5 June 2020, Kennesaw, USA – UNITAR’s International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in Atlanta (CIFAL Atlanta) successfully concluded today a week-long “Education for Sustainability and Human Rights Virtual Seminar” held 1-5 June 2020. During the 5-day virtual seminar, funded by the Miner Anderson Family Foundation, K-12 teacher participants across the State of Georgia have been learning about the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, exploring the attributes of global citizenship and human rights, and developing ideas for how to utilize these attributes in the classroom. The main goal of this seminar is for teachers in Georgia within every grade level to learn tools to authentically examine and integrate Human Rights as well as Sustainable Development issues and initiatives into their students’ educational experiences.  

Dr. Binbin Jiang, Director of CIFAL Atlanta and Executive Director of the Division of Global Affairs at Kennesaw State University inaugurated the seminar with an introduction of the project and a warm welcome to all participants, who represented nine counties in Georgia. Dr. Jiang’s presentation focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting Goal Four: Education and the connection between the SDGs and human rights. She also provided resources and lesson plans on implementing the 17 SDGs.

Dr. Ion Vlad, Director of the Miner Anderson Family Foundation, offered his presentation on Human Rights and the State of Human Rights Education. Kennesaw State University professors, Dr. Jillian Ford & Dr. Theresa Alviar-Martin, lead preliminary sessions on human right and racial equity, global citizenship and curriculum, as well as on immigration and related human rights issues.

Participants benefited from the unique opportunity to hear from guest lecturers on topics ranging from human trafficking and human rights, human rights education through children’s literature, and marginalized populations amidst a global pandemic. The participating teachers found the sessions highly relevant, engaging and inspiring.