On February 23, 2025, the Global Schools Program (GSP) celebrated the remarkable achievements of over 300 Global Schools Advocates at a graduation ceremony honoring their dedication to advancing sustainable education worldwide. The Global Schools Advocates Program is a semester-long training initiative that equips educators and school leaders with the tools to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their school communities, fostering Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
Kicking off the event, Kendra-Lee Heney, Project Lead for Education, delivered the opening remarks, celebrating the Advocates' commitment and perseverance throughout their journey. Following this, Amanda Abrom, Director of GSP, shared congratulatory remarks, commending the graduates for their hard work in embedding sustainable education practices and overcoming challenges to drive meaningful change in their schools and classrooms.
The event also featured addresses from key members of the Global Schools team, including Nene Onyedi Ibezim, Sarah Santillan-Isern, and Patricia Bergström, who expressed their gratitude for the Advocates' efforts and highlighted the program's growing impact worldwide.
This year’s graduating cohort included educators from over 60 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, further demonstrating the global commitment to sustainable education.
Advocate representatives Zerfishan Adnan (Pakistan), Abdoulaye Abou Coulibaly (Mali), Amanda Ka Yun Ng (Hong Kong), Büşra Dursun (Turkey), Olukayode O. Odujobi (Benin), Madeleine Proud (Malaysia), and Batool Kazmi (Pakistan) shared their personal experiences and key achievements, showcasing how they have implemented SDG-aligned initiatives within their schools and communities. Their inspiring stories reinforced the power of grassroots advocacy in transforming education systems worldwide. The Advocates also called for the importance of collaboration and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to meet and learn from the incredible GSP mentors.
Additionally, Mentor Advocate representatives Onuh Oyigoga John (Nigeria) and Afreen Khan (Pakistan) delivered powerful remarks, emphasizing the importance of sustaining commitment beyond graduation and continuing to work collaboratively to expand ESD efforts. Their words served as a call to action for all graduates to remain engaged in the mission of the Global Schools Program. The mentors also emphasized how, in today's challenging times filled with violence, Advocates must not give up and continue their inspiring work for the sake of students everywhere.
The ceremony concluded with an outlook on upcoming opportunities for continued engagement. Graduates were encouraged to take part in future initiatives, including UN at Your Doorstep, set to take place in the coming months. As these passionate Advocates embark on the next chapter of their journey, their dedication serves as an inspiration for a more sustainable and equitable future. The Global Schools Program congratulates all 2025 graduates and looks forward to witnessing the impact of their advocacy in the years to come!
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