APT presence at the National Stakeholder Forum on the SDGs- Croke Park, Dublin, 6 June 2024.

‘’Transformative Education for Sustainable Development:- Reaching the Furthest Behind.’’

Primary factors which increase vulnerability to human trafficking and exploitation are gender, age, ethnic minority, abuse and disabilities. Many of the ”push” factors with regard to human trafficking and exploitation, occur from poverty as well as based on unemployment; loss of capacity to sustain employment through natural – and man-made disasters-, climate-change impacts, displacements due to war-fare and unrest, to name but a few.

A key challenge for all who work to combat human trafficking and exploitation is how to engage people in our collective inter-dependence and consequent responsibility.

Given our inter-connectedness with one another across the planet, we recognise that resilient communities are the basis for resilient people and we seek to embed sustainable practices in neighbourhoods as we build social connections.

For education to be effective then we must engage in ways that affect personally. From such a beginning, work on the SDGs can be expanded to include our local, national and global context. All of this is based upon the understanding of interdependence and that we are all connected.

In the report below, created by Brian O’ Toole, APT member and Treasurer, you will find insights into a most valuable day, with the inclusion of information on inputs from Minister Eamonn Ryan, Green Party (Outgoing); Dr. Kaitriona O’ Sullivan, lecturer in Digital Skills in the ALL (Assisting Living and Learning) Institute, Dept. of Psychology, NUI Maynooth; Susan Adams,”not for profit NGO’’ Education for Sustainability and also information on the Take 1 Programme of training, promoted as a mechanism for embedding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in learning and teaching in Irish second level schools.

There was so much packed into that one day’s Conference, it was an inspiring and informative day for all who attended. We look forward to building upon the links and networks created and strengthened as a result.

*APT is especially grateful to Ms Brenda Durkan of the Department of Environment Climate and Communication, for her ongoing communications with APT Ireland.

Full report at: APT Members Site – SDG Stakeholder June 6 – 2024 (google.com)