Sustainable Development Goals: Leaving No One Behind – Examples from Papua New Guinea

Summary

This video highlights the real-life challenges faced by families in Papua New Guinea in their pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the stories of Susan, Benny, and Dorothy, we see how rising sea levels, unreliable food production, and poverty hinder their aspirations for education and health. Despite these obstacles, their resilience underscores the interconnectedness of individual lives and the broader SDGs, illustrating that real change is driven by collective effort and determination. The message emphasizes that every day counts in the journey towards a better future for all.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to transform the world by 2030, addressing urgent social, economic, and environmental challenges.
• 🤝 The SDGs are universal, integrated, and transformative, with each goal depending on others for success.
• 👩‍🌾 Susan, a farmer in Papua New Guinea, faces challenges like rising sea levels affecting food production and access to clean water.
• 🚶‍♂️ Children in rural areas often walk long distances to school, leading to low attendance and stunted growth due to food insecurity.
• 💧 Water supply is threatened by saltwater intrusion, making access to clean water a major concern for families like Susan's.
• 🚑 Access to healthcare is limited, with families often unable to reach facilities, resulting in untreated illnesses.
• 🌧️ Unpredictable rainfall patterns complicate farming, making it difficult for subsistence farmers like Benny to plant crops effectively.
• 👩‍🍳 In urban areas like Port Moresby, women like Dorothy face economic hardships and gender-based violence, limiting their opportunities.
• 📚 Education is a critical dream for parents, but financial struggles often prevent children from attending school consistently.
• 🔄 The SDGs emphasize that improving individual lives contributes to the overall betterment of communities and nations.

Q & A

What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

The SDGs are a set of 17 universal goals adopted by 193 member states of the UN in 2015, aimed at addressing urgent social, economic, and environmental challenges to transform our world by 2030.

How are the SDGs interconnected?

Each goal is dependent on the others, making the SDGs universal, integrated, and transformative in nature.

What is the ultimate aim of the last SDG?

The last goal emphasizes the importance of partnerships among governments, civil society, youth groups, and the private sector to achieve progress.

What challenges does Susan face in Papua New Guinea?

Susan faces rising sea levels affecting her crops, limited access to health facilities, lack of education options, and threats to clean water supplies.

What is Benny's situation as a subsistence farmer?

Benny struggles with unpredictable rain patterns affecting food production, health problems due to distance from hospitals, and limited educational access for his children.

What economic difficulties does Dorothy face in Port Moresby?

Dorothy, the sole provider for her family, faces financial strain due to her husband's lack of support and the necessity to purchase food, leading to skipped meals for her children.

How prevalent is gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea?

Papua New Guinea has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the Western Pacific, with estimates suggesting that two in three women experience it during their lifetime.

What are the common living conditions in the settlements described?

Living conditions are poor, with inadequate sanitation, limited access to clean water, and frequent violence against women.

What is the significance of individual improvement in relation to the SDGs?

The script highlights that the betterment of a nation starts with the improvement of individual lives and families, emphasizing the importance of personal change.

What is the main message regarding change in the narrative?

The narrative stresses that time alone will not bring change; rather, individuals and communities must actively work towards creating that change.