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Welcome to the World’s Largest Lesson! We’re a small team of 6 who are (most of the time) based in the UK. We’re Alison, Kinvara, Jack, Noreen, Nour & Alysha and we all have a huge passion for quality education and the Global Goals! From all of us here at World’s Largest Lesson, thank you to you for your continued support.

Alison Bellwood, Executive Director 

Alison is a creative communications expert with a specific focus on children and education. She has worked extensively with some of the world’s most recognised brands (PepsiCo, Unilever, Nestlé). In 2014 Alison joined Project Everyone to create the World’s Largest Lesson which aims to build a generation of young Global Goals “champions”, taking action to make the world a better place for everyone. Working alongside founding partner UNICEF and many others, our World’s Largest Lesson team develops creative tools for learning and engages millions of children in over 120 countries in its annually themed learning experiences.

Kinvara Jardine Paterson, Director

Kinvara believes in the power of education as one of the best ways to achieve the Global Goals. She started her career as a teacher through the Teach First programme in London. As a director for World’s Largest Lesson (WLL) Kinvara brings creative resources for learning about the Global Goals to life. She recently produced WLL Live, an inaugural YouTube show to inspire youth action for the Goals, featuring UN leaders and popular teen personalities like Millie Bobby Brown. Kinvara works alongside UNICEF to continue to expand the programme which has now reached over 15 million young people.

Jack Davies, Senior Programme Manager

Jack is the Programme Manager for the World’s Largest Lesson team where he manages Generation Earthshot, in partnership with The Earthshot Prize and The Royal Foundation. Before joining Project Everyone Jack studied Politics and Philosophy and spent 7 years working on education projects in Bristol, Manchester and London – from national teacher training programmes to coaching football to 3 year olds! He is an ambassador for TeachSDGs and UNLEASH Innovation Labs, and a UNITE 2030 Youth Delegate.

Noreen Kassam, Programme Manager

Noreen builds and manages relationships with educators, NGOs, and delivery partners across the world to roll-out exciting and impactful learning programmes. Prior to this, she was an events manager supporting the international education community in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Originally from Burundi, Noreen is passionate about creating equal opportunities and removing barriers to education for every single child in the world, as she believes that education is the key to a better, brighter and more sustainable future.

Nour Alswaid, Programme Manager

Nour supports the day to day running of World’s Largest Lesson by liaising with partners and monitoring communications with them and managing the creation of learning resources alongside the Senior Campaign Manager. Nour has over seven years’ experience in the humanitarian sector and has worked with many organisations, including UNICEF and Mercy Corps. Before joining Project Everyone’s team Nour did an MA degree in Conflict, Security, and Development at University of Sussex. Nour is positive that education is your faithful ally to create the change and make the SDGs a reality

Alysha Alva, Marketing & Communications Executive

Alysha leads the marketing & communication channels for the World’s Largest Lesson team. She works to create more awareness amongst educators worldwide on teaching the Sustainable Development Goals and embedding the sustainability competencies within their curriculum/programming. Alysha has over seven years experience in the non-profit sector where she worked for AIESEC, the world’s largest youth-led organisation. Alysha is passionate about meaningful youth engagement on the global stage and believes that youth leadership and quality education are the keys to achieving the Global Goals by 2030.

WORLD’S LARGEST LESSON HAS CREATED A YOUTH ADVISORY PANEL!

One of the amazing members of the Advisory Panel which is made up of children from 18 different countries around the world, shared their amazing work for the Global Goals.

Here, Ishan, explains what he is doing to take action for the Global Goals.

”Hello, My name is Ishan Dhodapkar and I started a project called the T1D project. Our main aim is to spread awareness on type 1 diabetes.

The T1D project is an initiative/project that aims to spread awareness strictly on type 1 diabetes. We started this project because type 1 diabetes is not talked about as much. When someone thinks of diabetes, their mind usually goes to type 2 diabetes. We want more people to be aware of type 1 diabetes and therefore we decided to start spreading awareness.

We specifically decided to start spreading awareness on type 1 diabetes because the incidence rates have been increasing drastically in the last few years, especially since the pandemic. India currently has the most number of type 1 diabetes cases and being students who live in India, we decided to do our part by starting to spread awareness in our local areas.

Our mission is very simple. To spread awareness on type 1 diabetes in children. We don’t want them to be affected by the symptoms and we want them to avoid any severe complications from this condition. This can all be achieved by spreading awareness. We have also been able to scale our initiative, allow our volunteers to work under different segments, host events and even raise money.

We have been active for nearly 9 months, and we want to continue on our journey of spreading awareness on type 1 diabetes.

