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Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal4

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Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was already off-track to achieve its education targets. If no additional measures are taken, only one in six countries will meet SDG4 and achieve universal access to quality education by 2030. An estimated 84 million children and young people will still be out of school and an estimated 300 million student will still not have the basic numeracy and literacy skills they need to succeed in life. To deliver SDG4, education systems must be re-imagined, and education financing must become a priority national investment.

Target 4.1: Between 2015 and 2021, the school completion rate increased from 85% to 87% in primary, from 74% to 77% in lower secondary and from 54% in 2015 to 58% in upper secondary education. Even before the onset of COVID19, these rates had slowed down relative to progress in 2010-15. Looking closely at reading levels at the end of primary school, for which trend data cover 34% of the world's children, the analysis shows that global learning levels showed no progress between 2015-2019. Furthermore, learning losses due to COVID-related school closures have been documented in 4 out of 5 of the 104 countries that have carried out such studies.

Target 4.2: Participation rate in organized learning one year before the official primary entry age has stagnated at around 75% since 2015, still far from the target of ensuring that all girls and boys have access to quality pre-primary education by 2030.

Target 4.3: Among 131 countries with data from 2017 onwards, on average approximately one in six youth and adults aged 15-64 recently participated in formal or non-formal education and training. Participation is substantially higher among youth aged 15-24 (40%-50%), compared to those aged 25-55 (only 5% for most regions).

Target 4.a: Basic school infrastructure is far from universal. In 2020, approximately a quarter of primary schools globally do not have access to basic services such as electricity, drinking water and basic sanitation facilities. For other facilities such as computer facilities and the provision of disability adapted infrastructure, figures are substantially lower, with around 50% of primary schools with access.

Target 4.c: Globally, in 2020, over 14% of teachers are still not qualified according to national norms, with little improvement since 2015.

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Goal 4 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

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Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11

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Goal 11 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

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End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal1

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Goal 1 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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All students deserve schools with the resources, programs, and curriculum to nurture their curiosity, imagination, spirit, talents, and desire to learn.
https://www.nea.org/resource-library/quality-education-all

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Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory."
-Article 26, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
NEA is working with education unions, professional associations, teachers, students, parents, and communities around the world to ensure universal access to a quality education for all.

Principles for Effective and Equitable Educational Recovery from COVID - a joint collaboration between Education International and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - outlines 10 principles for schooling during the pandemic and for a recovery towards effective and equitable education. Read the report here.

Education International's campaign on quality climate change education "Teach for the Planet" aims to ensure that quality climate change education, based on science and with a civic action focus, becomes as fundamental as reading and writing. The campaign will culminate at the United Nations conference on climate change, COP 26, in November. Stay up to date with the campaign activities at www.teach4theplanet.org.

Watch: Quality Climate Change Education for All

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development- the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a call for action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

Education is at the heart of the SDGs: Education is key for progress towards the achievement of all of the SDGs. Learn more about the SDGS and take actions Sustainable Development Goal 4 - Quality Education- here.

The 10 Targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 4

Global Campaign for Education-GCE brings together major nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and teachers' unions to promote access to education as a basic human right and mobilize public pressure to create the political will for governments and other leaders in the international community to fulfill their promises to provide a free, quality public education for all children. NEA is an active member of the U.S. Chapter of the Global Campaign for Education, a broad-based coalition of more than 70 non-governmental and religious organizations, teachers unions, foundations and child advocates to ensuring universal access to a quality education.

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Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory." - Article 26, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 NEA is working with education unions, professional associations, teachers, students, parents, and communities around the world to ensure universal access to a quality education for all.

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Education is the basic building block of every society.
https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/education-all

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Education is the basic building block of every society. It is the single best investment countries can make to build prosperous, healthy and equitable societies. Article 26 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Everyone has the right to education."

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The Education for All Coalition is dedicated to creating educational opportunities and finding solutions that empower displaced children in refugee camps and settlements around the world.
https://educationforallcoalition.org/

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The EFAC strategy is designed to identify gaps in education services and to implement programs that provide flexible pedagogy with quality assessment oversight through direct and remote engagement. Our programs train local educators and caregivers with sustainability considerations. Our practice includes implementing data-driven approaches with proven qualitative measures to map requirements, assess resources, and produce content and competencies through adaptable educational programs that generate confident global citizens.

