United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – Why Everyone Should Participate & How To Get Started
- Mar 28, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 13, 2025
Written by: Janina Peter, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the SDGs, are a set of 17 goals established by the United Nations in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. These goals have become increasingly relevant in recent years as more and more people become aware of the need for sustainable living and responsible business practices. It is crucial for nonprofits, companies, and every individual to participate in trying to reach these goals, and here’s why.
First, let's take a look at the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. They are:
No Poverty
Zero Hunger
Good Health and Well-being
Quality Education
Gender Equality
Clean Water and Sanitation
Affordable and Clean Energy
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Reduced Inequalities
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Responsible Consumption and Production
Climate Action
Life Below Water
Life On Land
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Partnerships for the Goals
Each of these goals is crucial to creating a sustainable world, and every individual has a role to play in achieving them.
Let's take a look at Bridging Gaps, my non-profit founded in 2022. I started the organization after seeing how difficult it was for individuals and small businesses in the Global South to access the capital they need to grow and create jobs. Bridging Gaps provides entrepreneurship training and small loans to these businesses, allowing them to expand and create new opportunities for themselves and their communities.
Through Bridging Gaps, we have been able to contribute to several of the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities). By providing access to capital, local businesses are able to create jobs and improve their local economies, lifting people out of poverty and reducing inequality.
Every company or individual can play a part in making the world a more sustainable place. Here are concrete actions that you can take to help achieve some of the SDGs through Bridging Gaps:
No Poverty: Support any Bridging Gaps project to provide microloans to small businesses in the Global South.
Zero Hunger: Support local farmers and buy organic, locally-sourced food to reduce the carbon footprint of food transportation. Otto James Darious is a South Sudanese refugee looking to fight hunger and malnutrition by opening his own food business, the "Zero Hunger Healthy Society." You can support Otto and other entrepreneurs from his community through Bridging Gaps.
Quality Education: Support a Bridging Gaps Entrepreneurship Training, or spread the word about our existing educational projects, such as Anthony’s print and bookshop with educational materials for his community, which he opened with the help of a microloan.
Gender Equality: Support our trainings in Brazil which are particularly promoting women’s empowerment and advocating for equal representation of women in leadership positions.
Decent Work and Economic Growth: Buy products from our local businesses if you are in the area or volunteer to support our Bridging Gaps entrepreneurs in starting their online businesses. We make sure to support local businesses that prioritize social and environmental impact.
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: It is our vision to leverage innovation and technology to accelerate Bridging Gaps. Do you have expertise in blockchain or FinTech? Reach out to us and join the team.
Reduced Inequalities: Support non-profits that work to reduce inequality and discrimination.
Partnerships for the Goals: We work with a number of partners across countries and sectors. From engaged individuals over local non-profits to global companies, we invite everyone to join our cause and get involved.
So many more: We support local projects focused on any of the 17 SDGs, so stay tuned and learn more on our website!
Janina Peter, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Janina is a leader in food systems transformation, using innovation and tech for good. With Bridging Gaps, she is reinventing microloans and empowering underserved communities globally. Using her background in development economics and international studies, Janina has worked for the World Food Programme’s fundraising and advocacy app ShareTheMeal, Thought For Food and its Food Systems Game Changers Lab, and the United Nations Food Systems Summit, among others. Her mission: Creating healthier food systems to achieve zero hunger and zero poverty through innovation.
