Education and Sustainability: innovating to build resilience in education
The Covid-19 crisis has exposed the fragility of many of the systems that we live by today. For the education projects supported by Theirworld, it is clear that in order to keep going - to be sustainable - they have had to be even more adaptable and resilient than usual. Given the challenging environments many of these projects already operate in, this has been no small feat.
In 2013, more than 500,000 school-aged refugee children were living in Lebanon and very few were in school due to being displaced by the Syrian war. Theirworld funded a team of experts to work with the Government, international agencies and NGOs to develop a solution. The result was an innovative ‘double-shift school’ system in Lebanon, which saw Syrian refugee children use schools from 2pm onwards, after the Lebanese school day had ended.
Today, Theirworld continues to support the delivery of the double-shift schools, working in collaboration with local NGOs and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. However, due to political unrest and the Coronavirus pandemic, the 2019-2020 school year was severely disrupted in Lebanon. Parents became concerned their children would enter the next school year ill-prepared. To ensure that children were able to learn during school closures, we adapted our project activities so that teachers and special educators were able to reach children remotely via WhatsApp, with prepared videos and learning materials, and through Covid-19 safe distributions of activity packs at five pilot public schools.
Theirworld’s work to end the global education crisis is present in many countries around the world. For instance, another organisation Theirworld supports is the Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF), which uses digital tools to deliver learning and skills programmes to young people and women in vulnerable communities in Kenya and Nigeria. YTF provides most of its digital skills programmes - such as Code Clubs for girls and Skills for Their Future initiatives - within school classrooms. So the Covid-19 shutdown meant delivering learning in different and innovative ways.
“We were thrown into this new world just like everyone else. We are used to pivoting but not to this scale,” said YTF founder and President Njideka Harry. The organisation’s short-term Covid-19 response included supporting 100 teachers at primary and secondary school levels in Nigeria and Kenya. Professional development workshops showed teachers how to move their class content online and share it with students.
“Our role has changed and the role of the teachers that we work with has changed,” said Harry. “They are no longer the sage on the stage, they are now the guide on the side, as the students themselves have to lead their own learning. When teachers in Nigeria and Kenya go to teacher training college, they are shown how to teach using a pen and paper, with barely a mention of digital. So it is something that many have never seen. Some had never used email”. For all the suffering and disruption it has caused, the pandemic has also provided the chance to give teachers new, sustainable skills.
Amid Covid-19, governments, aid agencies and businesses are facing recession, budget cuts and competing priorities. In response, Theirworld has launched The Key - a comprehensive information resource to help everyone make a clear and robust case for education.
The free digital report is crammed with messages, statistics, taking points and infographics about dozens of subjects where education plays a key role - from climate change and inequality to public health and financial literacy. With education spending under threat, it is more important than ever to protect education and make its provision as resilient and sustainable as it deserves to be.
Please take a look at www.theirworld.org.
BY REBECCA SHARKEY, CAMPAIGN AND ADVOCACY MANAGER, THEIRWORLD, FOR ENGAGE 2020
BY REBECCA SHARKEY, CAMPAIGN AND ADVOCACY MANAGER, THEIRWORLD • May 7, 2021
The Steve Sinnott Foundation is proud to celebrate the inspirational winners of the 2025 Seeds of Hope for a Better Future competition, a global initiative supported by UNESCO that brings together creativity, community, and a shared commitment to peace and sustainability. This unique project invited schools across the world from nursery and primary through to secondary and high school to explore the values of peace, cultural understanding, and care for the planet. In the face of climate change, young people were asked to tell their stories through art, performance, and digital creativity, highlighting how small seeds of action can grow into powerful movements for hope. The results have been extraordinary. Schools in France, the UK, Gambia, Haiti, and Kenya have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, with projects ranging from community gardens and sculptures to dance performances and illustrated stories. Each winner has shown how young voices and imagination can nurture peace and sustainability in ways that inspire us all. The full Awards Ceremony can be watched linked here: S eeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025 Highlights from the Winners Oak View Primary and Nursery School (UK) created Faces of Feeling, a collection of joyful sculptures already exhibited in a local gallery. Judges praised their work as supporting the wellbeing