International Sustainability Academy

When crisis hits, inequality hits harder. 🌍

Not everyone has the same resources, protection or opportunities to recover from conflict, displacement or disaster.

And the people trying to help are increasingly at risk too.

This WorldHumanitarianDay, we’re looking at humanitarian action through the lens of SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

In 2026 alone, OCHA reports:
82 aid workers killed
97 injured
39 kidnapped

Behind every number is someone who chose to help people in crisis.

Protecting humanitarian workers.
Protecting civilians.
Making aid accessible to everyone who needs it.

These are also part of building a more equal world.

Swipe to learn why humanitarian action and reducing inequality are deeply connected.

Global health is getting better.

So why are 13.5 million children still missing every routine vaccine in their first year of life?

That is the reality behind SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

We have seen huge progress in maternal health, child survival, and HIV prevention.

But progress is slowing.

Malaria is rising again.
Healthcare is still unaffordable for millions.
Vaccination gaps are leaving communities vulnerable to preventable outbreaks.

Good health is not just about surviving illness.

It is about having access to care, prevention, vaccines, information, and a health system that works when you need it.

Swipe to see where we stand on SDG 3 in 2026. ➡️

💧 The next major sustainability crisis may begin with water.

Too little.
Too much.
Or arriving in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In July 2026, half of England was officially declared in drought. Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization warned that El Niño could intensify drought, heavy rainfall and flooding across different regions.

But water insecurity does not affect water alone.
It affects:

🌾 The food we produce
❤️ Our health and well-being
⚡ Our energy systems
🏙️ The resilience of our cities
🌿 Our ecosystems
💼 Jobs and livelihoods

This is why water security is directly connected to SDG 6 and essential to progress across SDGs 2, 3, 11, 13 and 16.

Protecting water means protecting our shared future.

Swipe through to discover why water security is becoming one of the defining sustainability challenges of our time. ➡️

Sources: UK Environment Agency and World Meteorological Organization.

One Fellow learns. A whole community can benefit. 🌍

After joining the ISA programme, Hung Bee Ling continues to turn sustainability into local action in Malaysia.

As co-founder of Hara Makers, she leads the Reimagine Plastic project, helping disadvantaged communities transform plastic waste into useful products through vocational training and upcycling.

The result is more than cleaner communities. It means:

♻️ less plastic waste
🛠️ new skills
💼 economic opportunities
🤝 stronger communities

This is the multiplier effect of sustainability education: knowledge travels home, adapts to local needs, and creates opportunities for others.

From ISA to Malaysia. From learning to lasting impact.

Proud to see Barbara Makowka representing ISA and SDW Hamburg e.V. on the jury for the North America Chapter of the Global Sustainability Awards 2026. 🌍

The review phase is now underway, spotlighting changemakers whose projects contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through innovation, leadership and measurable impact.

We are excited to see the ideas, initiatives and people helping build a more sustainable future.

Mangrove Day was yesterday. 🌿
But the mission continues today.

Did you know that the Sundarbans, spanning Bangladesh and India, is the world’s largest mangrove forest?

Mangroves:

🌊 protect coastlines
🌍 store carbon
🐟 support biodiversity
🤝 sustain coastal communities

They are not simply trees growing by the sea. They are a natural line of defence for people, wildlife and our climate.

Protect the roots that protect our future. 💚

Plastic Free July starts with one small swap. 🌱

Bring your own bottle.
Carry a tote bag.
Say no to disposable cutlery.
Choose less packaging.
Reuse what you already have.

Small habits become stronger when we do them together.

This month, let’s reduce single-use plastic and support a more sustainable future, one choice at a time.

What’s your plastic-free swap this July? Share it in the comments. 👇

🌍 Today is World Youth Skills Day.

Skills are more than preparation for work. They are tools for action, dignity, creativity, and sustainable change.

When young people build skills in sustainability, leadership, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, they are better equipped to contribute to the SDGs.

At the International Sustainability Academy, we believe young people are not only future leaders. They are already shaping solutions today.

💬 What skill do you think every young changemaker needs?

World Population Day reminds us that population is not just about numbers.

It is about people, futures, opportunities, and the systems we build around them.

This year’s theme focuses on realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people, today and for the future. For sustainability, this matters deeply.

Climate, forests, food, water, education, and communities are all connected. A sustainable future cannot be built without empowering people to take part in shaping it.

Through the International Sustainability Academy, SDW Hamburg has supported changemakers working on local solutions connected to global sustainability challenges.

Because the future of sustainability is not only about protecting nature.

It is also about giving people the chance to live, learn, lead, and thrive.

World Population Day, 11 July.

Your brain is wired to feel good when you help others.
Dopamine. Purpose. Connection.

That’s why volunteering feels powerful.
Through Be Life, volunteers in Indonesia and Malaysia are turning action into impact:

- Cleaning rivers and lakes
- Sorting plastic waste
- Creating products from recycled materials
- Learning eco-crafting from indigenous artisans
- Sharing cultures and stories with local communities

It’s more than volunteering.
It’s rewiring how we see the planet and our role in protecting it.
Real impact starts with showing up.
🌍♻️