India: RiseUp4Peace drives educational transformation and student leadership on peace, integrity and lawfulness

Salem, India/19 July 2024: “My takeaway from the discussions has been that as educators, our role is not merely to teach but to inspire our young to resist and counter social challenges. Our classroom interactions must guide our students in becoming active participants in building a just and peaceful society.”

This powerful sentiment, shared by a group of educators at UNODC’s RiseUp4Peace capacity boosting workshop in Salem, Tamil Nadu, encapsulates the essence of why education on SDG16 is so vital. Equipping students with the knowledge and skills to understand and uphold the rule of law, peace and integrity remains an imperative to foster social stability and equity.

Over 120 educators from public, private and rural schools in Salem explored this at length in the workshop, held in collaboration with the Sri Seshaas International Public School. In discussions with Mr. Samarth Pathak, UNODC Communications Officer for South Asia, and Dr. Satya Bhushan, Assistant Professor, NCERT, educators reflected on and developed practical strategies to integrate these core values into the classroom, with meaningful dialogues and collaborative activities.

Together, they reflected on crucial themes such as cyber safety, anti-discrimination, anti-corruption, mental health, and gender equality. As academic expert and educator Mr. Ayyapparaj Mani expressed while sharing good practices in SDG16 education, “Focusing on these critical themes is a need of the hour. We must not just teach concepts but instill values that will shape our students’ futures.”

The initiative’s impact reverberated through the student community, where the enthusiasm and creativity were palpable. Over 100 students from eight schools took part in an engaging dialogue on SDG16, transforming their newfound knowledge into actionable projects. These students showcased innovative initiatives such as a cyber awareness app, a web portal for documenting SDG16 activities, a peer-led network to tackle discrimination, and school drop boxes for anonymous grievances.

Their energy and commitment were further reflected in a school-led SDG16 Fest, where over students displayed their creativity and research through dynamic posters, presentations, and performances. This festival, touching over 1200 students, highlighted values of SDG16 and students’ readiness to lead change in their communities. Classrooms were transformed into vibrant spaces showcasing students' artwork, tech tools, and other advocacy products developed during the workshop. Two sixth-grade students even developed a website dedicated to action on the SDGs, featuring researched advocacy materials on key themes.

The success of the workshop is a testament to the power of collaborative efforts in education. By mobilizing educators and students alike, the RiseUp4Peace initiative is creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the classroom, fostering a broader culture of peace and integrity within the community.

"Educators play a pivotal role in shaping young minds and fostering a culture of peace and integrity,” said Dr. Vasanthi Thiagarajan, veteran educationalist. "We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and creativity of both educators and students in Salem and look forward to build on such efforts," said Ms. Sailaja Rajesh, SSIPS Principal.

The activity contributed to SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/