The UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development

On September 25, 2015, 193 world leaders committed to 17 Global Goals to achieve 3 extraordinary things in the next 15 years. End extreme poverty. Fight inequality & injustice. Protect our planet. The United Nation’s Global Goals for sustainable development could get these things done. In all countries. For all people.

Just One Africa is focusing on the first six goals, which we believe are totally attainable.

The Sustainable Development Goals

Just One Africa is accomplishing these six goals:

Global Goals - No Poverty - SDG 1

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

We ensure the vulnerable children we support are educated, which will break the poverty chain and allow these children to thrive as they grow into responsible members of society.  Our sustainable projects provide income from within, reducing their dependencies on outside donations.  These establishments have created jobs in the community and provided income, along with crucial food for the children. (SDG1)

Global Goals - Zero Hunger - SDG 2

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture

Our sustainable farming projects continue to grow.  We have provided innovative and effective farming techniques, seed, fertilizers, and irrigation resources to bring an increase in the harvest and income from the excess crops.  Our goal is to have our partners reduce their out-of-pocket expenses and have a sustainable source of both nutritious food and income. (SDG2)

Global Goals - Good Health and Well-being - SDG 3

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Healthy lives start with wholesome diets, warm clothes, and good shelter.  We believe that a safe environment, including education and community, is critical to the promoting the well-being of children. Children need love, care, and hope. The children we support are provided medical attention when needed.  Good health is critical for children. (SDG3)

Global Goals - Quality Education - SDG 4

Ensure quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

We believe every child should have access to quality education. We partner with schools, rescue centers, and orphanages to provide a higher level of education, and to ensure each of the children we support receives the best education possible.  Education is the key to ending poverty.  We bring quality school supplies and teaching materials with us on each trip and connect teachers in the United States with teachers in Kenya to provide new and innovative ways to teach. Students in our music program have even performed for Margaret Kenyatta. (SDG4)

Global Goals - Gender Equality - SDG 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

We believe girls should have access to education, safety, and dignity.  We have distributed thousands of sustainable feminine hygiene kits to girls giving them dignity. It is not fair for a girl to miss a week of school each month because of their natural bodily functions.  These kits are handmade with love and care by our team of volunteers, but we are currently training women in Kenya to make them as well. We believe the poverty cycle can be broken when girls stay in school. We are partnering local leaders who are leading the fight against the illegal practice of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)(SDG5)

Global Goals - Clean Water and Saniation - SDG 6

Ensure availability and sustainable management of clean water and sanitation for all

We have distributed thousands of water filters throughout Kenya and have trained the recipients on WASH (Wash, Sanitation and Hygiene) sanitation best practices and simple ways to keep families healthy.  Their money is now spent on food and necessities rather than being spent on medicine or medical care.  Entire villages are seeing the benefits of having clean water and hope for a healthy future is expanding. Our first deep water well was dug in 2015. We have built a number of bathroom facilities for schools, orphanages, and rescue centers. (SDG6)

The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and aim to go further to end all forms of poverty. The new Goals are unique in that they call for action by all countries, poor, rich and middle-income to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and addresses a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

Ready more about the Sustainable Development Goals on the UN website

“In the long run, nobody benefits from the existence of islands of riches in a sea of poverty. We also need a globalization of the responsibility. This is our greatest challenge in the century we have just entered.” Nelson Mandela in 2000