The Global Goals

It was an amazing experience to attend a science exhibition this year at my daughter’s school. It was equally encouraging to see how students are participating and explained the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the exhibition. This time, the theme of the science exhibition was SDGs. There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals which are the agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030 adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. These goals are an “urgent call for action” by all countries in a global partnership.

The school students covered all the SDGs agenda and displayed it beautifully in the exhibition. The students were talking about ‘SDG 1 - No Poverty’ to ‘SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation' and SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy' to SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. It was very heart-warming to see students talking about SDG 14 – Life Below Water and SDG 13 – Climate Action. All SDGs goals are listed here: -?https://sdgs.un.org/goals,?https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

?It was encouraging to see how teachers and students have taken responsibility to make people aware of the SDGs and their agenda. Educational Institutions are playing a primary role to take the SDGs. Teachers can be the change agents to put into action sustainable development goals. The teachers and students are creating awareness which is also reaching out to the parents and the communities.

Corporates and Corporate Foundations are also having a key role to overcome the enormous economic, social, and environmental challenges that our planet is facing. There are various initiatives and programs are getting implemented by corporates and corporate foundations to eliminate global challenges. These organizations are using the SDGs to shape, manage and communicate their strategies, goals and activities.

Like other Foundations, NIIT Foundation’s initiatives are aligned with 5 Sustainable Development Goals as of now, which are listed below. NIIT Foundation primarily works in the fields of skill development, livelihood programs, digital literacy, financial literacy, cyber security, and knowledge building using technology.

Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being: NIIT Foundation provides livelihood programs to its beneficiaries. With increased income levels in the Household, the Household starts investing in health due to raised income levels. There is a general shift of access to health institutes from within the community to larger healthcare centers based in bigger towns and cities. Moreover, with increased income levels, there is an inclination to better and healthy food habits which further contributes to better health.

Goal 4 – Quality Education: SDG 4 links accurately with the vision of NIIT Foundation which promotes quality learning and teaching. Through its vocational training sessions and educating the beneficiaries on themes of skilling, mass awareness programs, HiWEL, and community-based programs, NIIT Foundation has been achieving and promoting the SDG goal's target.

Goal 5- Gender Equality:?NIIT Foundation promotes the 5th SDG to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. It promotes the idea of providing equal opportunities to women in terms of economic and financial growth and full and effective participation of women in leadership at all levels. It also enhances the use of enabling technology to promote women's empowerment.

Goal 8- Decent Work and Economic Growth:?By providing employment opportunities in various sectors such as IT, ITES, Customer Support, etc., NIIT Foundation has promoted sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. NIIT Foundation also focuses on substantially reducing the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.?

Goal 10- Reduced Inequality:?The 10th SDG goal focuses on progressively achieving and sustaining income growth of the bottom 40 percent of the population at a rate higher than the national average by 2030. By providing placement opportunities to the underserved categories of society NIIT Foundation upholds the mission of SDG 10. It promotes the reduction of inequality and believes in sustaining the income growth of people belonging to weaker sections of society.

NIIT Foundation takes pride in taking action and contributing towards these SDGs. NIIT Foundation also appreciates and shows gratitude to all the partners who are contributing to making the SDGs a success.?

About NIIT Foundation:

NIIT Foundation (NF) is a not-for-profit education society set up by the promoters of NIIT in 2004. Its mission is to positively impact the underprivileged of the country through educational initiatives and employability skill development programs.?

To achieve this, NF runs various grassroots initiatives in partnership with other corporates. We set up skill development centers in urban and rural areas that offer placement support to all eligible students. We provide digital and financial literacy programs. We also install Hole-in-the-Wall Learning Stations to bridge the digital divide. In addition, NF supports other NGOs to build their capacity.?

NF has been delivering projects ranging from customized CSR solutions as per partner requirements, school programs, college collaborations, community initiatives and digital empowerment, which are mandated as per Section 135 of the companies act 2013. The projects reach out to a wide range of beneficiaries from the age group of 6 to 60 years old.