Luther College: SDG Staircase
SDGs Aligned:
Background
The SDG Staircase was installed at the North Staircase within Luther College at the University of Regina, and was installed by the Luther College Students’ Association. The project itself was taken on in response to both Luther College and the University of Regina being recognized by the International Association of Universities as global leaders for SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production.
Incorporation Breakdown
Even though the University and Luther College have been recognized as being a leader with respect to SDG 12, all of the goals intersect in multiple ways; rarely is one organization ever only working towards one singular SDG. This staircase, located in the northern portion of Luther College at the University of Regina, is intended to be a reminder of the commitment the students, staff, and faculties of these institutions have towards furthering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a whole.
Generally speaking, when working towards the UN Goals, community is at the centre of it all. When we all come together to work towards these goals, amazing things can happen within our communities. Having the staircase display these goals in a space where students come to study, faculty and staff come to work, and community members come to learn, it serves as a daily reminder of the community’s dedication to achieving these goals. By having these goals so prominent within an academic institution also showcases the importance and need that the goals address, both on a local and global scale. It sets a new standard within academic institutions as knowledge can be an important driver for innovation and collaboration towards achieving these goals.
How can this example be repurposed?
This project example can be a great way to start thinking about how to incorporate the SDGs in a more subtle, but constant way within your charity’s physical spaces. Instead of making the SDGs a complimentary aspect of a program or service, or trying to incorporate it into your marketing materials, you can see how the physical spaces you see everyday can do the marketing for you. Take a look at the building your office resides in, or the spaces you often occupy for your programs and services. Is there a way to utilize what already exists that can display the goals you are working towards?
Another aspect of this example is that it’s very low maintenance once the initial set up is complete. If you have the space, budget, and freedom to to cosmetically alter the space you occupy, you could install something similar to this example on staircases, glass windows, or doors. The beautiful thing about this example is that you can have the same effect while working with what you already have without having to tap into what little marketing or operational budgets you have.
Do you have space to hang a frame on a wall? Print out the goals your charity addresses on some plain paper, put it in a frame and hang it on the wall. Have some extra crafting supplies that are the right colours for the goals you work towards? Plan an activity with your board, staff, volunteers, or local community to create collages relating to that goal. Display the resulting artwork in a spaces that receives higher traffic (office desks, reception desks, hang on the wall, shelving, community kitchens, swag bags for events or thank you gifts, etc.). Do you have leftover paint and have an artistic/creative eye or know someone who does? Paint a mural in a space where there’s lots of traffic. By trying to incorporate these little reminders within people’s daily lives, it creates opportunity for conversation, motivation, and a sense of community for those working towards and advocating for the SDGs.
If you need help identifying the goals you align with, you can use the quizzes within the Initiative Insights: SDG Navigator website, or you can reach out to your local Community Foundation, academic institution, or RCE branch for additional guidance. This could also open the door for future collaboration or partnership opportunities too!