of others and embodying the idea of children as true “Seeds of Hope.” St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School (Gambia) painted Campaign for a Sustainable Banjul , reflecting real-world climate action in their city. The judges described it as “a most deserving and robust winner.” In France , the Jardin d'Enfants des Nations Unies (United Nations Nursery School) won hearts with Wind of Peace , where 5-6 year olds combined drawings, paintings, and tree planting to champion reforestation. Lyng Hall Secondary School, Coventry (UK) collaborated with Henley Green Primary and the UK Literacy Association to produce The Heart Shaped Hole – an innovative and metaphorical take on Seeds of Hope. Earlsdon Primary School, Coventry (UK) impressed with Primary Plot , a project that included gardening with the visually impaired, reflecting inclusivity and sustainability. A remarkable cross-collaboration between 21 schools across West Yorkshire, Essex, and Tower Hamlets (UK) resulted in Lights, Camera, Score , an ambitious combination of animation, music, and storytelling. CIMA Community School of Hope, Haiti shared Konbit - a video of dance and solidarity, inspiring villages to work together for peace and dignity. Daraja Academy, Kenya presented an ambitious and optimistic project integrating sustainability into everyday school life. Celebrating Creativity and Peace This year’s competition was judged by an impressive panel of artists, writers, and cultural leaders including Sir Antony Gormley, Edmund de Waal, Dame Liz Forgan, Hugh Quarshie, and Rathna Ramanathan. Their collective expertise highlighted the quality and depth of the entries, each of which showed how art can be a powerful tool for global understanding and change. The Seeds of Hope initiative is part of UNESCO UK’s Arts and Culture for Peace programme, first launched in 2022. It has grown from earlier collaborations such as the Coventry Young Ambassadors’ Islands of Peace Japanese Garden , opened in 2021 a living reminder that seeds planted in communities can continue to flourish. Looking Ahead As Ann Beatty, UNESCO ASPnet UK National Coordinator , shared: “The quality of entries was extraordinary. We are delighted at the response to this amazing initiative in collaboration with our international partners.” And in the words of judge Jannette Cheong : “Young people around the world understand well the value of peace and tolerant relationships between cultures. Their creativity is an inspiration to all of us.” At The Steve Sinnott Foundation, we believe that education is the seed from which hope grows. The Seeds of Hope competition is a shining example of how young people through creativity, compassion, and collaboration are already shaping a more peaceful and sustainable future. You can access the full online awards presentation here: Seeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025 ๏ปฟ
The journey to strengthen the well-being and success of learners in The Gambia continues with a renewed commitment to guidance and counselling in schools. By August 14th 2025, we have successfully trained 140 educators across ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐, ๐, ๐ & ๐ under our Guidance & Counselling Programme. A programme designed to equip educators with the skills to support students’ academic, social, and emotional development. Region 3 Teachers Complete Level 2 Training On Wednesday, 6th August, thirty teachers from Region 3 (North Bank Region) began a three-day Level 2 Guidance and Counselling training at the Christian Council in Kanifing. This programme built on their earlier Level 1 training in Farafenni, with a focus on deepening their capacity to serve as school-based counsellors. The training concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony, recognising the teachers’ commitment and marking an important step in their professional development. These certificates symbolize more than an achievement; they represent each teacher’s readiness to provide psychosocial support, guidance, and mentorship to learners across their schools.
Mike Fleetham of Thinking Classroom has written a book " Headlines: Inspiration, humour and advice for school leaders ". A collection of original ideas, advice from professionals, quotes, and tips to support and inspire all leaders. Perfect for new and established leaders working in education, especially headteachers. "Being a headteacher is like looking both ways before you cross the road, and then getting hit by an aeroplane." To Enter the Competition To win a copy of Headlines please share your inspiring education or life lesson in no more than 600 words. The winning article will also be published in our next edition of Engage. Send your words of inspiration to admin@stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk ๐
Deadline: 5th September 2025โ Stuck on Ideas? Here are some questions and prompts to get you started! What’s the one lesson school didn’t teach you, but life did? Think of a moment that changed your path, what happened? What piece of advice has helped you grow the most? When did a challenge turn into an opportunity for you? What story from your life would inspire someone on the other side of the world? What’s the life lesson that unlocked your next chapter? โ Your words could uplift, empower and be seen by many. Let your story inspire the world! ๐๐กโ Good luck and we cant wait to read all the entries!