Our links

https://linktr.ee/thet1dproject

The World’s Largest Lesson 2021 program series in Hungary was held for the seventh time between 4^th– 8^thOctober 2021. The program was supported by the Ministry of Human Resources, UNICEF and the Hungarian National Committee of UNESCO. The program was organized by PontVelem Nonprofit Ltd.

Presidential Lesson

The World’s Largest Lesson program series began on 4^th October 2021 with President János Áder’s lesson on climate change. The lesson was held at the Prohászka Ottokár Catholic Grammar School and Mr. Csaba Kőrösi – who played a key role in drafting the UN’s SDGs as a co-chair for the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals – also honoured the event.

More than 300 students participated in the lesson personally, and several thousand students followed the lesson online – as the lesson was streamed live throughout the entire Carpathian Basin. The President talked about the basic questions of climate change, and he also answered questions from the students. The Presidential Lesson is available online (only in Hungarian).

World’s Largest Lesson – Program in Hungary

During the World’s Largest Lesson between 4^th-8^th October 2021, teachers across the country held lessons about climate change and the quality of education. Educational materials were prepared by the international organizers and were translated into Hungarian, furthermore the authors of the Hungarian Green Earth textbook about sustainability also supported the program with relevant lesson plans.

Messages of Hungarian students to leaders of the world

Hungarian students can upload their messages about climate change to the Hungarian website of the World’s Largest Lesson until 31^st October 2021. These messages will be presented at the Planet Budapest 2021 Sustainability Expo and World Meeting held between 29th November – 5th December 2021, where the world’s leading policy makers, academics and senior officials from international organizations will be present.

Become a climate changemaker!

Another element of the Hungarian WLL program is an open call for students to take action against climate change. Groups of students can apply with an activity or a program plan that helps to find and implement solutions to a climate change related local problem. The call is open until 31^st October and the best applications are going to receive valuable prizes.

In June we invited students from schools across London to explore the Forest for change. Here are some of their reflections.

On Tuesday 22^nd June 2021, six children (including myself) went to Somerset house to see the ‘Forest for Change’. Within the forest, were 17 large mirrored pillars showing the UN Global Goals. We met Philip Jaffa, the forest architect who designed the Forest for Change. After we had a tour of this fascinating forest, we all got to draw parts of the forest from our point of view. I paired up with my friend and we drew the little grey mushrooms, a Norway Maple tree, ferns plus pink and yellow leaves. Each pillar in the forest had a quote from an influential person, including Greta Thunberg, David Attenborough, Michelle Obama and Nelson Mandela. Around the forest were rocks with people’s global requests for the UN. If I had a goal, it would be for there to be fewer starving children in the world.

Keti, Hugh Myddelton School

On Tuesday 22^nd June 2021, myself and five other classmates ventured to Somerset House where we had a leisurely stroll to the mesmerising Forest for Change.  We admired the 400 trees and the 17 Global Goal pillars which promise a better future for generations to come. After we explored the wondrous forest, we met the forest architect, Philip Jaffa, and Lucy who represented Islington Clean Air Parents. Then we felt the wonderful leaves and the different, unique textures of each of them. Scattered around the calming atmosphere there were hidden stones which had a global goal written on them. In the centre of the forest, seventeen Global Goal pillars stood tall and proud, each as crucial as the other with inspirational quotes from Nelson Mandela to Greta Thunberg inscribed onto them. When we finished reading the goals, we drew beautiful sketches of the forest. We feel so lucky that some of the trees we saw that day are coming to our school. Going there has taught me the beauty of trees and nature.

Ipar, Hugh Myddelton School

On Tuesday 22^nd June 2021, my classmates and I took a stroll through London to Somerset House to see the Forest for Change. We met some really nice and inspirational people there as well as Philip Jaffa (the forest architect) who told us about his inspiration to bring together the trees into one big, majestic and mind-blowing forest. We got to walk around the forest and feel the different textures of the bark and leaves. My personal favourite was the hazel birch tree. Within the forest, there was a mesmerising inner circle with 17 global goals inscribed onto mirrored pillars. Each pillar had a goal which explained facts about that goal as well as a quote from an inspirational person.  Figures included Nelson Mandela, Michelle Obama, Helen Keller and Greta Thunberg. My favourite quote was, “Many live without love but no-one without water.” There were 16 goals in total and the last pillar was for us to make our own goal. My global goal would be for there to be peace in the world and to stop violence everywhere

Dalya, Hugh Myddelton School

It is such a delight to go on trips again and immerse ourselves into the best that London has to offer.  We had an amazing experience at the Somerset House at the “Forest for Change” project. Within Somerset house it has always been prohibited to grow trees as part of an exhibition. This year as part of the Somerset House “Biennale” exhibition; Es Devlin decided to challenge this rule. He chose to bring a forest to the city to help us reflect upon their value to the globe. From our visit we reflected upon the legacy of forests and their role in the fight against climate change. We learnt about the importance of flora for our ecosystem and its positive impact on our environment. In fact, the “forest architect” shared with us that 30 “forests” the size of the exhibition would equate to enough carbon capture to remedy 300 flights to Australia. Whilst the range of trees on exhibition each serve a purpose within a coniferous climate. The floral diversity that we saw was fascinating and the experience made me ponder about the intricate relationships between each living being on our planet.

