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Laureates of the 2021 UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development awarded for inspiring projects
During this year鈥檚 41st General Conference, the Award Ceremony of the 2021 was held on 19 November 2021 to recognize the outstanding contributions of three organizations to education for sustainable development. Funded by the Government of Japan, the UNESCO-Japan Prize on ESD was established in October 2014.
empowers learners of all ages with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to address the interconnected global challenges we are facing, including climate change, poverty, inequality, loss of biodiversity. Learners are encouraged to act as agents of change in creating a sustainable society.
Due to sanitary measures, a hybrid award ceremony was held at UNESCO Headquarters along with a livestreamed webcast that connected the three laureates 鈥 (Ghana), the (Palestine) and (Peru) 鈥 to spectators from every corner of the world.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, praised the organizations for being the 鈥渂oots on the ground鈥 essential to implementing education for sustainable development. Vibeke Jensen, Master of Ceremony and UNESCO Director of Division for Peace and Sustainable Development, then introduced the three winners through a .
Along with the Secretary-General of the , Yasushi Taguchi, and Chair of the , Her Royal Highness, Princess Abze Djigma of Burkina Faso, Ms. Giannini presented each laureate with a certificate and check award of US$ 50,000.
H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma then moderated a panel discussion where representatives from each of the organizations discussed their values, inspirations, and outcomes.
In particular, each of the laureates highlighted the importance of education for sustainable development. H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma began the panel discussion by conveying how impressed the jury was with World Vision Ghana鈥檚 project which is not only a traditional literacy project, but also one that aims to inspire children to take action based on what they have learned. In response, motivated by the belief that the development of every country follows the learning curve of its children, World Vision Ghana鈥檚 Technical Program Manager, Andrew Ofosu-Dankyi, emphasized the Unlock Literacy Project鈥檚 objective to build stronger children for a stronger future.
When asked to give an overview of their winning project, Rom谩n Vizcarra Noriega, representing UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) Member Kusi Kawsay School, explained the Peruvian organization鈥檚 integration of indigenous culture and knowledge in their educational activities and practices. By drawing on ancestral wisdom, the organization鈥檚 principles are rooted in ecological coexistence.
Similar to the Peruvian laureate, the Media Development Center of the Birzeit University in Palestine focuses on uplifting marginalized voices. The organization seeks to establish ethical and responsible media by promoting transparency, freedom of speech, critical media literacy, and citizen access to media.
The award ceremony came to a close with expressions of gratitude to the Government of Japan, Member States, NGOs and foundations in official relations with UNESCO, as well as for the cooperation of UNESCO colleagues both at Headquarters and in the Field offices, interpreters, and technical staff.
