JCI & SDG Academy Driving Sustainable Leadership at the 2025 JCI World Congress

At the JCI World Congress 2025 in Tunisia, a groundbreaking collaboration between JCI and SDG Academy brought to life a transformative learning experience: Steps for a Better Tomorrow – Managing SDG Projects. This dynamic workshop was designed to equip young leaders with the practical tools to turn their passion into powerful, sustainable projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A Global Classroom for Change

The training attracted 91 participants from diverse backgrounds and representing countries across Africa, Europe, America, and beyond. Guided by expert trainers 2025 JCI ESG Committee Chairperson Anirudh Sistla (JCI India), JCI Trainer Edinson Fonseca (JCI Colombia), and JCI Training Mentor Marlen Wehner (JCI Germany), attendees engaged in an interactive program blending 50% lecture and 50% hands-on activities.

Participants learned to:

• Use data to identify real community needs

• Apply the JCI Action Framework for structured project planning

• Develop a Theory of Change to map long-term impact

• Monitor progress and collect evidence for reporting and awards

The session culminated in participants drafting project proposals and delivering compelling one-minute pitches, skills that will help them lead initiatives that create lasting change.

Insights from the Training

Beyond knowledge transfer, the workshop provided valuable insights into the global youth development landscape, Interactive polls revealed strong engagement and diverse representation among participants.

Participants showed strong alignment with core global priorities. The SDGs that resonated most were Quality Education (SDG 4), Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), No Poverty (SDG 1), and Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions (SDG 16), reflecting a commitment to both social equity and sustainable development.

When asked about the importance of achieving the SDGs for our future, the response was unanimous: 100% of participants agreed or strongly agreed expressing that the Sustainable

Development Goals are critical for our shared future. This underscores the urgency and passion driving young leaders to act.

Participants also shared their ongoing SDG-related efforts, from gender equality projects and climate action campaigns to food waste hackathons and mental health awareness initiatives.

Why This Matters

This collaboration reflects JCI’s commitment to empowering young leaders with actionable skills and SDG Academy’s mission to advance sustainable development education globally. By integrating data-driven decision-making and impact measurement into project design, the training ensures that initiatives are not only visionary but also verifiable.

“When young leaders have the right tools, they don’t just dream of change—they deliver it.”This is the spirit that powered the JCI x SDG Academy training at World Congress 2025, and it’s the momentum we carry forward into building a better tomorrow.