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The EFAC strategy is designed to identify gaps in education services and to implement programs that provide flexible pedagogy with quality assessment oversight through direct and remote engagement. Our programs train local educators and caregivers with sustainability considerations.

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Shop, eat, and drink locally. Supporting neighborhood businesses keep people employed and circulates money back into your community.
https://spana.org/blog/10-benefits-of-shopping-local/

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There are many reasons why you may choose certain places to shop, such as parking or more product options. However, shopping locally can impact so much more than our wallets. From simple reasons like convenience to ones that affect the environment and local economy, here are 10 of the most impactful reasons to shop local and how it benefits you and the world around you.

Why shop local?

The pandemic has changed the way people shop and think about shopping, with many of us now more conscious about the decisions we make on spending and travel. In today's society, how we approach shopping is ever-changing, but the benefits of shopping local remain the same:

1. It's convenient

Convenience plays a huge part in our lives. After all, how easy is it to just 'pop to the shop' when it's within walking distance? Today, many people opt to shop locally because of its proximity to home. But shopping at SPANA is the perfect alternative for those who can't leave their house or simply don't want to. It provides the benefits of local shopping without the downsides of purchasing at large online retailers.

2. It's better for the environment by helping reduce your carbon footprint

Most people are conscious about their environmental impact, whether trying to limit their single-use plastic, travelling more ethically or avoiding driving when they can. For this reason, shopping locally and more sustainably is perfectly suited for those being mindful of their environmental impact. However, not everyone has the luxury of visiting an actual store. Where this is the case, online shops, such as SPANA, whose goals support the planet, sustainability, and local communities, can be the ideal alternative.

3. You help support local businesses

This is one of the most important reasons to shop local. Independent businesses and charities have been hit hard by the pandemic. As a result, many enterprises have struggled to keep afloat or find new ways to service customers and support causes. Buying from a local business or charity shop, whether from a market stall, an actual shop or an online shop, is a great way to support them both financially and figuratively by showing you love what they do. This means they'll be able to continue doing the great work that they do.

4. You invest in your community

Of course, shopping in a local business helps it financially, but it also supports the wider local economy and community. It's an excellent opportunity to see new businesses continue to open and prosper within the neighbourhood. In turn, thriving independent businesses can help boost the prices of homes and properties within the area.

5. It helps create demand for local jobs

In addition to investing in your community, you can also help improve employment rates within the area by using local shops. Local businesses often provide a large number of jobs to communities, and, in some cases, can even be someone's first workplace to help kick-start their career. As the business grows, so too will the employment opportunities and local economy.

6. There are great deals to be found

Local shops rely on footfall from local people. Smaller independent shops are likely to have fewer people visiting and shopping with them than more prominent mainstream brands. This means they often have to create deals that help bring in customers. This is something that larger shops might not necessarily do, resulting in a win-win for both customers looking to make a purchase and the business itself.

7. You're likely to find quality products

Local shops and businesses may not always be able to compete with larger chain stores and brands in terms of advertising. However, unlike larger stores that have to stock many products, local businesses are more likelyto focus on the quality of the things they sell rather than the quantity. Our range of products are made to the highest quality, so you know that you and your loved ones are receiving something premium, special and made to last.

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There are many reasons why you may choose certain places to shop, such as parking or more product options. However, shopping locally can impact so much more than our wallets. From simple reasons like convenience to ones that affect the environment and local economy, here are 10 of the most impactful reasons to shop local and how it benefits you and the world around you.

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Take advantage of your right to elect the leaders in your local community.
https://s1.sos.mo.gov/elections/voterregistration

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Commute in a sustainable way. Like biking, walking, or taking public transport. Save the car trips for when you’ve got many travelers.
https://blueandgreentomorrow.com/environment/green-commuting-how-to-do-why-its-important/

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Commuting can be stressful. Traffic jams, road rage, rush hour, and car troubles can all contribute to a feeling of stress and dread when you're driving to and from work. Instead of being able to unwind after a long day at the office, commuting sometimes just makes you more anxious and worked up.

