What Are the UN Sustainable Development Goals? A Family’s Guide to the 17 Goals
In 2015, world leaders came together to create a shared vision for the future—one where people, planet, and prosperity are prioritized. The result was the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 17 global goals that serve as a roadmap to tackle the world’s most pressing issues, from ending poverty and hunger to protecting our oceans and building strong communities. But what do these goals have to do with your family?
A lot, actually.
Whether you're in The Bahamas, the U.S., or anywhere in between, the SDGs offer a powerful framework to teach children empathy, responsibility, and connection to the wider world. When we understand the goals through a local and cultural lens, they stop feeling like faraway ideals and start becoming practical ways families can take action every day.
What Are the SDGs, and Why Should Families Care?
The SDGs are 17 interconnected goals agreed upon by 193 countries. They aim to be achieved by 2030 and cover social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability. Here are a few examples:
Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 14: Life Below Water
These goals are global, but they rely on local action—including yours. Teaching children about the SDGs helps them see how their daily choices, from what they eat to how they treat others, impact people and the planet.
Making It Relevant: SDGs Through a Caribbean Lens
Let’s bring it home. In the Caribbean, many of these goals are already part of daily life:
Fishing and marine protection (Goal 14)
Bush medicine and community health (Goal 3)
Solar energy and storm preparedness (Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy)
Cultural preservation and storytelling (Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)
By showing children how their island life connects to these global ideas, you’re helping them build both pride and awareness. You’re also reinforcing the power of small, consistent actions that ripple outward.
A Kid-Friendly Way to Learn the 17 Goals
Here’s a simplified way to introduce the goals to your children:
People Goals (1–6): Caring for each other
Planet Goals (13–15): Caring for the Earth
Prosperity Goals (7–12): Creating fair and thriving communities
Peace & Partnerships (16–17): Working together for justice and kindness
Get creative: Draw posters, make SDG bracelets, or play a scavenger hunt where each item teaches something about a goal. The more hands-on, the better.
Practical Ways to Bring the SDGs Into Family Life
Goal 2: Zero Hunger – Start a mini-garden or compost bin together.
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – Talk about water conservation during teeth brushing.
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption – Choose local fruits or secondhand clothes when shopping.
Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – Practice conflict resolution and fairness at home.
No action is too small when it comes to teaching values.
Tying It All Together: Legacy and Leadership
The SDGs give parents a language to talk about global challenges and family values in the same breath. They remind us that raising conscious kids is climate action. It’s gender equality. It’s community building.
As Bahamian and Caribbean families, our traditions already align with many of these goals. Storytelling, reverence for the land and sea, community resilience—these are strengths we bring to the global table. American families can also embrace these practices and broaden their worldview through hands-on learning rooted in cultural pride and global empathy.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals are more than international targets—they're an invitation to reimagine childhood, family life, and community through the lens of hope and action. Whether you pick one goal or weave all 17 into your family rhythm, you are helping build a better world for generations to come.
Ready to dig deeper? Start with our Crochet Hoop Seed Paper Kit and let your kids experience Goal 15 (Life on Land) with their own hands. Designed for children ages 5–12, it’s a creative way to grow their connection to nature—and their role in shaping the future.