Local MP and Shadow International Development Minister Preet Kaur Gill has returned her old school, Lordswood Girls School, today to teach local girls about the United Nations' Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

In the lesson, organised by the Coalition for Global Prosperity, Preet Kaur Gill MP asked the local students to share what they considered to be the biggest problems faced by people in their local communities in Birmingham and around the world. The challenges raised by the girls included gender equality, plastic pollution and education for all.

Preet Kaur Gill talked about why she supports the goals and her work encouraging Birmingham council to lead the way by adopting a Global Goal ahead of the city hosting the Commonwealth Games.

The UK Government has declared the education of girls a top priority, with UK aid helping 5.3 million girls go to school. However there is still much to be done with 130 million girls currently out of the classroom.

By taking part in the lesson, the children join millions of others in over 130 countries around the world who have learnt about the Global Goals through the World’s Largest Lesson. The initiative introduces the Goals to children and young people across the world, uniting them in action on the Goals’ universal call to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Preet Kaur Gill MP said: “It’s incredibly important that we involve children when discussing the future of the world we all share – and that they will inherit – so I was delighted to have the opportunity to return to Lordswood Girls school and lead the World’s Largest Lesson today. Reaching the ambitious Global Goals will require all of our talents, passion and creativity, and it was wonderful to see how enthusiastic the children are about being a part of that.

Britain must continue to play a leading role globally to help create a safer, healthier and more prosperous world for everyone, and bold action to deliver the Goals, including working with schools, businesses and community organisations, is fundamental to that.”

Lordswood Girls School Headteacher Jane Gotschel said: “We are really pleased to take part in the World’s Largest Lesson here at Lordswood Girls school. It’s a brilliant way to get the children thinking creatively about the challenges facing them and children like them all around the world. The children were lucky to have their local MP giving the lesson, bringing her insight as a politician into how tackling some of the world’s most complex problems is possible when we all work together.” 

Theo Clarke, Chief Executive of the Coalition for Global Prosperity said: "Having recently returned from Lebanon where I visited the Malala school for displaced Syrian girls, it was great to be able to come into a school to share the challenges that other girls around the world face accessing education. It was inspiring to hear the girls of Lordswood School speak so passionately about taking action to help support other girls around the world. We should be proud of Britain and the role that UK aid has played in educating girls to ensure that we aren't losing a generation of girls who could be future teachers or doctors in Syria." 
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Notes to editors:

The Global Goals for Sustainable Development (also known as the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs) were launched by the United Nations in 2015. They are a series of ambitious targets to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and fix climate change for everyone by 2030.

The World’s Largest Lesson brings the Global Goals to children all over the world, reaching over 130 countries and millions of children since its launch in September 2015. It is produced by Project Everyone and delivered in partnership with UNICEF and many NGOs, private sector organisations and foundations.