Green commuting can help solve these issues and improve not only your mood and well-being, but also the health of the planet. We'll take a look at why green commuting is a good idea, learn what options a sustainable commute can offer, and discuss some tips and tricks for getting started with developing your own green commute.

Why Green Your Commute?

Practicing a green commute is important for not only personal health, but also for ensuring that we have a healthy planet to inhabit in the future. Slow-moving cars emit more fumes, making traffic jams and red lights unhealthy and unsustainable.

The problem of congested highways plagues many American cities, and the number of cars on the road is only increasing as time passes. That's one reason why it's so important to do what you can to drive less and find other ways to get to work whenever possible.

There's also the fact that sitting in a car is the least healthy way to commute. Sitting in stressful traffic and fumes does not do good things for your body (think increased blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease). Driving to work is often linked to anxiety, while green commuting, on the other hand, has been linked to higher life satisfaction, better health, and improved mood.

Riding your bike or walking to work can help you show up awake, sharp, and focused. When you choose an active commute, you're incorporating physical activity into your daily routine in a necessary way.

Choosing public transportation or a ride-booking service is also more beneficial than driving alone in your car because it offers you the chance to socialize, read the news, or do a crossword puzzle before the workday starts instead of only being able to focus on the road and navigating tricky traffic.

Options For Green Commuting

There are many ways to be a green commuter. If you live close enough to your place of work, walking can be a great option, and since walking is both good for you and the environment, it's a win-win.

Biking to work is another great option and is often a fun one too. Bike-share programs exist in cities around the country to make cycling more accessible for all people. You don't need fancy gear to bike to work - just a reliable bike with working brakes, a helmet, and a lock to keep it safe while you're on the clock.

Some commuters choose to combine active transportation options like walking and biking with public transportation options to make their commute sustainable over the long term. You could walk or bike partway to your office and hop on public transportation for the remainder of the trip, for example. This is a great option if your commute is too long or if you're on a time crunch.

Then, of course, there's the option of using public transportation or carpooling to get to work. It's a success every time there's one less car on the road, so even if you and a friend make a pact to drive to work together each day, you're doing something to help the environment.

Many people love using the bus, subway system, or shuttle to get to work because it gives them some personal time to catch up on reading, listen to the news, or just sit back and enjoy the ride without the stress of traffic keeping them on high alert.

No matter which green commuting options feels best to you, rest assured that by practicing green commuting you're doing something positive for yourself and for the environment.

Greening your commute can be an eco-friendly step you can take every day, not to mention one that will help save you money over the long run. Think of how much you'll save if you're not paying for gas every week!

Tips for Getting Started

Sometimes starting to green your commute can be intimidating, whether you're nervous about how to navigate the bus system or worried about getting a flat tire halfway to the office on a Monday morning. Luckily, with a little forward thinking, you can quickly learn the ins and outs of being a green commuter and enjoy your new commute in a stress-free way.

It's always a good idea to leave a few extra minutes of leeway when you're trying out a new commute. That way, if something goes wrong, like a bus being late or your bike tire losing air, you have time to fix the problem and not worry about being late.

Checking on things like the weather, the functionality of your gear, and your route ahead of time can also help ease the stress of commuting. You can also try organizing a green commuting group for motivation and support. You might be more likely to commit to walking, biking, or taking the bus if you have a group of people to hold you accountable and do it with you to make it more fun.

Green commuting is fun, sustainable, and good for your personal health and well-being. Why suffer through the hustle and bustle of the morning traffic jam, only to do it again at 5 p.m. if you don't have to?

By being aware of why green commuting is a good idea, knowing your options for a sustainable commute, and planning ahead, you'll be well on your way to enjoying a whole new type of healthier commute.

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Green Commuting: How To Do It And Why It's Important

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Commuting can be stressful. Traffic jams, road rage, rush hour, and car troubles can all contribute to a feeling of stress and dread when you're driving to and from work. Instead of being able to unwind after a long day at the office, commuting sometimes just makes you more anxious and worked up.

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Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and visit their local food banks and other food programs for extra support.

https://www.feedingamerica.org/our-work/our-approach

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How We Work to End Hunger | Feeding America

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Feeding America helps provide meals to people in need through a nationwide network of food banks and helps address root causes of food insecurity.

