As we reflect on the International Day of Education, which was observed on January 24th, Photo Start wants to emphasize the importance of education and how it helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the challenges that the education sector has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2023 marks the mid-point since the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for people, planet and prosperity, with a set of 17 interlocked goals that will come up for review at the SDG Summit in September on the theme of investing in people. Building on the global momentum generated by the UN Transforming Education Summit in September 2022 that Photo Start’s Co-Founder, Abby, attended, today calls for maintaining strong mobilization around education and charting the way to translate commitments and global initiatives into action. One way to recover and revitalize education for the COVID-19 generation is by teaching digital photography to young people living in disadvantaged communities. Digital photography is not only a tool to empower young people and to help them express themselves, build their self-esteem, and develop their creativity, but it also provides them with skills that are in high demand in today’s economy. Moreover, digital photography also teaches important soft skills such as problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and communication. These skills are highly valued by employers across all industries and can help young people to succeed in a wide range of careers. By providing these young people with the tools and opportunities to succeed, we help them to build a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities, and ultimately contribute to achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and building a more inclusive and equitable society.
