Schools in Reykjanes Fly the Flag for the United Nations Global Goals

On 25 September, in celebration of the International Day of the United Nations Global Goals, 18 schools in Reykjanes raised the Global Goals flag as a symbol of unity and commitment to integrating the goals into education and community awareness.

The day marked a significant milestone for the educational community in Reykjanes, as these schools have signed a declaration of intent to join the UNESCO Schools Programme. The programme aims to promote sustainable development, global citizenship, and a culture of peace. Schools involved in the initiative now include all primary schools in the region, seven preschools, Suðurnes Comprehensive College, and the Icelandic College of Fisheries.
The idea for this initiative originated from the Suðurnes Platform, a collaborative network of municipalities, businesses, and educational institutions in the area. It is implemented with the support of Reykjanes Geopark, with GeoCamp Iceland leading the project on its behalf. The initiative is specifically designed to align with the core elements of the Icelandic national curriculum and supports Target 4.7 of the United Nations Global Goals, focusing on education for sustainable development.

The declaration of intent outlines plans to begin the application process for UNESCO School status within two years. By doing so, the schools have committed to embedding the Global Goals into their educational practices and fostering collaboration across schools and municipalities. “Sustainability is a shared responsibility for all of us as inhabitants of this planet. The Global Goals provide a clear framework to address the challenges the future demands,” states the declaration.