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Now is the time to work as partners and build a global movement to ensure the Right to Food for all and build sustainable agriculture and food systems.
https://www.un.org/zerohunger/content/challenge-hunger-can-be-eliminated-our-lifetimes

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The consequence of diets poor in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients is affecting the health and life prospects of millions more and casting a shadow over the future of communities and entire countries.

https://www.wfp.org/ending-hunger

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Ending world hunger is one of the greatest challenges of our times. Across the globe, up to 783 million people do not have enough food and more than 40 million people in 51 countries are at ‘emergency’ or worse levels of hunger. Parts of Yemen, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Nigeria may be

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Community gardens build stronger and safer communities while providing food.
https://www.soils.org/about-soils/community-gardens/

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What is a community garden?

The American Community Gardening Association defines community garden broadly. A community garden can be urban, suburban, or rural. It can grow flowers, vegetables-or community. It can be one community plot or many individual plots. It can be located at a school, hospital, or in a neighborhood.

Another way of thinking about community gardens are as "community-managed open spaces." These differ from a park or public space where some other entity ultimately decides the purpose of the site and maintains it. Community gardens are where the residents of a community are empowered to design, build, and maintain spaces in the community.

Why community gardens?

Neighborhoods with successful gardens:

Combat food insecurity, both in quantity and quality

Build on the resources of cities, towns, and counties to deal with urban problems

Fight climate change by reducing the distance food travels, and minimize the carbon footprint of food

Boost the local economy

Improve community health through better nutrition and increased physical activity

Create social capital

In short, community gardens build stronger and safer communities.

Organize a community garden

The most important step in building a community garden is to assemble a community of people. A community garden without interested gardeners is just a vacant lot.

This step can take some time, but it's worth the investment in relationships that will sustain the site long term. It takes a lot of people to build a garden, and there are different roles that people can play-all are welcome and you will need a collection of different skills and resources.

While this is not a comprehensive list, here are some areas where you will need to recruit help:

Early leadership - Starting a community garden can take a lot of meetings, so it's essential to have community members willing to take a leadership role early on. The success of a garden long-term often depends on being able to share leadership with all participants. But in the beginning, it's important to have a small group of committed people who are willing to do the hard work of organizing and getting the project off the ground.

Building the garden - When it comes to the task of building the garden, technical skills are often needed for fence building or toolshed assembly. People with these skills are important for making the garden a reality and may or may not be interested in gardening.

Long-term gardeners - Many people like the idea of having a community garden in the neighborhood but don't intend to garden there themselves. So, make sure you have a healthy list of people who will steward the garden long-term. Oftentimes these people won't be interested in the leadership or community meetings and process needed to get a garden started. But without them, you will have a hard time sustaining a garden.

General community support-It's important to have the support of the local community, even those who don't intend to garden. Neighbors can keep an eye on the site, local businesses can donate food or other resources for work parties, community members can donate art or teaching skills or help haul excess produce to the food bank. Make a list of some local businesses and reach out to them for support, and encourage community members to think of ways they can contribute. After all, a community garden is about a lot more than just gardening.

Find a community of people

Start by talking to people you know - Ask your neighbors to talk to people they know; ask friends to spread the word. Create a free email account with the name of the neighborhood, so people can contact you without you needing to give out your personal information.

Identify neighborhood groups - (churches, neighborhood councils, PTAs) and attend their meetings to let them know what you're doing and that you want them to be involved.

Make flyers - Put them up in key places in your neighborhood (coffee shops, intersections). Ask local businesses to inform their employees, and put up a flyer in their place of business.

Take flyers door to door - A personal invitation, even from someone you barely know, is a powerful way to get people involved.

Use social media - Create a Facebook page for the garden and encourage people to join and start the conversation there.

Organize the people

Community gardens are incredibly diverse, with different visions and purposes to suit diverse neighborhoods. There is no "right way" to do it, but there are some common issues that groups need to discuss and decide the answers to. The best way is to plan a meeting and discuss important questions face to face. Write down your answers to the questions and then circulate the document, so that all involved can see what's being planned for the garden. It's crucial that as many people as possible feel included in this process.

