SUSTAINABLE SERVICE-IN-DS

Involving People with Down Syndrome, in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, through Service Learning

About the project

Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder, occurring at the rate of 1 in 600/1000 births. The world’s population of People with Down Syndrome (PDS) is over 6 million. The medical condition and cognitive development of these people are affected. For PDS, life-long learning is not only about learning new skills or vocational training; it’s about being included in society, according to Article 3 of  “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.

According to the report “Realization of the sustainable development goals by, for and with persons with disabilities” (UN, 2018), “persons with disabilities are not yet sufficiently included in the implementation of the SDG where sustainable development for all can only be attained if persons with disabilities are equally included as both agents and beneficiaries”. The success of the 2030 Agenda requires a participatory and inclusive approach in which all stakeholders, including persons with disabilities, are engaged.

Service Learning is a teaching method, by which the knowledge and skills that students have acquired, through studying, are applied to a project development. That project addresses to a concrete socially-responsible cause, based on real needs and problems.

“SUSTAINABLE-SERVICE-IN-DS” is launched with the main objective of increasing the PDS’s competences and their Supports; regarding the implementation of the SDG, through Service-Learning, while increasing their social inclusion.

Our Goal

“SUSTAINABLE-SERVICE-IN-DS” is launched with the main objective of increasing the PDS’s competences and their Supports; regarding the implementation of the SDG, through Service-Learning, while increasing their social inclusion.

Empowerment

To urge People with Down Syndrome to become active actors in the implementation of SDG, and not mere beneficiaries;

Social inclusion

To increase the engagement of People with Down Syndrome with their local communities. Social inclusion and visibility as useful; and, they can be capable members of the civil society;

transfer knowledge

Τo transfer knowledge and tools to support people, on how to be involved in the SDG, and to cooperate with People with Down Syndrome;

Strengthen the cooperation

To strengthen the cooperation between organizations working for and with People with Down Syndrome; and, other social stakeholders, in order to address common problems affecting the local communities.

Project  Impact

SUSTAINABLE-SERVICE-IN-DS project involved the number of persons, that follows, in the
aforementioned project activities and during the project’s lifetime: