Real World Learning’s Post

Exploring the Future of Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Development Last week, I had the privilege of presenting Aflatoun International’s evidence-based approach to Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Development (ECE for SD) during the webinar "From Nature Walks to Piggy Banks: Aflatot’s Holistic Path to Sustainable Early Childhood Education." Today, I am thrilled to share the report and key insights from this journey, highlighting the critical need for a holistic approach to ECE for SD that integrates social, environmental, and financial education. This aligns seamlessly with global objectives, including the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key Takeaways from the Report: 1-Holistic Education Beyond Climate: ECE for SD should move beyond climate education to include social and financial literacy, creating a more comprehensive foundation for development. 2-Social Skills: Aflatot programs significantly enhance children's social, emotional, and behavioral skills, fostering educational success, inclusion, mental health, and social cohesion. 3-Environmental Awareness: Teaching delayed gratification, self-control, and sustainable consumption habits nurtures young children's understanding of environmental stewardship. 4-Financial Literacy: Early financial education equips children with essential habits like saving, resource management, and distinguishing between needs and wants. Insights from the Report: Drawing on 28 studies across 14 countries, the report focuses on how Aflatot programs reach vulnerable and underserved communities. Key elements of success include: EMPOWERING EDUCATORS: Teachers play a pivotal role in delivering meaningful learning experiences. FAMILY INVOLVEMENT: Engaging parents enhances resilience and learning beyond the classroom. LOCALISATION: Adapting curricula to local contexts ensures relevance and impact. The report also identifies a number of future research questions which will further help shape impactful policies and programs, equipping children to thrive in a changing world. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eY-qeqam & a summary brief here: https://lnkd.in/eCN-gwKA Let’s continue to invest in holistic early education, empowering the youngest generation to become agents of positive change. Together, we can build a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future. #EarlyChildhoodEducation #SustainableDevelopment #FinancialLiteracy #AflaTot #Aflatoun #EducationForAll #SDGs #ECE #ECD

🌟 A Decade Later: Lessons from Kindergarten Revisited 🌟 Almost 10 years ago, I shared the timeless wisdom of Robert Fulghum’s essay, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." Back then, it was a beautiful reminder of simplicity and shared humanity. Today, as a mother to a curious and creative 4-year-old, this piece resonates with even greater meaning. 💛👩👧 The lessons of kindergarten—sharing, playing fair, cleaning up our messes, and holding hands when stepping out into the world—are not just for children. They are foundational values for how we live, lead, and shape our future. 🌍✨ These principles also have profound implications for sustainability: ✔️ “Put things back where you found them” reminds us of the importance of preserving natural resources for future generations. ✔️ “Clean up your own mess” is a call to action for reducing waste, addressing environmental harm, and taking responsibility for our ecological footprint. ✔️ “Don’t take things that aren’t yours” speaks to the equitable use of resources and the importance of social justice. ✔️ “Hold hands and stick together” reminds us that collaboration and empathy are essential to building a resilient and sustainable world. Having my daughter has brought a new depth to these ideas. Teaching her to care for her toys, to share with friends, or to respect nature during a walk also mirrors the work I do professionally in sustainability and ESG. Whether nurturing the next generation or fostering a more sustainable business landscape, the goal is the same: to leave the world better than we found it. 🌱💚 What if we carried these simple yet profound kindergarten lessons into everything we do—our policies, our workplaces, and our communities? The world would undoubtedly be a better place. ✨ #Sustainability #Parenting #Leadership #ESG #SharedHumanity #KindergartenWisdom #FutureGenerations

In 2019, a group of one hundred education leaders made a bold pledge to ensure that learner-centered education reaches every child in the country. In this piece, Demi Edwards explores how this pledge is taking shape in communities across the country. With the launch of the Learner-Centered Ecosystem Exploration Lab, we are exploring alongside a dozen communities how learning is embedded into the fabric of local systems while building cross-sector coalitions that fuel innovation and create lasting change. https://bit.ly/4dsj6Ye

On #InternationalHappinessDay, I am happy to share UNESCO’s new Happy Schools report and framework, which advocates for the global recognition of the link between happiness and learning in education policy and practice.   Scientific evidence on how the human brain learns best shows that happiness at school can serve as a key lever for better and wider learning experiences and outcomes. This research has informed the holistic Happy Schools framework, grounded in 4 pillars – people, process, place and principles – and 12 high-level criteria.   People: This aims to enhance the interpersonal relationships, physical and socio-emotional well-being and positive attitudes and attributes of all individuals within school communities.   Process: It targets transforming curricula, pedagogy and assessment systems to leverage active, engaging, meaningful, socially interactive, iterative and joyful learning.   Place: This intends to transform both physical and digital spaces to make schools healthier, safer and more inclusive community hubs.   Principles: It emphasizes the fundamental values of trust, inclusion and empowerment that bind together school communities.   In addition to being a means to better learning, happiness should also be a goal of quality education. Prioritizing happiness in education is not a luxury, nor a trade-off with academic rigor. Joy can and should permeate everyday school experiences, part and parcel of learning and teaching.   From policy-makers to school leaders to teachers, we encourage all education actors to join the Happy Schools initiative and commit to making schools happier places. If we want happy lifelong learners and teachers, and if we want resilient and collaborative societies, then we need happy schools. https://lnkd.in/epNMkubW

