Think Global, Act Local: Reaching global SDGs through community driven projects w/ Paul Karpawich

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become a focal point for many schools.

But few are taking real ACTION on a local level to make these goals become a reality.

What would happen if we shifted the focus away from seemingly out of reach global goals, to more tangible local goals?

'Think global, act local,' is the motto Paul Karpawich as adopted to achieve this aim through REAL project-based experiences on the ground level. Paul has narrowed his sights on projects that help schools in his area tackle the global food waste problem (SDG #12). Through cafeteria composting, waste management programs, and advocacy, Paul is empowering learners and educators to make a real difference in their communities, one project at a time.

Learn more about Paul's story and how you as an edu-transformer can:

• Organize mandated curriculum around the Sustainable Development Goals
• Co-develop project-based experiences that help students address them on a local level
• Empower your learners to become real environmental scientists, engineers, and community organizers
• Incoporate multiple stakeholders
• Create more sustainable schools and communities

Article on 6th Grade Food Waste Project: https://concordmonitor-nh-app.newsmemory.com/?publink=06815ae25_134aa62

Compost and Food Waste Diversion in Amherst Presentation:

https://tinyurl.com/fcrnxvdx

Connect with Paul: Linkedin, Instagram (@paulkarp). Email: pkarp7691@gmail.com.

Register for the 'Tackling SDGs through local, student-driven projects' 21CLHK Workshop: https://www.21clconf.org/presentations/pre-conference-tackling-global-sustainable-development-goals-through-local-student-driven-community-projects/

Paul's Bio: Paul Karpawich spent 25 years in high tech working for startups and established tech companies. He most recently transitioned to learning about how to lead communities through change to sustainable outcomes. In taking a think global, act local mindset in his own community in Southern New Hampshire, Paul has been drivng food waste initiatives around PBL's in the schools. Through a grant from WWF and his partnership with the Hollis NH school system and Helsingborg Sweden, he has implemented food waste diversion projects that are leveraing a "manage what you measure" approach to getting food waste numbers down. The project has been focused on getting K-6 students to recogize food waste and to understand how it can converted to energy through an anerobic digester. The Hollis and Helsingborg 6th graders have done multiple joint global classrooms to learn not only about how food waste is used to power transporation in Helsingborg Sweden, but they also learned about where their food comes from around the globe. Taking it a step further, the town of Hollis and surronding towns are getting into the act by setting up food waste collection services at transfer stations to divert waste from the landfills. Paul's future goal is to build upon this foundation to allow towns and schools to take on pathways to transition to more sustianble outcomes including waste diversion across the state.