Presentation of my experiences as a delegate at the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in Bonn, Germany, 31.March-3.April 2009, and the linkage to AIESEC as a global leadership development organisation.

1. My experiences at the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in Bonn, Germany March 31 - April 2, 2009 Sonja Moissidis, AIESEC Hamburg, Germany [email_address]

2. Why is this relevant to you as a young person?

3. All of us are agents of change. Welcome Note UNESCO World Conference, 31 Mar 09 by Richard Burnett (UNESCO)

4. AIESEC enables young people to discover and develop their potential to provide leadership for a positive impact on society .

5. What was the UNESCO conference about? Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is an approach to teaching and learning based on the ideals and principles that underlie sustainability for a more liveable world

6. The conference objectives were: 1.To highlight the essential contribution of ESD to all of education and to achieving quality education 2.To learn from each other and share international Good-Case-Practises 3.To carry out a stock-taking of the UN-Decade on ESD (2005-2014) implementation 4.To develop strategies for the way ahead

7. Who attended the conference? 700 delegates from 150 countries: amongst them 50 ministers of education, other representatives of education ministries, international UNESCO commissions, international organisations, NGOs, education experts and researchers, youth and international visitors.

8. What happened at the conference? Plenaries small and large group workshops project-based workshops adoption of the Bonn Declaration official reception, dinner and networking events

9. This is my experience in Bonn (31 Mar – 3 Apr 2009) that I'd like to share with you. Hoping our future impact will be significant...

10. First, I was a visitor, entering the plenary hall of the former German Parliament (Bundestag)...

13. Then, I realized I actually am an equitable participant of this event, together with 700 other experts and decision makers...

15. And I sat back to listen carefully to words from leaders in education politics, research and international issues...

17. Gra ça Machel, Minister of Education in Mozambique and Nelson Mandela's wife: Amongst them:

19. Gra ça Machel reminded us of our promises In 2000, the UN countries declared the 8 Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015, e.g. eradicating extreme poverty (goal #1) and achieving universal primary education for all (goal #2).

20. Did you know? In 2000, there were 100 Mio. children not in primary school. In 2009, there are still 75 Mio. children not in primary school.

21. „ What are we going to tell our children in 2015 with not having achieved our goals or kept our promises?“ Ask yourself:

22. „ I want to see young people who will be outraged by inequality and impatient to make a change!“ Gra ça Machel, 31 Mar 09

23. Is that going to be you? Are you going to be an agent of change?

24. Later, during a discussion in one of my workshops... I was talking to people from ministries in Iran, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Botswana, Switzerland and representatives of Worldbank, UNESCO and Oxfam:

26. They were struggeling to find ways to ensure continuing leadership and political committment in the area of ESD, e.g. related to HIV/Aids and health.

27. - It is going to be on us to make a change. - This was, when it became perfectly clear to me:

28. This was my answer to the global leaders, decision makers and experts:

29. AIESEC provides a huge chance for us to take responsibility and live our vision. Through AIESEC, we can become and help to develop more sustainable leaders, make better decisions and be agents of change.

30. So what do I take home from the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development?

31. A journal full of inspiration, learning and new insights Contacts to experts and decision makers in 28 countries 5 countries interested in AIESEC expansions Discussions on education, poverty & youth Having contributed to the Bonn Declaration on ESD

32. But above all: The deep and honest belief that each and every one of us is an agent of change and we need to start now to teach and live sustainability!

34. Thank you for your attention. Please feel free to contact me on sonja.moissidis@aiesec.net and visit www.esd-world-conference-2009.org.