“One thing that I think could make a big difference is if girls and boys grew up feeling that they could achieve anything,” said Emma Watson, actress and HeforShe Goodwill Ambassador. “And one way to make this happen is if everyone has strong role models in their communities showing them what’s possible.”

These inspiring words from Ms. Watson are conveyed in a video message introducing a new lesson on gender equality, one of many new and exciting resources being launched as part of The World’s Largest Lesson (WLL), a global programme aimed at bringing the messages of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to kids and classrooms around the world.

The World’s Largest Lesson is one of the flagship initiatives of Project Everyone, the brainchild of film director and SDG Advocate Richard Curtis, which has the overall aim to make the Goals “famous” with people around the world. UNICEF serves as a founding partner for the World’s Largest Lesson, leveraging its global presence and networks to reach global scale and critical mass.

Launched in 2015 shortly after the SDGs were adopted by UN Member States, the World’s Largest Lesson aims to directly engage and inspire children to be a part of achieving the SDGs, including their ambitious goals on eradicating poverty, addressing climate change, and eliminating injustice and inequality by 2030. Using a combination of creative and educational materials, from comics to animated videos, and including messages from global luminaries such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram, US tennis star Serena Williams, Bollywood film actor Hrithik Roshan and Brazilian international football star Neymar Jr, the World’s Largest Lesson equips educators with free, multilingual and easy-to-use materials for engaging children in classrooms and beyond.

Now in its second year, the World’s Largest Lesson has already launched this year in a number of countries such as India, and will premiere worldwide on 18 September during the start of the 71st UN General Assembly, with schools across the globe taking part. This year’s Lesson materials include a special focus on gender equality, including Emma Watson’s Gender Equality Survey Project with results revealing during the culmination of the Global Girls 2016 campaign on the International Day of the Girl Child,as well as a new video by world renowned education advisor Sir Ken Robinson, a lesson on using the power of comics to creatively engage children, a series of short videos for younger children on climate change and more.

The UN organizations, creative agencies, public figures and other partners who have contributed to the Lesson recognize that everyone has a stake in making the SDGs a success and hope to reach and engage up to one billion school children across the globe in 2016.

UNICEF believes that without children and youth being involved, we will not succeed in achieving this ambitious plan. Earlier this year, UNICEF country offices have supported the delivery of an invitation letter to 190 Ministries of Education asking these Ministers to support the delivery of the Lesson in schools nationwide. The letter was signed jointly by: the Executive Director of UNICEF, Anthony Lake; Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova; Chair of the Global Partnership for Education, Julia Gillard; and UN SDG Advocate and Founder of Project Everyone, Richard Curtis.

By presenting complicated but important concepts in simple, creative and engaging ways, we’re teaching children that even small lifestyle changes can make a difference and cumulatively build stronger communities and countries as well as a better future for all. We also know that children are often the most active drivers of change when we get them interested and emotionally invested on issues.

The response to the World’s Largest Lesson has been incredibly positive from teachers, parents and children alike, and the initiative is getting more public recognition as well. In July 2016, the materials of the World’s Largest Lesson and Comics Uniting Nations were even featured during a Nasdaq Opening Bell Ceremony and discussed in an interview on Facebook Live.

While one goal of the World’s Largest Lesson is to raise awareness and interest in the SDGs, it is equally important to teach children about the small habits that can be formed every day that contribute to achieving the SDGs. Beyond being the adults of tomorrow, children can be the leaders and voices of today. By understanding and finding inspiration in the SDGs, children are empowered to take immediate action now, and to grow into the leaders that will actively shape the future world they want to live in.

Realizing the aspirations of the 17 SDGs will require the engagement of people everywhere and of all ages. The World’s Largest Lesson is a key contribution to getting children activated and aware of these critical issues for people and planet, and channeling their energies towards constructing a positive and lasting future for themselves and future generations.

To learn more about the World’s Largest Lesson in your country, how you can get involved and to encourage other educators and students to join, visit the World’s Largest Lesson’s official website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram pages or contact lesson@project-everyone.org. You can also share YOUR #GlobalGoals action plans or YOUR #FromWhereIStand survey result with @TheWorldsLesson.

The World’s Largest Lesson uses materials developed by Comics Uniting Nations to engage children on the SDGs through the medium of comics. The initiative was featured as part of the Nasdaq Opening Bell Ceremony on 28 July 2016 and the content was projected on a 7 story billboard in New York City’s Times Square. © 2016 Nasdaq, Inc. Photography by Christopher Galluzzo Nasdaq, Inc.

The World’s Largest Lesson features a set of video vignettes called HippoWorks, created by cartoonist Denis Thomopoulos. The videos aim to teach young children about climate change and becoming more sustainable. Artwork Credit: Denis Thomopoulos

Serena Williams joins UNICEF and the Global Goals campaign to launch the World’s Largest Lesson. Photo Credit: World’s Largest Lesson