Bristol-based education charity, Global Goals Centre, are delighted to have won the Okayama Education for Sustainable Development Award, beating 267 submissions from 70 countries around the world.
Global Goals Centre won the award for their work in Sparks Bristol which they run in partnership with local arts charity, Artspace Lifespace. Sparks is a creative sustainable education hub in Bristol’s city centre, welcoming on average 9,000 visitors a week through the doors. As well as sustainable retail, Sparks offers repair, recycling and green energy and travel advice, as well as a vibrant programme of talks and events. Global Goals Centre also delivers workshops to schools, free school holiday
workshops and green careers workshops. The space at Sparks works as a living classroom where learners can see in real time the ways in which individuals, local traders, artists and institutions are attempting to tackle the environmental and sustainability challenges of our time.
The judges loved both the schools and public engagement education that Global Goals Centre is delivering in Sparks, to inspire collective action on climate and social justice. In the 18 months since opening, 2839 young people have taken part in workshops on issues such as Fast Fashion,
Migration, Biodiversity and Food, as well green skills careers workshops.
Sparks aims to encourage creativity, practical action and intellectual curiosity in learners and the public. The charity has worked directly to include and empower people across Bristol’s diverse communities, from independent small business owners to primary school children and refugee artists and workshop leaders. Beyond this the judges liked how the Global Goals Centre’s model for education has created strong partnerships between communities, educational institutions and the
private and public sectors; exactly what is needed to positively face the issues of inequality and environmental collapse.
Since its inception in 2015, the ESD Okayama Award has recognized outstanding ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) activities undertaken in Japan and abroad annually. In addition to showcasing good ESD practices around the world, it aims to further advance the Global Goals (Sustainable Development Goals) as education is a key enabler for achieving all the goals.
Global Goals Co-Director, Manu Maunganidze, will be in Japan to receive the award and share the Sparks Bristol model with delegates at the Education for Sustainability Conference on 23rd November.
For more information on sustainability workshops in Sparks led by Global Goals Centre visit https://sparksbristol.co.uk/whatson/educational-school-visits/
They are also planning an exciting Earth Day Heroes event for schools on Earth Day 2025 with local nature hero, Mya-Rose Craig. To register interest please email workshops@sparksbristol.co.uk
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