PIONEERS IN SDGs PROJECTS
UNGA CONFERENCE 2019
Transforming Our World: Inclusive Social Development for All
25 September 2019, Wednesday
The Pioneer in SDGs Awards recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that contributed to sustainable peace and sustainable development at the local, national and global levels. In 2019, the Journalists and Writers Foundation and its 36 Global Partners recognized 11 projects from eight different countries in Africa, America, Asia and Europe.
The Selection Committee, formed of distinguished jurors from different parts of the world, evaluated the projects based on new approaches to help the United Nations achieve sustainable development goals through innovative and creative projects that benefit society in general. The Selection Committee evaluated each project considering four criteria: innovation, stakeholders, scope and impact. The projects served as an exemplary model that can inspire other people and organizations to make positive social change and contribute to the UN’s sustainable development goals.
1st PLACE
JAPAN ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION & JAPAN BIO FARM CO., LTD.
Japan Bio Farm Co., Ltd. is a Japanese fertilizer company which supports organic farming. Japan Bio Farm provided agricultural technical supports for the activities in Zambia. Japan Organic farming is an association which disseminates organic farming technology in Japan.
PROJECT: ZAMBIA BIO PROJECT
Examination of Zambian soil revealed that the soil has the property to adsorb phosphoric acid and not to release it. This explains that phosphate deficiency occurs in the soil and it makes crops difficult to grow. The solution for that is, by wrapping the phosphoric acid fertilizer with chicken manure, the organic acid came out from the chicken manure dissolves phosphoric acid and makes phosphoric acid effective. As a result, the yield increased from 2.5 t/ha to 9t/ha on average. It recorded 13t/ha in many places.
Furthermore, When chicken manure with lactic acid bacteria which produce acetic acid, is input into the soil, acetic acid and water are generated when chicken manure is broken down by microorganisms in the soil. Therefore crops become resistant to drought.
2nd PLACE
CONSORTIUM BAMBOO-EQUATOR & GOLDEN CLIMATE
Prof. Ezekiel N. Okemwa has invaluable experience and service to the management. For more than 40 years, he has provided institutions and governments with strategic financial services with a focus on research, corporate finance and research advisory services and teaching at University. His skills include and, are not limited to 1. The overall management and operations of research 2. Business, outsourcing, entrepreneurship and 3. Consulting.
PROJECT: CLIMATE ACTIVE NATIONAL ORGANIC PERMACULTURE SOLUTION (CANOPS) FOR AFRICA
With rising greenhouse gas emissions, climate change is occurring at rates much faster than anticipated and its effects are clearly felt worldwide. Kenya as UN member ratified the Paris Agreement and became a signatory to Paris COP 21. Kenya is facing challenges to implement nationally determined contributions (NDC) as approved due to lack of forest cover from 7% to 10% as promised by NDC to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The semi-arid areas of pioneer counties in Kenya can barely be cultivated because of erosion and pollution until 2030. Counties in Mt. Kenya must be turned into organic farming. This will make it possible as CO2 seeker the most damaging are 800,000 tourists who are producing more carbon than farming activities in Kenya.
2nd PLACE
TURKISH CULTURAL CENTER BROOKLYN & KINGS BAY Y JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
The TCC Brooklyn is the largest Turkish-Muslim grassroots organization in Brooklyn. Turkish Cultural Center is a 501(c)(3) charitable, cultural, educational non-profit organization dedicated to promoting harmony in a diverse cultural setting in the United States. The building, increasing and/or fostering a strong and lasting friendship by promoting a better understanding that is based on mutual respect between the individuals of the United States of America and those of Turkish background and/or origin. The Kings Bay Y is the largest Jewish community center in Brooklyn New York. The Kings Bay Y Serves over 40,000 community members annually. The services of the Kings Bay Y provides span from programs for children, families, senior services; to cultural and intercultural work, to greening work, and social services.
