GNSD offers an Internet hub allowing individuals and organizations involved in sustainability and peace projects to connect with each other, and create partnerships enhancing sustainable development of communities at the local and global levels. History of GNSD
In the year 2000, the United Nations challenged the world by setting eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) addressing major global is
sues that the world is facing. Already in 2009 UN began a campaign intending to summarize achievements made during the first nine years and setting directions for the remaining years. The global discussion started with the World Civic Forum organized by UNDESA in Seoul (Korea), and resulted in a pledge for global cooperation and citizen’s involvement. The World Congress on Higher Education organized by UNESCO in Paris followed this conference, and promoted social responsibility of universities that should manifest itself in more effective education of community leaders. All involved parties agreed that although there is a visible progress in addressing global issues, finding final solutions to global issues requires further multicultural dialogue and expansion of global partnerships, citizens’ engagement and close collaboration between governments, universities and community organizations much beyond the year 2015. Numerous networks and partnerships facilitating multicultural dialogue and international cooperation have been created since then. In 2012 initiated Arizona State University signed a partnership agreement with Gandhi Research Foundation (GRF) and Jain Irrigation Systems, Ltd (JISL), located in Jalgaon (India.) The partnership developed a 5-year long project entitled: Empowerment for Peace through Leadership in Agribusiness and Sustainability; Eradicating Poverty in Rural Communities (EmPeace LABS). Since then the partnership organized three international leadership training workshops, two in Jalgaon, and one in Africa. Over 100 young community leaders from 14 African countries participated in these workshops. In 2014 a group of former participants of EmPeace LABS workshops, together with few young community leaders representing Brazil, Canada, China, Nepal, India, Japan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Somalia and USA, came with an idea of utilizing experience gathered during the training by launching the Global Network for Sustainable Development (GNSD). The intention was to involve high schools students in creating a model of global partnership for sustainable development envisioned by the UN. GNSD was officially launched in Kathmandu (Nepal) at the meeting of Rotary International Clubs of Nepal, as another project of Arizona State University. In 2016, one of the partners of GNSD, Mahatma Gandhi Shodh Sansthan (MGSS), a CBO (Community Based Organization) from India, initiated a new project: Peace Clubs for Sustainability (PCS). At the beginning of 2017 we decided to include this project in the revised mission of GNSD, and register GNSD as a non-governmental organization (NGO). The revised mission on GNSD intends to educate a new generation of community leaders and citizens prepared for contributing to sustainable development and peace in their communities, countries and the world. In the fall of 2017 there will be in New Delhi the official inauguration of the project with participation of 500 high schools from India. In October 2015 GNSD and SusTranCon initiated collaboration with China by discussing a partnership with newly created Smart Learning Instituted at Beijing Normal University. This Institute was created to assist in modernization of educational system in China by implementing information technology in educational process. In June 2015, the book Smart Learning in Smart Cities describing development of smart schools in China was published by Springer. I am the co-author of this book next to Dr. Dejian Liu, and Ronghuai Huang, the Dean of Smart Learning Institute. Finally, this fall GNSD is planning to create a joint venture with the software corporation from China.
