UN SDG Action Campaign, Laura Hildebrandt onboard the 101st Global Voyage

The participants of the 101st Global Voyage had the opportunity to broaden their knowledge about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) thanks to the presence onboard from Motril, Spain, to Ponta Delgada, Portugal, of Laura Hildebrandt, Global Policy Specialist of the UN SDG Action Campaign.  Laura carried out various activities on the ship with the voyage participants focused on the SDGs and the work of the United Nations and the campaign on the 2030 Agenda. At the same time, she took part in different events with the Ocean and Climate Youth Ambassadors, onboard the ship and in Morocco where Peace Boat organized an event in Tangier with local partners.

In her first onboard event, Laura spoke about the process to approve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and establish the 17 SDGs, and what a significant achievement that was. "From 2013 to 2015, the United Nations did the most extensive consultation ever. 100 members’ states conducted nationwide consultations about what people want it to see in the development agenda. Finally, in September 2015, the world leaders from 194 countries adopted the SDGs. It a tremendously ambitious agenda and everybody needs to be involved if we want to reach all the targets”, she explained to the audience.

With the youth ambassadors, Hildebrandt shared several work sessions and encouraged them to take part in the Global Day of Action that takes place every year on September 25. "It was a pleasure to meet and work with such an admirable group of young people. I attended some of their events onboard and I was thrilled on several occasions while listening their stories and see the passion with which they talk about their islands and the need to protect the environment”, she said.

Hildebrandt also participated in the activities organized in Tangier, Morocoo by Peace Boat and local partners including Atlas for Development, the Tangier Youth Council together with the SDG Action Campaign. The main partners and organizers of the event were the winners of the SDG Action Campaign's SDG Action Award for Mobilisation last year, a project which acknowledges the work of movements and organisations around the world working for the SDGs and which Laura herself is greatly involved with. Laura moderated a round table on the role of youth with two Peace Boat youth ambassadors and two young Moroccans. "Having Laura onboard has been a fantastic experience. We learnt so much more about the SDGs and the impact they are having around the world. She left us inspired to work harder on our respective projects and ensure that sustainable development for our countries can become a reality”, said Ashneil Jeffers, youth ambassador from Montserrat.

Hildebrandt was onboard Peace Boat as part of the continued and developing partnership that the SDG Action Campaign and Peace Boat signed last year at the High-Level Political Forum in New York to carry out different joint activities to promote the 2030 Agenda. Thanks to this partnership, guest educators from the Bonn based organization will board the ship to share their knowledge about the SDGs with Peace Boat participants. At the same time, Peace Boat will host several events around the world to raise awareness about the 2030 Agenda in collaboration with the SDG Action Campaign and their global network of partners.