PROJECT: YOUNG PEACE BUILDERS
The Young Peace Builders, a joint initiative of the Kings Bay Y and Turkish Cultural Center of Brooklyn, empowers local teenagers from the Jewish-American and Turkish American communities to participate in social action projects, cultural events and trips that are designed to educate, enlighten and create lasting friendships between Brooklyn’s Jews and Muslims, two groups that previously had no formal point of connection. In addition to teaching the teenagers about holidays, customs and the history of both communities, the program develops a cadre of young leaders who serve as informal ambassadors, engaging family members and others in building an intercultural dialogue through shared experiences and increasing understanding between Jewish-American and Turkish-American neighbors. Indirectly, through the process of learning about each other’s culture, participants also develop a greater understanding of and appreciation for their own culture, which has fostered a greater sense of involvement and commitment to values of peace and equality among the Young Peace Builders from the Turkish Cultural Center and the Kings Bay Y.
3rd PLACE
WOMEN IN INT’L SECURITY-HORN OF AFRICA
Women in International Security – Horn of Africa is a Non-Governmental Organization that focuses on advancing the leadership and development of women in peace and security. It implemented the WAVE project with the support received from Global Affairs in Canada.
PROJECT: WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISM (WAVE)
Extremist violence has been key concern for the government of Kenya. Over the years the country has witnessed an increasing wave of sustained terrorist attacks, particularly by the militant group Al-Shabaab in different parts claiming the lives of many Kenyans citizens.
Local women-led NGOs and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) have developed innovative context-specific tactics to prevent recruitment to violent extremist groups. Often, their understanding is more nuanced, and they have more local credibility however very limited engagement with both donors and local authorities despite putting in place strategies to ensure gender inclusion and gender equality in peace and security efforts.
Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L-z4UPt5WEBDhW2G-Kc0eUO32qvuZfPD/view
Innovation Award
Dr. MARIE CLAUDINE MUKAMABANO
A genocide Survivor Orphan who refused to be just a Victim but VICTORIOUS and Created THE WHY DO I EXIST? The project which won the 2019 Champion Prize in Geneva for CHANGING LIVES with ICT, USING Information Communication Technology to Change Lives Around the World most Genocide Orphans Survivors in Rwanda, Africa.
PROJECT: STORYTELLING FOR FUNDRAISING
In Spirit of PUTTING NEVER AGAIN IN ACTION and PROMOTING PEACE , and Sustainable Development Goals as well as Self Reliance and Resilience we came up with Strategies to PEACEFULLY EDUCATE RWANDAN ORPHANS AND THEIR LEADERS TO TELL THEIR STORY in Order to get Supporters and Donations, That is why I come up with the initiative to teach them how to proper tell their story, I invited Rwandan Local Expert to help me Educate the Communities and Rwandan orphans how to tell their Stories to benefit themselves.
Video Link: https://www.facebook.com/marieclaudine.mukamabano/videos/10157276126143917/
Stakeholders Award
TURQUOISE HARMONY INSTITUTE
Turquoise Harmony Institute, Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), Universal Rights Association (URA), Horizon Education Trust (HET), Time to Care SA, South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), BUSKAID,Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF), Music In Africa (MIA), University of Wits Department of Arts and Culture, Amnesty International SA, Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CORMSA), SAFM, Unite and Share for Peace and Prosperity (USPP)
PROJECT: A CONCERT FOR REFUGEES, 2019
A recent report published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) claims that an unprecedented 70.8 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 25.9 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. There are also an estimated 3.9 million stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.
Turquoise Harmony Institute (THI) held a concert for refugees to commemorate World Refugee Day and to honor the strength and courage of refugees and encourage public awareness and support of the refugees, people who have had to flee their homelands because of conflict or natural disaster through inspiring people by the music and other forms of arts.
Scope Award
UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
ANU-AR is a non-profit Civil Association mainly aimed at promoting Education for Peace and a Culture of Peace. We work with the certainty that civil society has a fundamental role to play in order to achieve a more peaceful world. We support diplomacy, dialogue, and cooperation, which are core values of the United Nations, as essential tools for relations among States and citizens. We firmly believe that peace is much more than the absence of war and violence and that beyond the responsibility of States, it is impossible to live in a peaceful society without Education that promotes, from the base of society, the values of respect and tolerance towards others and towards the environment. There is no peace possible without everyone`s commitment.
PROJECT: UNITED NATIONS MODEL AND SEVERAL SIMULATION GAMES
Simulation games constitute an educational strategy that encourages the exchange of roles with a view to gaining a deep understanding of other realities. In this sense, simulation games inspire a broader approach to each of the issues raised from the perspective of knowledge, respect, and commitment, which leads to more comprehensive and inclusive proposals and solutions.
