MUMBAI: Indian film star Hrithik Roshan has been named as the India ambassador for The World’s Largest Lesson, an initiative launched by the Global Goals campaign and UNICEF.
The World’s Largest Lesson aims to teach children in over 100 countries about the new Sustainable Development Goals that will be adopted by the UN General Assembly later this month. It is part of the campaign to tell everyone about The Global Goals and will engage children and young people in the global effort to build a more sustainable future for everyone.
Roshan joins other international public figures such as PLAN global ambassador Freida Pinto, Dani Alves, Kolo Touré, Neymar Jr., Nobel peace prize laureate Malala Yousafzai; UNICEF ambassadors Nancy Ajram, Serena Williams and Eminent Advocate for UNICEF Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan.
With India having the world’s youngest population, children and young people will be most affected by the implementation of the goals.
“The World’s Largest Lesson will do more than teach children about the global goals. It will engage them in the effort to achieve those goals – educating them about the challenges that are shaping their futures and encouraging them to drive change in their own communities. Young people can help achieve the global goals by holding their leaders accountable for the promises they are making – and by holding themselves accountable for building a better future for everyone,” said UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake.
The World’s Largest Lesson was held in classrooms on every continent during the week of 28 September. A potential 500 million girls and boys between the ages of 8 and 14 got the chance to learn about the Global Goals, which range from ending extreme poverty for all people everywhere, to tackling climate change, and giving all children the opportunity to gain a quality primary and secondary education.
The campaign is also supported by Indian NGOs The Akshaya Patra Foundation.
Specially created lesson plans include an animated film by author and education expert Sir Ken Robinson that introduces the Global Goals, and a downloadable comic book by Josh Elder and Karl Kesel.
Along with Roshan, other prominent public figures like Yousafzai have recorded their own introduction to The World’s Largest Lesson as well. The animated film invites students to consider the creative superpower they have and use it to help change the world for the better. Additional lesson plans and information are available for teachers to select based on the themes most relevant for their pupils.
“The World’s Largest Lesson is a fantastic opportunity to tell all children, everywhere what the Global Goals are and how they can play their part to make sure they are achieved. It would be wonderful if all teachers could make sure the World’s Largest Lesson is taught at their school. By making the Global Goals famous we can give them the best chance of working around the world – and help make us the first generation to end extreme poverty, the most determined generation in history to end injustice and inequality, and the last generation to be threatened by climate change,” said Global Goals campaign founder Richard Curtis.
Roshan added, “As a father, I believe that all children should have access to good education and through this education they learn how to take care of their health. In order to achieve the best, they need to be fit and healthy. It enables children to push their extreme. These are fundamental rights that every child deserves hence I champion Goal 3 Good Health.”