I enjoyed getting lost within the forest and exploring the odors of pine, the warmth of the red filbert hazel and the texture of the sequoia. I quietly relished the gentle time to myself to draw and reflect in nature. I reflected upon which of the trees around me will be present in Southwark when I am an old man.

Morisi, Harris Academy Peckham

WORLD’S LARGEST LESSON HAS CREATED A YOUTH ADVISORY PANEL!

The Advisory Panel is made up of children from 18 different countries around the world, all of whom share their ideas and feedback on how WLL can help to support children take action for the Global Goals. We’ll be highlighting the work these amazing group are doing throughout the year – so look out for future updates!

Here, Mar from Spain, explains what her school is doing to take action for the Global Goals.

“Hello! In my school we are doing many projects to make the world a better place. First of all, my school is a green school, we recycle a lot, we have many different coloured containers to distinguish what garbage goes there.

For example, in the blue bin we put in paper.

In the yellow bin we throw in juice and milk containers to be recycled.

We are also doing projects in class to learn how the planet is changing, because it’s changing very fast and we have to stop it.

In Science class we are doing a project of water. We are talking about the quality of water in our cities and the scarcity of water in some places. We are learning a lot. Now we know that a lot of women and children, around the world have to walk many hours every day to obtain drinkable water.

In English class we asked our parents and grandparents questions, by doing this we could see that the world has changed a lot since our parents and grandparents were younger. Now there’s more pollution and the air is more polluted so this affects our health. We are making actions to reduce pollution in our cities and to have better health. How much the planet has changed has encouraged us to try to improve it, each one doing an action to save the world.”

Our school goal is to reduce pollution around the planet. We think that if we reduce pollution in schools, we can contribute a small part to improving the world!”

Mar

World’s Largest Lesson has recently created a Youth Advisory Panel!

The Advisory Panel is made up of children from 18 different countries around the world, all of whom share their ideas and feedback on how WLL can help to support children take action for the Global Goals. We’ll be highlighting the work these amazing group are doing throughout the year – so look out for future updates!

Here, Dharma aged 11 from Jordan, explains how she takes action for the Global Goals by supporting the Green Wheels initiative and why she thinks taking care of our planet is important. 

“Green Wheels is an initiative that helps poor and disabled kids in Jordan as well as helping to heal the planet at the same time. “Green” in Green Wheels stands for helping the planet and spreading green all over the world, and “Wheels” stands for the wheelchairs that we help to buy. The idea is simple. We collect disposable plastic items such as the caps from water bottles, soda cans and more. Once we have a large amount we sell them to factories to recycle them. Then Green Wheels uses this money to buy wheelchairs for disabled children as well as other essential supplies. I have been collecting plastic items for over two years now.

My favourite part in taking action for the Global Goals is motivating the people around me in my community to collect plastic bottle caps. I feel really proud when I receive items collected by toddlers and younger children because I feel like I have played a part in helping them to understand how to protect our planet and each other. 

My goal is to save the planet!”

Dharma

For the 6^th time World’s Largest Lesson has been celebrated in Denmark, this year joined by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary!

Every year World’s Best News and more than 45 organizations behind the Danish version of World’s Largest Lesson ‘Verdenstimen’ and the Municipality of Copenhagen invite students from local schools to a special live edition of World’s Largest Lesson. The event takes place in the beautiful Copenhagen Townhall.

For the second year, Crown Princess Mary joined the event together with the Minister for Development, Mr. Rasmus Prehn and selected students, teachers and partners from Verdenstimen. The event was designed to be fun, thought-provoking and entertaining at the same time. ‘Lakserytteren’ who is a famous influencer in Denmark and ambassador for UNICEF was invited to draw ‘The World’s Best Drawing’ during the event. And everyone played corona safe football for the Global Goals.

Because of covid-19 restrictions of the number of participants was less than normal. Instead we invited schools all over Denmark to participate in a Live Streaming on Facebook. Over 1,200 people participated in the event online.

Photocredit: Lasse Bak Mejlvang/World’s Best News

Our amazing community of educators have been teaching students about the Global Goals and inspiring the next generation of change makers. 

