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Narrative Atlas (narrativeatlas.org)
Description/achievement of initiative

Three partners--MapWorks Learning, Teachers Without Borders, and Ushahidi--have created Narrative Atlas, a cross-language, open source digital platform that introduces new ways of learning into global education. Narrative Atlas supports student-led inquiry, and emphasizes mapping and other visual media to advance cross-cultural understanding . Narrative Atlas provides guidance to teachers on the design of learning projects in which students create and share stories using digital media (video, still images, social media, audio, writing). Projects are linked explicitly to the major global challenges of the 21st century, as articulated in the U.N.s Sustainable Development Goals.

Implementation methodologies

We are currently engaging teachers in the U.S. and Tanzania, matching them with counterparts, and providing training and guidance to enable them to design projects in which students will create and share stories using digital media. These stories will be displayed on a virtual map; and in many cases, students will use mapping techniques to display their narratives geospatially (story maps). Within the context of the SDGs, Narrative Atlas provides a replicable and scalable model for deep, sustained relationships across cultures and languages (with instructional templates, sample lesson plans, student work, and an open platform for exchange of content). Narrative Atlas uses these innovative learning and teaching practices to transmit to youth the critical competencies of global citizenshipthe knowledge, skills, and opportunities to effectively: explore and study the world, communicate their own ideas thoughtfully and responsibly, understand and respect the perspectives of other cultures, collaborate across cultures, and take positive action in their own communities.

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

Coordination mechanisms/governance structure

MapWorks Learning (www.mapworkslearning.org) coordinates activities. MapWorks Learning is a not-for-profit public charity incorporated in the District of Columbia in the United States. A group of distinguished experts and advisors provides guidance (see: http://www.mapworkslearning.org/people.html).

Partner(s)

MapWorks Learning (mapworkslearning.org) Ushahidi (www.ushahidi.com) Teachers Without Borders (teacherswithoutborders.org) teachers and schools around the world
Progress reports
Goal 4
4.4 - By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
4.7 - By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
Goal 6
6.6 - By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
6.a - By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies
6.b - Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
Goal 13
13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.3 - Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.b - Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities

* Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international,
intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.
Goal 14
14.1 - By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.2 - By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.5 - By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.a - Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
12/2017
Initial U.S.-Tanzanian school partnerships
8/2018
Expansion of U.S.-Tanzanian school partnerships
Staff / Technical expertise
coordination of activities, provision of teaching resources and technical expertise
In-kind contribution
creation of open-source geospatial platform for interaction/collaboration across cultures (designed primarily by MapWorks Learning, engineered by Ushahidi)

Basic information
Time-frame: 12/2017 - 12/2018
Website
Partners
MapWorks Learning (mapworkslearning.org) Ushahidi (www.ushahidi.com) Teachers Without Borders (teacherswithoutborders.org) teachers and schools around the world
Countries
Contact information
Kent Lewis, Director of Strategy, kent@mapworkslearning.org
United Nations