Local MP Ed Vaizey has visited Didcot Girls School to teach local girls about the United Nations' Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

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

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.

Rt Hon Ed Vaziey MP MP said: “I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit Didcot Girls school and lead the World’s Largest Lesson today. It’s incredibly important that we involve children when discussing the future of the world that they will inherit and it was wonderful to see how enthusiastic the girls were and hear about the fantastic work they have been doing. British leadership in development is not just about our values, and doing what it right, it is also about making the world a better place for all of us and future generations. With a smart and effective aid budget, which leverages British expertise, the UK can transform lives around the world and help make the Global Goals a reality.”

Didcot Girls School Headteacher Rachel Warwick said: “We are really pleased to take part in the World’s Largest Lesson here at Didcot 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 Ed Vaizey giving the lesson, bringing his 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 Didcot 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."

Director of The World's Largest Lesson, Alison Bellwood, said: "It was fantastic to teach the girls at Didcot Girls School on the Global Goals today and hear their enthusiasm to help end extreme poverty and tackle global inequality. The girls joined millions of others children around the world who are uniting to take action to achieve the ambitious Global Goals. In order to achieve the Goals it is crucial that we engage the next generation and hear their views on the future world they want to create." 

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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.