SDGS 2030: bringing everyone on board to make them a reality

By Harriet Kezaabu

The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a comprehensive campaign inviting everyone to become involved in sharing ideas, contributing efforts and resources.

It is an appeal to spread word about the global development goals. NGOs, governments and business leaders more than ever need to work together for the common good of their communities, nations and the world.

At the September 2015 Social Good Summit in New York, I was challenged to think about how I can join global efforts to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 SDGs. It is true the SGDs have already been made famous through different social media platforms, but it is also evident that not everyone has access to this information.

If you think about people living in hard to reach communities, areas faced with civil strife and unrest with no hope for tomorrow, then your voice becomes relevant to that one person who might have missed the opportunity to listen to radio, has no access to Internet or cannot afford to buy or access newspapers. We should all take lead in spreading word to ensure everyone is reached and informed about these goals.

Today, millions of people live in poverty, devastating fear, conflict, inhumane health and unjust conditions among others. Children are deprived of quality education and opportunities that can help them break the cycle of poverty; girls of a very tender age are at risk of sexual abuse and physical violence, human trafficking and slavery. While education is key for all, girls need to be kept in school so as to reduce their vulnerabilities that hamper economic and social growth of their communities “You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation,” Brigham Young

According to the State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO 2015 report, 795 million people in the world do not have sufficient food to lead a healthy active life. Over 100 million children in developing countries are underweight, while 66 million primary school age children across the developing world attend school hungry.

It is also imperative to note that the economic and social infrastructures in most developing countries are still very poor and makes it hard for communities to thrive because they cannot access quality and timely social services such as health, education and markets. The 2030 SDGs call for “Action” emphasizes quality education for all, global Zero hunger, reduced inequalities, climate action, gender equality through empowering women and girls to have equal opportunity and access to resources, power, to thrive, survive and be safe.

Achievement and realization of the 2030 SDGs is possible if we can establish, build and or strengthen partnerships. “…This is not just an agenda for development, it will also foster stability. The forces of division are using new technology to spread their hateful ideologies but the Social Good Summit proves that with solidarity we can harness communication for human progress….” Noted the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in his opening remarks during the SGS.

We can do it. All that is needed is a strong common will and unwavering commitment to justice, peace, and equality, resulting in economic and social progress of all people.

The writer is on a fellowship program in Wahsington DC