Starter questions - While it's tempting to dive into questions such as where the garden will be located and what it will look like, community groups are strongly encouraged to start with questions about how the garden will be organized. The answer to these questions will assist in making other determinations further down the road. Read a sample list of starter questions (pdf)

Best practices

There are no "right" answers to this: Each group will have different needs and resources. However, there are some practices that are critical for sustained success when working with community groups.

Shared leadership - Often, a strong leader is present who's capable of doing much of what is needed and making many of the decisions. But when you invite people to be involved with a project such as a community garden, you need to invite them into leadership and decision-making processes, too, or they may get frustrated.

Sharing leadership can be challenging, but it's vital for long-term success. Far too many gardens rely on the leadership of a single, committed individual, and these gardens may fail when that person gets tired or needs to attend to other responsibilities. Community gardens also represent an incredible amount of work, so sharing leadership will spread the work and responsibility around. Groups tend to make better decisions when they hear from multiple people, as well.

Transparent decision-making processes - There are many forms of decision-making processes that can work for community groups, but whichever you choose, it must be transparent. When participants feel like decisions are being made in secret, or in some other way that's invisible or inaccessible to them, they may feel frustrated and withdraw from the project.

Conflict resolution procedures - Many groups come to a project such as a garden with excitement and positive feelings about getting to know neighbors, so it can be hard to imagine a time when conflict might arise around a decision. But successful community gardens represent thousands of small and large decisions, so it's inevitable that at some point disagreement will emerge.

Having clearly defined conflict resolution procedures in place can greatly reduce the amount of stress and tension that occurs when a group does run into conflict. Many times these procedures won't be needed, but having them is good insurance that if a group does run into conflict, it won't run the project off the road.

Find a site

There is a diversity of successful community garden sites. But the most important thing is that the site works for the community of gardeners who will manage it. Several important considerations need to be taken into account when choosing a site for a community garden. Some have to do with location, others with the landowner.

Location considerations
1. Visibility
It's beneficial to have the garden in a clearly visible location. Some of the most successful gardens are situated in a place where the community naturally gathers. They can serve as community gathering areas. Tucking a garden out of the way, in places people would otherwise not go, can prevent a garden from being used by the community and recognized as an asset.

Visibility is also important for safety reasons. Locating the garden in a place where passersby can have "eyes" on the site may discourage unwanted behavior.
2. Access
In addition to being visible, the garden needs to be accessible to both gardeners and large vehicles such as delivery trucks. You might not be able to find a location with all of the following, but consider each:

Parking

Bus route availability

Accessibility for the disabled

Child friendliness/safety

Truck delivery (compost, hay bales, etc.)

3. Sun, wind and drainage
The vast majority of vegetables and fruits don't do well without at least 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight daily. Look to the south for large buildings or trees that will shade the site. Some shade on the site can be a nice relief on hot summer days, but a very shady site will be a challenge for growing vegetables. Likewise, too much wind will stunt plant growth. Finally, does it look like your prospective garden will flood? Or is it on a steep slope where you'll need to terrace the soil to prevent erosion?
4. Soil Quality
Good gardens start with the great soil! Urban soil is often compacted, full of weed seeds, and sometimes contaminated. Take a pick or shovel and pot-hole around your prospective site. Is the soil heavy clay, sandy, full of rocks, rubble, or trash? Is it dark with organic matter or does it look like the topsoil was long scraped off? (Read more about evaluating soil.) Become a historian and find out about the site history. Ask neighbors and check with the county tax assessor's office to see if the site was primarily residential or formerly hosted businesses. Determine if nearby major industries might have shed pollutants on the site. For more information on soil contaminants, see the Discover Soils section on Soil Contaminants. While many urban soils can be rehabilitated, think carefully about what you'll have to invest to bring the soil at your prospective site up to top production potential.

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Community gardens are important. We give tips on to organize them and run them in a sustainable way, including good soil management.

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We partner with community feeding programs who put the food we distribute into the hands of the people who need it most.
https://stlfoodbank.org

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St. Louis Area Foodbank supplies food to those who need it in Missouri and Illinois. Learn more about programs, food pantries and volunteering.