In 2020, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, United by schools launched an international initiative: the definition of 24 Goals for Healthy and Positive School Climates.
Inspired by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, these 24 principles aim to guide educational policies and structure the association’s actions worldwide.
The goals were co-created by students during unprecedented consultations held at the United Nations Office in Geneva, bringing together parents, teachers, associations, activists, and young people from various countries.
From these exchanges emerged the Citizen Convention on School Climates, proposed to UN Member States and international educational communities.
The 24 Goals encompass all aspects of school life and coexistence — from safety to well-being, democracy to culture, health to sustainability — and are structured around four core pillars: justice, safety, well-being, and educational autonomy.
The 24 Goals for Positive School Climates include:
- Justice for residents
- Safety for residents
- Democracy for residents
- Listening to emotions
- Combating discrimination
- Spaces for dialogue and exchange
- Sports and games
- Ethics and economy
- Science, arts, and culture
- Clean and practical transportation
- Responsible digital use
- Health and well-being
- Healthy food and nutrition
- Global citizenship
- Ecological footprint reduction
- Universal access to education
- Clothing and dignity
- Shared education
- Debate and research
- Time and rhythm balance
- Training and mentoring
- Autonomy of educational communities
- Individual and collective freedoms
- Non-political educational programs
These goals now serve as the strategic framework for United by schools, guiding its collaborations with UN funds, programs, and agencies.
Thus, 2020 marked the association’s entry into a truly global and integrated approach, where every local action contributes to a worldwide vision of peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable schools.