Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was established to address the holistic development and educational needs of disadvantaged children in rural communities, based on the conviction that sustainable development begins with long-term investment in children, families, and community systems that promote learning, dignity, and resilience. ESD’s initial focus was Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE), responding to the lack of safe, inclusive, and stimulating learning environments for children under six. The organisation supported centre-based, school-based, and community-based learning centres, while strengthening parental engagement and building local capacity to sustain early learning outcomes. Over time, ESD recognised that children’s wellbeing is closely linked to the socio-economic conditions of their caregivers. Many women and mothers valued education for their children but remained economically marginalised. In response, ESD expanded its programming to include women’s economic empowerment through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), strengthening financial literacy, leadership, parenting skills, access to small capital, and social cohesion. Further community engagement highlighted critical gaps for out-of-school and unemployed youth, including high school and college dropouts. ESD therefore broadened its interventions to include quality education, dropout prevention, and short-term vocational and entrepreneurial skills training, linking youth to employment, self-employment, and social enterprise opportunities. As climate-related challenges intensified, ESD integrated environmental protection and renewable energy initiatives, promoting climate-resilient livelihoods, environmental conservation, and skills development in solar and biogas technologies. More recently, in response to political unrest, conflict, internal displacement, and refugee influxes, ESD expanded into humanitarian response and early recovery.