Pickering College students turn learning into community impact

Pickering College is marking United Nations Day by showcasing how students turn their learning into action for a better world. As a UNESCO Associated School, Pickering College integrates the UN Sustainable Development Goals into its curriculum, giving students the tools to tackle real-world challenges and make a tangible impact.

“Achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is a shared responsibility,” says Dima Marouf, Grade 12. “Students across all divisions are taking action that makes a real difference in our community and beyond.”

In Junior School (JK to Grade 5), young learners explore local environmental and social issues, from protecting the Greenbelt and reducing food waste to promoting literacy and designing sustainable water solutions.

In Middle School (Grades 6-8), their work through Student Projects Advancing Real Change (SPARC) encourages innovation and social impact, including sustainable fashion initiatives, mental health-focused coding projects, and accessible games created with community partners.

In Senior School (Grades 9-12), students lead a variety of hands-on initiatives that are both part of the curriculum and self-directed through their culminating Global Leadership Program capstone project. They are tackling everything from gender equality and sustainable fashion to restoring native ecosystems and promoting biodiversity through the “Little Forest” tree-planting project on the school’s outdoor education property.

“UN Day reminds us that, no matter where we come from, we all share a responsibility to work together for a better and more sustainable world,” says Savannah McGowan, Grade 12.

“Even small actions can make a difference,” adds Vera Piontak, Grade 12 and the school’s UNESCO representative. “As this month’s Quaker value is community, let's take a moment to think about what we can do to serve our environment and promote the progression of the Sustainable Development Goals in our community, to make the world greater, better, and more beautiful than we discovered it.”