1. Challenge Tackled

Saolta, an Irish word that translates to ‘Worldly Wise’ is the perfect title as the programme will explore a variety of global issues with stakeholders from the Adult and Community Education sector (ACE) along with encouraging action across Irish society. Issues such as poverty, inequality and climate change will feature strongly as areas of engagement.

The programme targets the Adult and Community Education sector in a variety of ways including interactive workshops with Further Education Institutions and Public Participation Networks across the country.

The SDG Advocate Training will offer ACE practitioners an opportunity to represent their organisation, institute or community group, by becoming one of Ireland’s positive changemakers. The seven-month training course will encourage advocates to deepen their understanding of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals and lead transformative change in Ireland through Global Citizenship Education.

Other facets of the programme will involve coaching and mentoring, webinars, networking meetings along with a library of research and resources

2. Target group, beneficiaries or clients

The programme targets the Adult and Community Education sector, teachers/staff at Further Education Institutes/Centres across Ireland.

3. Solution

Further Education Institutes in Ireland offer diverse spaces for lifelong learning, based on the learners’ needs and interests. In the context of sustainable development, they play a crucial role in raising awareness among their students, in providing spaces for discussion and reflection, and in translating the SDGs into practical action at a local level.

Saolta will be working to support Further Education Institutes across Ireland in integrating the SDGs into their teaching and developing ideas to incorporate sustainable ideas in their everyday practice and the life at the institute. Saolta will also be supporting FEs in mapping their goals to strategic SDG actions.

What the project offers is:

• Free SDG training for teachers/staff at Further Education Institutes/Centres across Ireland.
• Distribution of free resources to Further Education Institutes to provide support in the delivery of SDG training and/or the implementation of Global Citizenship Education elements into their teaching practice.
• Support to FE staff in the aligning of strategies and workplans to the SDGs.

4. Innovation

Evidence-based research will be developed, collated and disseminated to inform Global Citizenship Education policy and practice in the Adult and Community Education sector in Ireland.

Mapping of the GCE in the Adult and Community education sector.

https://developmentperspectives.ie/saolta-research

5. Impact

As a core component of Saolta is increasing awareness and action of the Sustainable Development Goals, monthly interactive SDG workshops will be hosted across Ireland. These workshops aim to increase participants awareness of specific SDGs and support groups to integrate the SDGs into their practice and respective communities.

Please contact hanna@developmentperspectives.ie

or

nick@developmentperspectives.ie