To celebrate World Teachers’ Day, here’s a small selection of some of their brilliant work.

Bhavna Mathew – IBPYP Educator at Pathways World School, India

Bhavna has been teaching her students about the Global Goals with a focus on protecting our planet. As well as using World’s Largest Lesson resources, they have taken part in two brilliant partner projects: the Global Goals Project and the Climate Action Project. They are a great way to connect with other schools while teaching the Global Goals – check them out!

You can see a video compiling some of Bhavna’s students’ work below.

Mary Paterson – Head Teacher of Dunbarney Primary School, UK

Mary describes how she and her team have been working during lockdown: “Whilst the school building was closed, students carried on learning at home. In May and June we had a whole school focus on Global Goals. Our theme was: We all have a responsibility to make small changes and collectively we can make a difference.

To keep parents and the wider community involved and informed we shared information about this learning via Facebook and Twitter. We used SWAY via Office 360 to collate the learning.”

Click the links below to find out more.

Primary 6: Inequalities

Primary 4: Explorers and World Water Day

Primary 1: Setting our Global Goals

Tony Muchiri – Teacher at Crawford International School, Kenya

Alongside his teaching, Tony is author of several leadership books and a leadership consultant. You can find out more about Tony’s work here.

#OBEC Young Leaders for SDGs, Thailand

The Ministry of Education in Thailand has been doing fantastic work to train the next generation of SDG educators – across the whole country!

In August this year they held a national workshop called Train the Teachers of SDGs. The workshop led to the creation of teams of master trainers, who will go on to train and mentor teachers for the national SDG youth leadership programme.

Monica Durning – Teacher at St Columba’s High School, UK

Finally, Monica has been teaching students about SDG 13: Climate Action using our brand new climate learning resources in their art and design class, where they made some recycled face masks!

A huge thank you to all the educators helping children and young people teaching children about the Global Goals. To join our community sign up to the newsletter here and if you’d like to share your own work get in touch!

During lockdown educators and parents have been using the new Explorers for the Global Goals activities to keep kids learning.

Explorers for the Global Goals is a set of colourful characters and fun activities for ages 4-8. Children can develop 5 key characteristics – empathy, curiosity, problem solving, creativity and effective communication – and grow up to change the world!

Below are some of our favourite photos sent on social media using #GlobalGoalsExplorers. Check out the activities here and send us some photos of your own tagging @theworldslesson on social media!

Dunbarney Primary School, UK

Teachers used the Explorers resources as part of their online learning curriculum. Children and their parents took part in all five activities and sent in photos as evidence of their work. Older students also took part in wider discussions around the Global Goals.

Bantaskin Primary School, UK

Waverley Kindergarten, New York

This year we collaborated with Empatico to develop a fellowship programme to connect educators and students from around the world with each other and learn about the Global Goals together.

Educators were connected to a partner teacher and over the course of online interactions with their partner class, students were introduced to the Global Goals, and shared ideas on how they could take action for the Goals in and outside their classrooms.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 causing school closures throughout 2020, the fellowship was cut short. However, our fellows did an incredible job adapting learning to fit around this incredibly disruptive time for students. In total 30 incredible educators completed our 2020 Fellowship.

Hear from one of our successful fellows Vanashree Nair to learn more:

“From locating the country on the world map to learning everything about that country was what we did for the next few and got prepared for our first exchange.

On the day of our first exchange when we finally got to see our new friends, we felt so happy and we’re really enthusiastic about learning new things together. Later on, the partner class showed their classroom and their best out of waste art works and exchanged the current understanding of SDG’s.

As the discussion moved further, we understood the role of a SDG Goalkeeper and pledged to be one, for our own community. We decided to focus on reducing our paper wastage and plastic consumption rates within our own classroom. This experience was something my kids have never gotten from any sort of textbook out there. 

It was so nice to see Mumtahima who happened to be a Teach for Bangladesh fellow, working so hard in her classroom and thus providing her kids with international exposure. Her classroom was extremely beautiful and the kind of love and compassion she operated within her classroom inspired me and motivated me to incorporate love as a core theme in our classroom as well.

I have found a friend in Mumtahina who has always enquired about me and my kids and has always shown love and care towards my kiddos. Through the respectful lesson planning session, WhatsApp chats and frequent emails we have got to learn more about each other. This trans-border experience has changed my thoughts about relationships and virtual learning.

I have recommended the fellowship to a couple of friends already. I would like to continue teaching my kids more about SDGs and to run a project within the community along with my kids which would be based on the SDGs aligned with the problems that persist in the community.”

Thank you to all our 2020 Fellows!