The United Nations Model is one of the applications of role-playing and constitutes a simulation of the functioning of the United Nations. Participants play the role of diplomats from the various States that make up the United Nations. As such, they must defend their positions on various issues on the international agenda. Sessions are held following similar rules to those observed by diplomats within the United Nations system and the same ceremonial and protocol procedures applicable to this type of meetings. Participants manage a diplomatic agenda that addresses internationally relevant issues and must propose concrete, real and effective solutions.
Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gC-W7jrOSJe6bqY-96XRDJkyA-jscDZV/view
Impact Award
SAFE FUTURE UGANDA
Safe Future Uganda is a Non-Governmental Organisation which was established in 2017 and commenced operations in 2018. Safe Future Uganda focuses on supporting communities to improve access to education and health as well as economically empowering them in response to the challenges of poverty and lack of access to basic services in Uganda’s most vulnerable communities.
PROJECT: KEEP A CHILD IN SCHOOL
The “Keep a Child In School” project is designed to address the challenge of poor achievement of learning outcomes and school dropouts through the provision of food, scholastic materials and sanitary towels for children in primary and secondary schools. Children are provided with porridge for breakfast and posho and beans for lunch Books, Mathematical Sets, Pens, Pencils, and Essential Reading Textbooks Girls are provided with re-usable sanitary towels. The project responds to SDGs No.2 and No.4.
Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jcvWazyPB8Ycaf4EOhMwDE90fpdN2pr4/view
Change Maker Award
ARCO FORUM, UNESCO CENTRE GETAFE MADRID
ARCO FORUM is a nonprofit organization, whose goal is to promote cooperation, tolerance, respect, and intercultural and interreligious cooperation through the establishment of genuine communication and understanding channels between different cultures. According to this main goal, the association tries to promote world peace and to contribute to the peaceful coexistence among the different cultures, ethnic groups, etc.
PROJECT: CONCERT OF THREE CULTURES
The concerts include performances by groups representing Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures. Concert of Three Cultures is an approach to three Abrahamic religions, i.e. Judaism, Christianism and Islam through a universal language, the music.
Our goal is that this Project facilitates understanding, knowledge and contributes to the approach of a large audience to the three religious’ traditions through the interpretation of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish-Sephardic musical styles in an environment of mutual respect, fraternity and collaboration. Feelings are the tool for a mutual and ecumenical experience for the audience.
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Change Maker Award
NILE DIALOGUE PLATFORM AND NILE HUMANITARIAN DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Nile Dialogue Platform is a registered NGO, established in Uganda in 2011 with the aim of advancing social cohesion by connecting communities through dialogue. It does this by bringing people together through discussion forums, courses, capacity building, publications and outreach with particular emphasis on the youth, who represent the greatest percentage of Uganda’s population. Nile Humanitarian Development Agency is an NGO registered in Uganda in 2009 to respond to the challenges of poverty, hunger and lack of access to quality medical care and education.
PROJECT: Washing for Cash(W4C)
The project involves the establishment of 12 modern washing bays complete with cafeteria and games facilities in Kampala and 7 other cities (Jinja, Mbarara, Masaka, Mbale, Arua, Fortportal and Gulu) in Uganda to provide direct employment to youth. Each washing bay will further provide mentorship and entrepreneurship skills training for 23 youths each month totalling to 3200 youth a year Proceeds from each washing bay will be used to establish a seed capital fund to which participating youth with successfully appraised proposals can apply for startup capital A savings and loans scheme will also be established with its membership composed of all the youth directly employed and trained by the project. The project is designed to respond to SDG No. 1(Ending Poverty in all its forms) and SDG No.8 (Promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all)
Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HNaa_djS0HDVsxsEOgVHzBxKVOzQaCOt/view
Change Maker Award
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT ND SCIENCE COOPERATION
MIRNaS Institute is established to conduct in-depth analysis of the various sources of research materials, informational resources, the implementation of basic and applied scientific researches. It is planned to develop and complete the scientific researches across the spectrum of humanities and social sciences.
PROJECT: INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS OF INTELLECTUALS
Organizing a meeting of intellectuals of countries, creating an atmosphere for the exchange of views in various areas, and contributing to the resolution of some problems that have arisen as a result of the development of relations.V