Metropolis - Change is personal. Everywhere.

How do you really create connection? In a world, that feels more and more polarised and divided, where loneliness is the new crisis in many societies and global solidarity seems a far fetched goal - how can we build connection and change? That were some of the questions, we asked ourselves, when we began our exploration for finding ways to change that.

In 2015 the Sustainable Development Goals were published, addressing some of the most urgent challenges we face in the world and creating goals that envision a different future. But how do you connect those goals to the lived experience of people in Denmark that creates a deeper engagement and wider global solidarity. Our answer is the Metropolis project. Created by Dreamtown, Copenhagen VUC, and global youth organizations, and local urban actors in Copenhagen, Metropolis offers teaching materials that connect learning to local and global action for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Metropolis Project is an initiative set to fully launch in the coming months, and it envisions a new format to transform the way young people in Denmark engage with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The concept is simple yet deep at the same time. Using Copenhagen's metro ring line, which consists of 17 stations, as a physical representation of the 17 SDGs, this unique approach aims to turn the surrounding areas of each metro station into a learning hub, where these global goals are made relatable and accessible, connected to the local actors and global stories.

A fundamental challenge the project seeks to address is the gap between young Danes and the wider context of global sustainable development issues. Many have limited firsthand exposure to these global stories, making it crucial to find ways to make these concepts relevant and engaging. Thus, Metropolis aims to create immersive learning experiences around each SDG at the metro stations, ensuring the youth not only learn about these goals but also meaningfully connect with them.

As the project evolved, it expanded from its initial idea of linking global narratives with local experiences through videos and apps. Recognizing the need for deeper engagement, it now encompasses comprehensive teaching materials and uses tools like the Woop app. This app, developed by the Danish Scouts, aids interactive learning by facilitating location-based quizzes and exercises, offering a more experiential understanding of the SDGs.

Metropolis also focuses its efforts on stories and educational content from countries across sub-saharan Africa. The films are not just informative but also made to resonate on a more personal level, building connection. The project's goal is to provoke genuine understanding and connection, bridging the local and global perspectives.

The educational model driving Metropolis is built around a three-fold connection: heart, mind, and body. It starts by forging an emotional bond through personal, global stories, showcasing individuals working innovatively with SDGs. They are a window into the lived experience of young people in different informal settlements, that work towards the changes the SDG aims at, with their ideas, innovations, actions and activism. Change is personal. Everywhere. And with that in mind, the films aim to be also an inspiration. These stories aim to inspire solidarity and emotional involvement, providing the 'heart' connection, through human connection.

Wanjira Wanjiri from Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya is featured in one of the global stories on social and environmental justice.

Metropolis, furthermore, digs deeper to stimulate intellectual engagement. Providing students with the contextual knowledge necessary to relate personal stories to their broader learning, this stage helps students 'connect the dots' between personal stories of creating social change and the educational content delivered in classrooms.

Finally, the 'body' connection comes into play. By moving through physical spaces around the Metro stations and passing by local actors in Copenhagen, who acts towards the SDGs, this hands-on approach ensures the learning goes beyond passive absorption to active participation, ensuring engagement.

In essence, Metropolis seeks to weave emotional, intellectual, and experiential layers into a cohesive learning journey. This approach is designed to not only increase awareness but also prompt action. By experiencing how global issues connect to their own realities, young people are more likely to feel empowered to take actionable steps towards these goals.

The unfolding stories under the Metropolis banner are as varied as the SDGs themselves. They cover diverse themes, from migration and community safety initiatives to environmental sustainability and gender equality. Each narrative illustrates how real people worldwide are actively engaging with and advancing the SDGs, turning abstract concepts into concrete actions.

At its core, the project drives home the message that change is inherently personal and grassroots-driven. It's about recognizing that even small actions can lead to significant impacts. By engaging in the Metropolis Project, students will hopefully be inspired not only to understand these connections but also to envisage their role in contributing to global solidarity and action. Through these stories, they will learn that change begins with individuals and communities, reminding us all, that no effort is too small when it comes to fostering global change.

In the coming weeks and months, we will publish the global stories one by one here. To access the Metropolis project, you can head to the offical webiste www.metropolis.education for an overview of the different stations (with all stations available by August 2025) and to access the free teaching materials, each with a full step by step guide for the teachers to take their classes on a journey, with heart, mind and body.