Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Storyline Module
Introduction
This module introduces you to the fictional village of Dewrose where you will learn how poverty shapes vulnerabilities that lead to health inequities. In this village, you’ll get to meet a little girl named Ada, Ada’s father Chido, Ada’s mother Zaineb who is pregnant, and some of the health challenges they face. We would like you to imagine that you work for the World Health Organization and you’ve been sent to the village of Dewrose. What questions should you be asking to gain a deeper understanding of the problem?
1. Dewroze only has one United Nations operated clinic, which struggles with understaffing, scarcity of resources, and limited operation hours. Propose one way in which the residents of Dewroze can be empowered to meet the healthcare needs of their village.
2. Ada’s inability to attend school (SDG 4) is closely related to the political unrest in Dewroze (SDG 16).
- Would you classify the relationship between SDG 4 and SDG 16 as a synergy or a trade-off? To learn more about SDG interlinkages: SDG Interlinkages Analysis & Visualisation Tool
- Based on your classification, how does a negative change in peace, justice and strong institutions impact quality education, particularly in the context of Dewroze?
1. When Ada seeks her mother’s permission to keep their lamp on after dinner, her mother discourages her, so they can save the kerosene and use the lamp for the remainder of the month.
- Out of the 17 SDGs, which one applies to the above scenario and why?
- Given the usually hot and sunny climate in Dewroze, what alternative source of energy can Ada and her family use? Briefly describe the mechanism of the source of energy.
1. Although Rabby’s father is certain he has been killed during a violent conflict between rival gang members, if he were to return home, what possible challenges might Rabby face in rehabilitating back into society? To learn more about child recruitment: Children recruited by armed forces or armed groups
2. Provide three actions Chido can undertake to increase his crop yield, so he can sell the crops to make enough money to feed his family.
1. Ada’s father, Chido, talks about how the funds provided by the NGO were distributed in an unequal manner among various villages.
a) If you were in charge of the funds, which three of the twelve determinants of health identified by The Public Health Agency of Canada would you invest the funds in? To learn more about the determinants of health: Determinants of Health
b) In order to bring more funding in for the areas you are interested in, which non-profit organization(s) would you partner with?
1. If the latrine in Ada’s backyard fills up and Ada’s family is unable to clean it up in time due to a lack of a sewage system, how can their health and that of the village be compromised?
2. In the storyline, Chido provides one reason why funding from NGOs is not distributed fairly. List and explain four other reasons why there is an uneven allocation of funding and resources from NGOs. To learn more about funding allocation: Bridging the Needs-Based Funding Gap: NGO Field Perspectives
Credits
Project Team
Dr. Obidimma Ezezika – Co-PI; Dr. Suzanne Sicchia – Co-PI; Kishif Fatima – Research Assistant; Mona Jarrah – Research Assistant; Rebecca Ng – Research Assistant; Aron Irani – Centre for Teaching and Learning Support; Mark McKee – Video Production and Editing; Sound Design, Voice Recording, Editing and Mixing; Umayangga Yogalingam – Animator and Project Coordinator
Organizations
- Learning and Education Advancement Fund, University of Toronto Scarborough
- Centre for Teaching and Learning, University of Toronto Scarborough
- Global Health and Innovation Lab, Western University
Student Advisors
Kishif Fatima, Rabina Jahan, Omer Jamal, Mona Jarrah, Suraiyaa Khan, Shawanah Rahman, Shimul Rajput, Kanishka Sikri
Voice Cast
Yasmine El-Bakri – Narrator; Kishif Fatima – Ada; Afridee Haque – Chido; Umayangga Yogalingam – Zaineb
1. The Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) are a precursor to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Although the MDGs promoted global health and well-being, progress towards the goals was unbalanced across countries. What are some shortcomings of the MDGs that may have led to the uneven achievement of the goals internationally?
- What advancements did the SDGs make to the goals established in the MDGs?
2. Sustainable production and consumption of food are important factors encompassed with food sovereignty. To learn more about food sovereignty: Food Sovereignty
- What is food sovereignty?
- What does food sovereignty address that is lacking in the definition of food security?
3. Reflecting on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, what are some ways in which services can continue to be provided in Dewroze, despite interruption in local services due to the ongoing war?
Resources
Collier, P. 2007. The Bottom Billion: Why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it. Pub: Oxford University Press.
Katz, J. M. 2013). The big truck that went by: How the world came to save Haiti and left behind a disaster. New York: St.Martin’s Griffin.
Riddel, R. 2008. Does foreign aid really work? Pub: Oxford University Press.
The Sustainable Development Goals https://sdgs.un.org/goals