Junior Ambassadors - 2020 Jaffarian Award Winner

Junior Ambassadors

School: Batesville (Ind.) Intermediate School

Applicant: Anne Amrhein, Media Specialist/School Librarian

Program Summary

In May 2019, the UN began an SDG Book Club for young people. The Junior Ambassadors Program at Batesville Intermediate School uses the SDG Book Club as a springboard to awareness of global issues. 

While all students at the school have a basic introduction to the SDGs, the Junior Ambassador students have additional opportunities to build their knowledge through research activities, listening to guest speakers and participating in special projects, all the while increasing their collaboration and leadership skills. The Junior Ambassadors then schedule presentations with every classroom to engage students throughout the school.

Through this program, students also:

  • publicized and executed a school-wide Read-a-thon to raise money for the Grain-of-Rice project, with the funds to be used to build elementary schools in Kenya.
  • launched their mission and introduce their projects through a "press conference" attended by families, Hillenbrand executives, and the local newspaper.

Press