Tag / Resilience

by Champions for Change

SDG 14 and 6: Embracing Waters. Nature’s Ingenuity in Flood Management

Letā€™s dive deeper into understanding how Nature Based Solutions can be the cornerstone of our resilience against floods, ensuring a sustainable and secure future for all. šŸŒšŸ’¦

In our quest for sustainability and resilience, nature offers unparalleled solutions, particularly in mitigating the impacts of floods. This blog explores nature-based solutions (NBS) for flood management, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 and 14, which advocate for clean water and sanitation for all and the conservation of life below water, respectively.

Floods are among the most common natural disasters, affecting millions worldwide. Their impact on communities, economies, and ecosystems can be devastating. Yet, nature itself holds the key to mitigating these effects through innovative and sustainable methods. Wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs play crucial roles in absorbing floodwaters, filtering pollutants, and protecting shorelines from erosion. These natural buffers not only safeguard human habitats but also support biodiversity and foster clean waterways, directly contributing to the goals of SDG 6 and SDG 14.

However, the integration of NBS in urban planning and disaster risk management requires a paradigm shift towards valuing and conserving these natural defences. It calls for community involvement, policy support, and interdisciplinary research to implement effective and inclusive flood management strategies.

Through NBS, we can envisage a future where our relationship with water is not one of conflict but coexistence. By harnessing the wisdom of traditional practices, particularly those of First Nations communities who have lived harmoniously with land and water for millennia, we can design solutions that are not only efficient but also equitable and culturally sensitive.

Let’s dive deeper into understanding how NBS can be the cornerstone of our resilience against floods, ensuring a sustainable and secure future for all. šŸŒšŸ’¦

#SustainableFuture #WaterConservation #CommunityAction šŸŒæšŸ’§ #NatureHeals #SDG6 #SDG14″

 

by Champions for Change

SDG 3. Reusable Learning Artefact to Promote Student Well-Being with the Healthy Habits Tracker Project

This blog series is a call to action. Itā€™s a toolkit for teachers, students, and families who want to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. Whether youā€™re a seasoned educator or a curious learner, this series will equip you with practical strategies, inspiring stories, and creative ideas to tackle the SDGs head-on.

Today we are focusing on SDG 3 Promoting Well-Being using the The Healthy Habits Tracker Project

Introduction

In our ever-changing world, health and well-being have taken centre stage. From the global pandemic to everyday stressors, our physical and mental health are more critical than ever. As educators, we have a unique opportunity to empower our students to take charge of their well-being. Enter the Healthy Habits Tracker ProjectĀ ā€“ an initiative designed to promote healthy living, foster global citizenship, and align withĀ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3): ā€œEnsure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.ā€

What Is SDG 3?

SDG 3 is a call to action for governments, communities, and individuals to prioritize health and well-being. It encompasses a wide range of targets, including maternal health, mental health, substance abuse prevention, and universal health coverage. But SDG 3 goes beyond physical health; it recognizes that well-being includes mental, emotional, and social aspects.

The Healthy Habits Tracker Project

Objective:

The Healthy Habits Tracker Project aims to empower students to monitor and improve their health habits. By tracking nutrition, physical activity, and mental well-being, students become active participants in their own well-being journey.

Implementation Steps:

  1. Introduction and Goal Setting:
    • Educate students about SDG 3 and its relevance.
    • Set clear goals for the project: What habits will students track? What improvements do they want to achieve?
  2. Health Habit Questionnaire:
    • Assess studentsā€™ current habits using a questionnaire.
    • Discuss results and identify areas for improvement.
  3. Create a Healthy Habits Tracker Template:
    • Design a daily tracker template covering nutrition, exercise, sleep, and emotions.
    • Encourage creativity in layout and design.
  4. Set Personalized Goals:
    • Help students set specific, achievable goals for each habit area.
    • Emphasize realistic progress over perfection.
  5. Daily Tracking and Reflection:
    • Teach students how to use the tracker.
    • Schedule reflection sessions to discuss challenges and successes.
  6. Visualization and Celebration:
    • Create graphs or charts to visualize progress.
    • Celebrate milestones and achievements as a class.

Parent Involvement:

  • Virtual Workshops: Host online workshops for parents on health-related topics.
  • Digital Communication: Use emails or school apps to share updates and resources.
  • Recorded Sessions: Make recorded sessions available for parents who canā€™t attend live.
  • Social Media Engagement: Create a health-focused page where parents can interact.

Long-Term Impact:

  • The Healthy Habits Tracker becomes a school tradition.
  • Parents and students continue to prioritize well-being beyond the project.
  • A healthier, happier school community emerges.

