In an era where global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and sustainable development are at the forefront of international discourse, education plays a critical role in shaping the minds of future generations. ARC, an educational social impact start-up, stands at the nexus of this transformation. Dedicated to integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Citizenship into school curricula, ARC provides innovative print and digital teaching-learning solutions designed to prepare students for the complexities of the 21st century.
Founded by Ms Ritu Malhotra & Mr Anit Gupta, ARC envisions a world where every student is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values to thrive in a globalized society and contribute positively to their communities. The mission is clear: to enhance the quality and relevance of education by embedding essential global themes into everyday learning.
Can you tell me about your project related to education? What was its main goal?
ARC is an educational social impact startup providing print and digital teaching-learning solutions for integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Climate Education & Global Citizenship in school curriculum. Our solutions include teacher trainings and student workbooks on SDGs, Climate Education & Global Citizenship for grades nursery to 8.
What motivated you to focus on this particular education issue for your project?
I was teaching middle school students when I felt there was a lacuna in the education system. We have done little to prepare our children for the challenges of the real world. They are living in a bubble, unaware and unequipped to deal with the problems they will encounter in life - climate change, inequalities and economic growth. When I learnt about the SDGs, I felt it was a perfect framework that would enable children to face the global challenges. I created some content and tested it on my students and the results were very encouraging. My students acquired the skills and the knowledge to be responsible global citizens. That was my motivation. I decided to take this content to every classroom in the world and embarked on this journey.
Can you share some of the activities or actions you took as part of your project?
I have worked with hundreds of schools across India and all over the world to integrate sustainability in school curriculum. I have developed a structured curriculum to teach sustainability and trained thousands to teachers to impart SDG education. We have impacted communities through SDG projects and empowered children to be the changemakers.
How did you and your team work together to make your project successful?
Collaboration has been the key in making my project successful. Be it Germany, Portugal, Nepal or India, we have managed to forge very meaningful alliances with organizations working in the same space of sustainability. These meaningful collaborations have enabled us to successfully implement our programme in different parts of the world.
Did you face any challenges while working on your project? How did you overcome them?
There have been numerous challenges, but the biggest one so far has been the acceptance that integration of SDGs in necessary in school curriculum. In order to overcome this challenge, we have built success stories and measured the impact on the children using our curriculum. The success stories have inspired others to join this movement by adopting our programme.
What do you think was the most important thing you learned from working on this project?
The most important learning was: Collaboration, and not competition, can help one achieve one's goals. It is also SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Without partnerships and collaborations, we would not have been successful in our mission.
Can you describe any positive changes or improvements you observed as a result of your project?
We have seen a marked behaviour change in students - they have become conscious of reducing their carbon footprint. Many children have also come up innovative solutions to solve the problems of their communities, such as shortage of water, waste disposal, women empowerment and unemployment.
Did you receive any feedback from your classmates, teachers, or community members about your project? If so, what was it?
Yes, the feedback has been very positive. We must continue on the path of educating children on SDGs through books, apps and projects.
How do you feel your project has contributed to promoting education and learning among your peers or in your community?
SDG education has a ripple effect - when we educate a child, the child starts a change in their family and community, influencing a generation before and a generation after. So the impact is very deep and has the power to being a true change in the society.
What are your plans or ideas for continuing to work on education-related issues in the future?
I want to grow my work, expanding it to all age groups and all mediums. In the coming years, I want to educate high school and college students about the SDGs.
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