GAP’s programmes are focused on empowering people with the knowledge and practical tools to lead more sustainable lifestyles.
When developing our programmes and projects, we take into consideration the 17 SDGs and their 169 targets, and we do our best to align where possible.
The SDGs to which our work relates are:
1 – No Poverty: Our education work with community groups and schools emphasises local-global linkages, and many of our workshops and seminars explore the causes of global inequality and unfair trade/economic patterns.
2 – Zero Hunger: In our GLAS community gardens, we promote local, sustainable food growing and improving access to fresh, nutritious produce. Through hands-on education in growing, composting and seasonal eating, GAP empowers individuals and communities with the skills and confidence to grow their own food and make more resilient, climate-smart food choices.
3 – Good Health and Well-being: Through our volunteering programme, and our schools programme, we promote the benefits of outdoor activities, outdoor education and organic horticulture. These have direct health benefits, and well documented benefits for participants’ mental health, too.
4 – Quality Education: As educational programmes form the bulk of our activities, which are both provided on formal and informal settings (schools, community groups and businesses), SDG 4 is a key target for us. We work directly with school students (at primary and secondary level), and also support adult education and teacher training: We provide workshops, tailor-made toolkits for teachers and CPD opportunities for teachers at secondary and primary school level.
6 – Clean water and sanitation: In our workshops, we inform people about access to water. Our training on water systems and water conservation builds public capacity to realise Targets 6.1, 6.3 and 6.4.
7 – Affordable and Clean Energy: This is another topic we focus on in schools and community workshops with the aim of supporting local action. For example, after a recent workshop, a school Green Team supported management to install solar panels on their roof (Target 7.2).
10 – Reduced Inequalities: we educate and empower all our programme participants. Action on Global Goals (Irish Aid) and Action on Global Citizenship (WWGS) specifically focus on creating campaigns on themes of poverty, gender equality and inequalities in all its many forms.
11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: As an urban organisation, based in Ballymun, a substantial part of our work is focused on social regeneration in North Dublin. This experience informs our work in other areas too.
12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: GAP is convinced that unsustainable patterns of consumption and production are at the root of the triple planetary crises: biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution. Our work is aimed at raising awareness and knowledge of these patterns, and how individuals and communities can make changes to the habits that cause them.
13 – Climate Action: In our communities, schools and business programmes we assist people to understand the causes of climate change, and to develop targeted actions, large and small, to reduce their carbon footprint. Our pioneering work with the Ducky online platform enables us to organise powerful Climate Competitions, illustrating the measurable impact small individual actions can have on our national greenhouse gas emissions.
14: Life Below Water: We encourage students and participants to look at their water consumption and habits, considering their own water footprint, while linking it to issues around river and marine contamination and pollution. Our Water Wise highlight the importance of water within our communities and empower participants to create and enable collective change.
15 – Life on Land: We engage communities of place and communities of interest to promote biodiversity, to understand food poverty and encourage people to grow their own. Our work is aimed at promoting sustainable and affordable food consumption, enhanced well-being and strengthened community engagement. Our Environmental Education Programme, our Waste Wise workshops, and our GLAS community garden in Ballymun, specifically focus on supporting these goals.
17 – Partnerships for the Goals: As a small organisation, our ethos prioritises working in partnerships with others. All our programmes are joint ventures with other organisations, and we are members of a range of civil society organisation networks, including the Coalition 2030, Dóchas, IDEA, the Irish Environmental Network, and the Just Transition Alliance.