Conclusion

The Healthy Habits Tracker Project isnā€™t just about tracking steps or counting calories; itā€™s about fostering a holistic approach to health. By empowering our students to make informed choices, we contribute to a healthier, more resilient world ā€“ one habit at a time. Letā€™s promote well-being and inspire the next generation of global citizens! šŸŒŸ

Remember, health is not just the absence of illness; itā€™s a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.Ā 1Ā Ā Ā Ā 

#HealthyHabits #HolisticHealth #WellBeing #InformedChoices #Resilience #HealthEducation #GlobalCitizens #InspireWellness #StudentHealth #Empowerment #LifestyleChoices #WellnessJourney #HealthierWorld #MindfulLiving #HealthyLifestyle #WellnessEducation #NextGeneration #HealthAwareness #WellnessMatters #HealthyChoices #WellnessInspiration

Resources

TheĀ Healthy Habits Tracker ProjectĀ is an excellent initiative to promote a holistic approach to health among students. Here are some Australian resources that can help teachers deliver this project to students in Stages 2 and 3:

  1. Life Education AustraliaĀ provides a collection of quality free material designed to help educators in their classroom. You can filter the resources by year level and topic.Ā VisitĀ 1Ā for more information.
  2. TwinklĀ offers a research project that introduces students to their school library while learning about healthy habits. Students work together in groups to research and record information about a healthy habit.Ā VisitĀ 2Ā for more information.
  3. Student Wellbeing HubĀ provides a broad array of primary and secondary teaching resources for studentsā€™ wellbeing.Ā VisitĀ 3Ā for more information.
  4. Teach ThisĀ offers a range of teacher resources and classroom games for promoting healthy habits.Ā VisitĀ 4Ā for more information.
by Action4Agriculture

The Power of Art to Heal

This post shines a spotlight on SDG 3 and how The Archibull Prize and Kreative Koalas can improve the health of our students and our selves

The United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) underpin our Action4Agriculture (A4A) school programs and our values. In schools students are tasked with identifying a goal they want to achieve

 

The problem they have to solve or the barrier they need to overcome to achieve their goal

We then invite them to design and deliver a community behavior change program to make it happen

 

In past years popular SDGs chosen by schools have been:

  • SDG 2 ā€“ Zero Hunger
  • SDG 12 ā€“ Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 ā€“ Climate Action
  • SDG 14 ā€“ Life Below Water
  • SDG 15 ā€“ Life on Land

In 2021 The Henry Lawson High School in Grenfell, NSW, became the first school to incorporate SDG 3 ā€“ Good Health and Well-being, as their theme to guide their Archibull Prize entry. Teacher Jillian Reidy explains their progress to date:

ā€œOur vision for our 2021 Archie was to focus on well-being and use the cow to be a public artwork to express well-being words provided by the community and well-being initiatives within the school. Well-being initiatives include the design of a well-being haven for students, and a colour run that was designed but which we have not been able to run due to COVID restrictions. We have also initiated another public art project working with the council which will explore well-being. Funding has been applied for and we are hoping to have it completed mid 2022.ā€

Watch Jillian talk about how the school was inspired to go on their journey here

Living with a pandemic has forced us all to re-evaluate our own health and well-being and to develop strategies to increase resilience. In the Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) Annual Statistical Report 2018 resilience in adolescents was found to be higher when they had a strong sense of belonging at school and had friends they could trust and communicate with about problems. The Henry Lawson High School is proactive on this strengthening of resilience.

Similarly, in primary schools it has been important to build resilience, especially in school communities where the pandemic came hot on the heels of devastating bushfires in 2019-2020. To support these schools St Vincent de Paulā€™s (Vinnies) Ā Bushfire Recovery and Community Development Program provided funding to deliver Kreative Koalas into five schools.

The Vinnies Program has three major areas of focus ā€“ future preparedness and building resilience, community cohesion, and environmental regeneration and sustainability. ā€œVinnies views Kreative Koalas as aligning with all three, but particularly the resilience building and environmental sustainability,ā€ John Fenech, the manager of Community Development Bushfire Recovery at St Vincent de Paul Society of NSW says.

The Australian Government recently created a Student Wellbeing Hub, which incorporates Beyond Blueā€™s report on resilience in children aged 0-12. This resource is available to teachers who can use further resources within Kreative Koalas to create targeted resilience interventions for their students in need.

When we take time to reflect we realise SDG 3 affects not only our students and teachers but all of us. Our good health and well-being underpins all we do in our lives, just as the SDG underpins the work of Action4Agriculture.

Read how more of our Archibull Prize schools are building resilience here

Apply to participate in The Archibull Prize 2022 hereĀ 

Apply to participate in Kreative Koalas 2022 hereĀ 

#sustainability #environmental #resilience #pandemic #bushfirerecovery