/how you can intervene, innovate, and make an impact?

REGISTER for two afternoons of engaging discussion, skills training, and group activities, and earn a certificate upon completion of this Module.

SDG Training is the first module of our SDG Innovation Lab that aims to raise awareness about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to ensure a foundational understanding of what the goals are, how they came to be, and how participants can become better advocates and champions of sustainable development in their communities. SDG Training empowers participants with the knowledge and skills to become sustainability changemakers. 

What is SDG Innovation Lab?

The SDG Innovation Lab is annual experiential programming to equip individuals with knowledge, skills, motivation, and action plans to contribute toward the achievement of SDG solutions through social entrepreneurship.

This is an initiative to engage the youth, young professionals, and the community as an agent of change to bring about socio-economic and environmental impact through SDG-driven solutions with the use of an entrepreneurial mindset, new business models, and disruptive technologies. 

The SDG Innovation Lab consists of five experiential modules providing comprehensive experiential programming:

• Module 1: SDG Training Bootcamp
• Module 2: Global Goals (SDG) Challenge
• Module 3: Tech for SDG Bootcamp/Hackathon
• Module 4: Build Your Venture (Incubation Experience)
• Module 5: Make Your Venture Investment-ready

SDG Training, Pre-Event activity: You will be provided access to Video modules about a week before the event. Whether you’re a student that has studied the UN SDGs in class or one that has never heard of them before, these short pre-event video modules will give a brief introduction to the UN SDGs through the 5P’s they are categorized into (People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace, Partnerships). Pre-Event Videos will ensure that attendees are prepared with a general understanding of how interdisciplinary and diverse the SDGs are so that they can go into the event engaged and confidently ready to participate. 

SDG Training is a two-part program, first on September 24 and second on October 1, aiming to not only educate participants about the SDGs but to activate changemakers and help them build their ideas into action. 

On the first day on September 24, the activities are led by the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship (FES) and two keynote speakers: Steve Lee, a young climate change activist, a policy advocate to the United Nations, and Executive Director of FES; and Julie Marshall, Canadian Spokesperson for United Nations World Food Programme. Steve Lee, will review the history of sustainable development, the structure of the SDGs (17 goals, 169 targets, 231 indicators), and examples of each of the 17 SDGs implemented by a variety of stakeholders. Julie Marshall will share her experience of UN work around the world with stories from the trenches.

After this main presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to chat with Steve and Julie in a live Q&A.

The second day on October 1st has two sessions. 

First, Localization Session:  A one-hour, adaptable module that will educate and provide students with localized baselines and specific examples of SDGs challenges within the scope of Higher Education and Youth Engagement. 

Second, Action Plan Development Session: A two-hour workshop that equips youth with design thinking skills to develop SDG-focused projects for local implementation. Attendees are grouped with like-minded peers and are challenged to critically think about their sustainability objectives and tangible ways to meet them. This live, module + breakout sessions format provides students with knowledge of the steps needed to create an action plan and the time to collaborate with peers on solutions and implementation design. 

The partner organization (FES)  will also provide participants with certificates issued by this UN-accredited organization which also has a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

About the Speakers:

Steve Lee is a young climate change activist and a policy advocate to the United Nations. Heis the Founder and Executive Director of FES and its 3% Project. Steve has represented the Canadian youth on the issues of Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Youth Empowerment. Steve is personally trained by Al Gore as a Climate Reality Leader and scientifically trained at the University of Toronto in Physiology and Human Biology. An entrepreneur, Steve founded Steve’s Guidebook, a publisher for university study guides, and RevIT2 Solutions, a market research consulting firm for private investment firms.

Julie Marshall is the United Nations World Food Programme’s communications officer and strategic Communications lead in Canada. In her role, she promotes the work of WFP, the world’s leading humanitarian agency, that saves lives in emergencies and changes lives for millions through sustainable development. She briefs the media and organizes interviews, works with private sector partners, our goodwill ambassadors and manages Canadian social media channels, creates and promotes both online and offline campaigns, and manages outreach to schools and universities. 

Prior to joining WFP, Julie worked in public relations and marketing roles in both Canada and the UK and now lives in Stoney Creek, Ontario Canada.

JOIN US for our SDG Training sessions and let’s work for a better planet together!