United Nations Day:
The Double Driving Force of Change.
Let us go into the details of the 2030 Agenda. Conceptually, its spirit is summarised by a clear principle: "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (Brundtland Report, 1987). Concretely, this programme divides global challenges into precise categories, encompassing all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Goals 1 to 4, along with Goal 6, relate to primary human needs. They aim to eradicate poverty and hunger, guaranteeing health, quality education, and universal access to clean water and sanitation. Goals 5, 10, and 16 focus on social justice. They promote gender equality, reduce inequalities, and build peaceful institutions. The group of Goals from 7 to 12, joined by 17, tackles economic development and cooperation. It demands clean energy, decent work, innovation, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, and global partnerships. Finally, Goals 13 to 15 protect the planet, imposing urgent climate action and the safeguarding of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Let us take a specific case: India, where the WASH sector faces enormous challenges. Almost half of the schools lack vital resources such as safe drinking water, separate toilets, and functioning sinks. This shortage threatens students' health, as drinking contaminated water and not washing hands encourage the spread of diseases and infections. Furthermore, these bad hygienic conditions discourage the continuation of their studies, leading many youths to drop out of school early.
This is exactly where the bottom-up push comes into play. Many Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are working hard to resolve this emergency by operating in two ways. First, they educate young people on correct hygiene procedures (such as using soap and managing personal cleanliness). Second, they raise funds to install fundamental infrastructure, like water filters and safe sanitation facilities. Thanks to the help of teachers, volunteers, and donors, NGOs transform the school environment, providing the missing physical structures and guiding children towards healthy new habits. At this point,the virtuous cycle is triggered: the students return home and teach their parents what they have learned, spreading change throughout society.
As the case of the WASH sector in India demonstrates, the 2030 Agenda requires a perfect synergy between two forces. The top echelons of the UN determine the guidelines and conceptual rules to follow. However, on a practical level, a bottom-up push—led by NGOs, educators, and all the figures revolving around them—is equally essential. These two dimensions are interdependent: top-down directives without bottom-up action remain empty, while grassroots work without global goals is disorganised. Both are vital. This collective effort involves every one of us. As a citizen, you can actively participate in this grassroots movement in two ways. The first is physical: you can apply as a volunteer and work on the ground with one of these organisations. The second is financial: you can support these projects with a donation. Even a small contribution concretely helps to build a better world.
-Piero Rigoni
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https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-children-in-slums-and-rural-areas-build-their-future?utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp30-treatment-3&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=it_IT*
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