Today, young people are experiencing a deep "eco-anxiety" in the face of the climate crisis and environmental destruction. However, current education systems are insufficient to provide concrete tools to translate this anxiety into action. We created this innovation with the aim of building a bridge that will transform theoretical environmental knowledge into systemic change and concrete projects.
We identified a pedagogical gap, particularly in enabling gifted students to utilize their potential to create solutions to global problems. In line with UNESCO's "Greening Education" goals, we aimed for young people to become not just "consumers" or "observers," but "social entrepreneurs" who create value in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By combining our academic expertise and the Socratic questioning method, we implemented this workshop model that will enable young people to build the future today, rather than waiting for it.
Our workshop is based on a structured curriculum spanning two years, prepared under the guidance of UNESCO's "Greening Education". The implementation process begins with students analyzing global issues using Socratic inquiry and transforms them into concrete business models using systems thinking methodology.
The strongest evidence of our innovation is its recognition as a "Good Practice" by the UNESCO SDG 4 (Sustainable Development Goal 4) Knowledge Centre.
Our workshop follows a multi-layered dissemination approach through digitalization and strategic networks. Our SDG-related content has been transformed into a 17-video digital series and made accessible on YouTube, enabling us to transcend physical boundaries. My membership in the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership and my role as a Scientix Turkey Ambassador provide a foundation for the curriculum to be recognized internationally and reach other educators.
Our projects, implemented in various cities such as Antalya and Kayseri, targeting a wide range of students from children with mild intellectual disabilities to gifted students, have proven the inclusiveness and adaptability of the model. Furthermore, the guide book on SDG integration in teacher training, which we prepared with Prof. Dr. Fatma Bozkurt, is a fundamental dissemination tool guaranteeing the academic and professional reach of our model.
"Our project, 'Entrepreneurship Workshop for Sustainable Development Goals,' initially began as a classroom-based program for gifted students. However, its scope has been expanded to include global standards derived from the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership and the Scientix Turkey Embassy networks.
One of the most significant additions is the integration of systems thinking methodology, which transforms theoretical knowledge into concrete models of 'social entrepreneurship.' Furthermore, our educational model has been adapted to the digital age, creating a hybrid structure with a 17-video content series.
Finally, our model has been further strengthened in terms of inclusivity through adaptations for children with mild intellectual disabilities, developed through our work in Antalya."
To implement our workshop in your own context, you can follow these steps:
Material Access and Preparation: First, understand the core philosophy by reviewing the 17-video training series on our YouTube channel.
Problem Identification and Inquiry: Choose a local environmental problem with your students. Using systems thinking, discuss the root causes of this problem and its relationship to planetary limits (climate, water, biodiversity, etc.).
Entrepreneurial Design Process: Divide students into groups and ask them to develop a sustainable business model for the identified problem. Follow the steps of design thinking (empathy, definition, idea generation, prototyping, testing) at this stage.
Implementation and Sharing: Share the developed prototypes or social entrepreneurship ideas with the school community. For inclusivity, remember to adapt the materials to the different learning needs of your group (including special education).
Communication and Support: For technical support, curriculum adaptation, or collaboration during the implementation process, you can contact me directly through my HundrED profile or via my corporate email address.
