Global challenges like climate change, loss of biodiversity, depletion of natural resources, rising food prices, reduced food safety and food security, increasing youth unemployment and conflicts affect the hardest the people who have the least. This threatens equality, democracy and our ability to reach the UN sustainable development goals. Information about and solutions to these global challenges are available. Action is needed!

Children and youth are key to reach the UN sustainable goals. About one third of the 174 million people in Banglades¹ are children and youth. Therefore, EDS is a collaborative learning community where children, youth and adults learn together. We empower children and youth to develop their community in socially, environmentally and economically sustainable ways. They develop transformative skills through action and reflection. They develop skills like the ability to connect to and care for the nature, compassion and empathy, the ability to think, collaborate and take action to drive change and the willpower, endurance and perseverance to follow through.

We develop trust and emphatic relations to our children and youth and create psychologically and physically safe spaces where they can open up, become conscious of their inner resources and start their transformative journey. When they come to EDS, they often believe they have no value, can’t learn and feel they are a burden to their family and community, because their surroundings have treated them this way. They do not know how to get out of this negative spiral. We mentor them towards self-reflection and self-love, to develop self-confidence and realize and use their inner resources. They start to believe:

I AM an able learner!

I AM valuable!

I AM a resource person!

I CAN create positive change for myself, my family and my community!

They start acting in line with their new beliefs and gain hope that they can create a better future for themselves and others!

They connect to their inner resources, our EDS community with the fish/rice/vegetable/fruit tree farm and roof garden and the local community surrounding EDS. They get full responsibility to run EDS and take meaningful roles as change agents, entrepreneurs, mentors, teachers and leaders.

Through site based learning and meaningful engagement with vulnerable children, youth and the nature, the EDS children and youth grow a sense of belonging and love for their surroundings. They develop a strong will to take care of what they love. We see that these feelings are the driving force for sustainable development.

The EDS change agents identify challenges they observe in themselves, the EDS, our fish/rice/vegetable/fruit tree farm and roof garden and the local community. They discuss with their EDS colleagues, plan and implement sustainable solutions because they feel responsible and confident that they are the ones who can make change. They share their initiatives, the process and results in our weekly research meetings for shared, critical reflection and learning.

We work on the UN sustainable development goals related to end poverty and hunger, create good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, climate action, life on land, peace, justice and strong institutions, decent work and economic growth, innovation, reduced inequalities and sustainable communities.

Read on to learn why and how we mentor vulnerable children and youth to become change agents, entrepreneurs and teachers who empower women and encourage connection, play and joy for learning.

1. https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/bangladesh-population