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Our vision on sustainable development

We are experts in Education for Sustainable Development. But what does 'sustainable development' really mean? Read about the five concepts that frame our vision.

No ready-made definition

In 1987, Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland and her UN committee defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".

Since then, people have added a variety of views on sustainable development. What does sustainable development mean to Djapo? Our vision on sustainable development consists of five criteria.

Sustainable development is a balancing act

Most sustainable development models include an environmental, social and economic dimension. They argue that you only make progress if you take all three into account. Internationally, the dimensions are linked to five dimensions or domains: people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership (the so-called 'five P's'). How these dimensions relate to each other differs from model to model. There is a 'nested model', a 'wedding cake', a 'donut' ... Each model brings its own emphasis and may or may not contain a hierarchy. In our operation, we consciously deal with the idiosyncrasies of each framework. We look at it as a continuous balancing act.

Sustainable development is a compass

For us, sustainable development is a compass for shaping systemic change. It provides a starting point and a foothold, because orienting yourself with a compass only works with a (sustainable) pole star on the horizon. We are aware that sustainable development is a never-ending quest. Our work is never 'finished', nor are there any unique truths about possible solutions.

Sustainable development is a story

At Djapo, we realise that every story can be told in different ways. This is also the case for sustainable development. On the one hand, the global story of sustainable development has been constantly updated and expanded over the past 50 years based on advancing scientific insights. On the other hand, the story also evolves along with the 'storyteller'. Depending on the storytellers perspective, it is told with a different emphasis or from a specific angle.

Sustainable development is a challenge

It requires an effort to consciously deal with and balance the ecological, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development. The urgency with which our planet and society are changing and the underlying interconnected dimensions demand individual and collective commitment. Sustainable development is a challenge, one we will not shy away from.

Sustainable development is a conversation

Sustainable development is discussed and debated in many different settings: in politics, in academia, in civil society organisations ... Because norms and values influence the participants different views, sustainable development is never a 'neutral' conversation conducted purely on the basis of information. Djapo sees opportunities for education to participate in this conversation. However, given the politically charged nature of the topic, the classroom or school conversation requires a reasoned and deliberate approach. For this, school teams can count on our support.