Education 4.0 revolutionizes childhood education through eight transformative learning content and delivery shifts, outlined in "Schools of the Future." According to World Economic Forum to operationalize Education 4.0 and enable all children to have access to transformative #learning, this set of work includes three key mechanisms for impact: • Skills Alignment: The Education 4.0 Taxonomy defines crucial emerging skills, shaping childhood education content. • Showcasing model examples: Education 4.0 Lighthouses exemplify effective public-private collaborations fostering essential skills directly within schools. • Piloting at the country level: Education Accelerators drive Education 4.0 implementation nationally, piloting lighthouses, and sharing best practices globally. Below, check out the eight transformations for learning content and delivery in primary and secondary #education to better prepare the next generation for the future of work and societies. For more information about Education 4.0 click here: https://lnkd.in/eVxKta9i

Why the world needs happy schools So much of Happy School idea resonates with me and the work we do at Speakers Trust 💪trust, empowerment and inclusion as foundations 😀 building confidence and mental well-being 👭 growing empathy and social cohesion 👩🎨 creativity based learning experiences ⚖️ balanced curriculum and holistic assessment We develop speaking skills in young people - not just because it helps their academic and career aspirations But because the skills contribute to happier, more confident individuals and communities. #InternationalHappinessDay

Measure a school by the smiles adorning the faces of its students!! It is great to see the report has truly embraced diversity - “Happiness is ultimately a subjective concept, viewed differently across people and cultures. Therefore, the Happy Schools initiative does not provide a fixed, universal definition of happiness, nor does it prescribe indicators or standards to measure happiness at the individual level”. It is wonderful to see the alignment of the Pillars of Happiness with IB Education especially the the Process - curriculum, pedagogy and assessments & Principles - trust, inclusion and empowerment! Have a happy day! #internationalbaccalaureate

I am jot sure if schools should be targeting happiness as an objective. It is a state of one's mind. what might be a better objective fir education is flourishing. It is about building the competencies of emotion and self regulation, emphaty and compassion. Lets use science and evidence to guide our education. Look at UNESCO best kep secret, the MGIEP ISEE Assessment report for guidance on how to actually implement an educationfir flourishing.

🌟 Happy Children’s Day! 🌟 Today, we celebrate the incredible potential of every child around the world. Children are our greatest treasure, and their dreams are the seeds of our future. As we honor this special day, let’s renew our commitment to providing **quality and sustainable education** that equips them with the skills and innovations needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world. ✔ Empower Through Education Education is the cornerstone of a brighter future. It should be inclusive, equitable, and accessible to all children, regardless of their background. Quality education goes beyond textbooks; it nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity. Let’s advocate for learning environments that inspire and challenge our young minds. ✔ Sustainable Learning for a Sustainable Future Incorporating sustainability into education ensures that our children understand the importance of preserving our planet. By teaching them about environmental stewardship, renewable energy, and sustainable practices, we empower them to become guardians of our world. Sustainable education is not just about the environment but also about fostering a culture of empathy, respect, and social responsibility. ✔ Skills for Tomorrow The world is changing rapidly, and our education systems must evolve to keep pace. Let’s focus on equipping children with essential skills for the future—digital literacy, coding, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Hands-on learning and real-world applications will prepare them for the challenges and opportunities ahead. ✔ Innovate to Elevate Innovation is the key to progress. Encouraging children to think outside the box and approach problems with creative solutions will drive future advancements. Let’s support initiatives that provide opportunities for young innovators to experiment, create, and lead. Their fresh perspectives can lead to groundbreaking discoveries and positive change. On this Children’s Day, let’s pledge to work together towards a world where every child has access to a holistic and forward-thinking education. By investing in our children today, we are building a foundation for a prosperous, sustainable, and innovative tomorrow. 🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺🗺 ✨ 🗞 Every child deserves the chance to shine.🗞✨ #ChildrensDay #QualityEducation #SustainableLearning #FutureSkills #Innovation #Empowerment #EducationForAll

Teach4SDGs- Cohort 4 The first workshop series comes after the Opening Ceremony with two speakers: Amanda Abrom who takes us on the 17 SDGs progress globally. She states that report has shown from September 2015 to 2030, record has shown that no country is on track to achieve all the SDGs- meaning we have a lot go do and a long way to go, which can start from me and you. As she said during the Q&A session, that financial strain, pandemic and individual issue/differences which also depends on the country all result to the outcome of the SDGs track progress. So, an educator today can pick 2 to 3 SDGs and make it an activity to work on with students. This and more would boost the record track. One of the definitions of SDGs: it meets the needs of present without compromising the ability of the future needs. And the five dimensions of SDG are: People> Prosperity > Peace > Partnership> Planet. While Education for SDG aims at Knowledge > Skills> Attitude > Values. Fast forward to the second speaker Dr Charles Nwisheienyi , he speaks on Grants application and Pitching. When applying for grants, don't rush into sending proposals, follow instructions and know what the grantor assigned and need from you. He listed Tips for writing Grant Propsals: - Identify needs: know what you need - Develop Budget: outline plan - Create Timeline: - Define Goals: show realistic outcomes He also outline steps on How to structure the pitch, Key Pitch Component- knowing investors, customers, partners, volunteers, and more, like the what to do and not do on seeking fundings and also reports. Lastly, you can check the video in YouTube for more from him and here on LinkedIn also. P.S: You can learn more from Amanda and her colleagues or even ask questions on globalschoolsprogram.org