Reading and learning are essential to children’s growth and development; stories can fuel their imagination and raise awareness of new possibilities. As young people everywhere are a key asset in achieving the Goals, the SDG Book Club aims to encourage them to learn about the Goals in a fun, engaging way and help them realise what actions they can take, empowering them to make a difference.
Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division in the UN Department of Global Communications, said “Knowledge has always been key to progress; and books, in any form, are the means by which knowledge is preserved and shared. Our collaboration with the International Publishers Association on an SDG Book Club is an important initiative to reach children and youth with books and stories in multiple languages that introduce them to the Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of action to achieve them.”
Multilingualism is of essence in reaching a broad, global audience. Titles will be selected for each Goal, in each of the official languages of the United Nations – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
During the announcement of the SDG Book Club, Dr Michiel Kolman, President of the IPA, said: “Imagine children in Asia reading about diversity and inclusion in Chinese; kids in South America enjoying Spanish language books on the importance of water in their lives. All children should have the opportunity to learn about and shape their world through the prism of the SDGs. We are convinced that the SDGs are attainable by 2030 and we hope that we can contribute to achieving this important goal.”
The book selection for each goal will be announced monthly for seventeen months, starting with Goal 1 in April 2019 and culminating with Goal 17 in September 2020.
About the International Publisher’s Association (IPA)
The International Publisher’s Association (IPA) is a federation of publishing associations from around the world. The main mandate of the IPA is to promote and defend copyright, support the freedom to publish, promote literacy and reading. IPA is an accredited NGO in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN. IPA supports the SDGs and works particularly closely with WIPO and UNESCO.
About the SDGs
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by world leaders at the historic Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015. Encompassing everything from health, to gender equality, and education, the Goals will mobilize efforts around the world to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
