Arigatou International’s SDGs Academy for Children (SDGs Academy) is a safe space (both physical and virtual) and programme for children’s participation, learning and action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Agenda 2030 in general. It seeks to bring children’s participation at the forefront of the SDGs, while empowering children and the community around them, towards the realization of sustainable development. The SDGs Academy was established by End Child Poverty and first launched during the Global Week of Faith in Action in 2020, with a re-launch on 16^th June 2022, during the 10^th anniversary commemoration of End Child Poverty.

The SDGs Academy covers learning and action on the 5 P’s of the SDGs – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships, through its safe spaces and programme. Additionally, interaction with the SDGs Academy content is categorized into 4 age groups:  for children below 6 years, children aged 6 to 9, 10 to13, and 14 to 17 years.

The SDGs Academy for Children programme comprises of:

• A learning course with 3 modules to help children understand the SDGs and overall Agenda 2030.
• A storytelling campaign that utilizes multimedia to collect and tell relevant stories by and for children.
• Multi-level game app that enables users to learn about the SDGs.
• Advocacy actions and intergenerational dialogues

The online and physical space of the SDGs Academy is organized into 5 hubs being the Knowledge, Capacity, Innovations/ Solutions, Dialogue, and Faith/ Fun hubs. It is through these hubs that children learn, reflect and come up with ideas and solutions geared towards contributing to achievement of the SDGs. The first physical space of the SDGs Academy, the Pioneer Hub, was established in Limuru, Kenya, in 2021.  We have also set up another physical space in Sri Lanka, within the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement Headquarters. We have since organised several activities at the physical spaces, including learning tours, intergenerational dialogues, and a children’s camp.