We ask our Partnerships & Enrollment Manager, Petra, about where her passion for gender equality and education comes from and her experience working in sustainable development.
Where does your passion for education and youth development come from?
My drive for the importance of education started at a very young age from my parents. My mother has always emphasized the positive consequences of educating yourself and seeing the effect it can have on an individual and community. The sacrifice my parents made coming into a new country as immigrants and working low paying jobs in order for my brother and I to live in a safe environment and receive a quality education never left my mind growing up.
I started volunteering abroad at the age of 17 to work on environmentally and socially sustainable projects. This fueled my passion for education and led me to earn my Master’s of Science in Emerging Economies and International Development. Since then, I have been working in Costa Rica for organizations that focus on sustainability and youth development.
How are youth key in sustainable development?
I believe the phrase “Young people are the future” is incredibly accurate as young people are the leaders of tomorrow. The United Nations recognizes that the active engagement of youth efforts is key to achieving their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. These 17 SDGs address the challenges we face globally, such as poverty, climate change, unemployment, and inequality. It is vital that young people are educated and informed so they can become advocates for SDGs and their global vision for years to come. The next generation of young people are a growing constituency that are pushing their increasingly coherent agendas to the forefront. Great examples of this include Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Isra Hirsi, Marley Diaz to name but a few.
Does a particular SDG resonate with you?
Goal 5 of SDG: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
I feel extremely passionate about this particular goal as I believe that gender equality is not only a fundamental and inviolable human right but it is a crucial foundation for a thriving and sustainable world, economically and socially. Growing up I felt incredibly empowered by my family. Living in multiple countries and being raised as a polyglot, my family would reiterate the fact that I could do and be anything I wanted. From an early age, they gave me the tools to accomplish many things which gave me bright opportunities in the future. As an adult, I realize that this was a great privilege that many women don’t receive. It is my belief that everybody should get given the same opportunities regardless of their sex.
What attracted you to working in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is famous for its rich biodiversity and interesting history, but it is particularly unique due to its widely recognized sustainable development practices. The country has become a pioneer in many ways, mostly notably abolishing its army in 1948 and redirecting its resources to focus on environmental preservation and high quality education.
Costa Rica has also become the leading country in sustainable and eco-friendly tourism. Tourism has become the second fastest growing economic sector in the world and, due to the high economic revenue generated from it, environmental and social damages have ensured. Because of these negative impacts, there has been an increasing demand for sustainable tourism and ecotourism and travelers are now conscious of the impact they are making when abroad. This has led to Costa Rica successfully creating a sustainable ecotourism economic income through ecohotels, ecolodges, tours and a focus on promoting and preserving national parks.
How can OBCR participants contribute to the SDGs on course and at home?
Everyone has a different goal that resonates with them, so they should do their research on what empowers them to become an active global citizen! OBCR focuses on outdoor education and youth development and has a very clear stance on gender equality and environmental sustainability. Our courses give you valuable life skills and knowledge that will hopefully inspire you to create a positive impact in your own community.
Just one of the many ways you can help at home is by starting a campaign or project at your school or university based on the SDG that resonates with you. You can also make small pledges to yourself and your social network. This can be incredibly simple things, such as collecting plastic in your house to create ecobricks, or buying and growing seeds to produce your own fruits and vegetables. By doing more good acts or projects, you are offsetting the bad, educating yourself and others, and making an impact in the world.
Interested in attending a Gap Year or Custom Course with us?
Contact Petra to start planning your adventure abroad!