Pathways World School Gurugram is set to host its SDG Summit 2026 on September 18, bringing together students from around 15 schools across Delhi NCR. Sandy Khanda, Founder of Green Pencil Foundation, and Kanika Khurana, General Manager at Jagran Josh, will join the summit as Keynote Speakers, with Sandy Khanda also serving as a Judge for the student-led Design Thinking Challenge.
Gurugram, September 15, 2026: As the world moves closer to the 2030 deadline for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Pathways World School, Gurugram, is bringing the global sustainability agenda closer to young learners through its SDG Summit 2026 – “Pathways to Sustainability.”
The summit, scheduled for September 18, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM, will bring together students from around 15 schools across Delhi NCR for a day of learning, collaboration, creative thinking and problem-solving around sustainability.
The central attraction of the summit will be a student-led Design Thinking Challenge themed “Build the Change You Wish to See”, where students will explore real-world challenges through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and develop ideas aimed at creating meaningful change.
According to the summit agenda, Pathways World School's SDG Summit aims to give young learners an opportunity to speak up, think creatively and take on real world problems, while developing awareness of the SDGs.
What are the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals?
The Sustainable Development Goals, commonly known as SDGs, are a set of 17 global goals adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The framework includes 17 goals and 169 targets, covering the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The goals are designed to address interconnected global challenges including poverty, hunger, health, education, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and sustainable economic development.
The 17 SDGs include No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for the Goals.
Importantly, the SDGs are interconnected and indivisible. A challenge such as climate change cannot be viewed in isolation from health, food security, water, livelihoods, cities and biodiversity. The 2030 Agenda emphasises that sustainable development requires action across social, economic and environmental dimensions, with partnerships playing a critical role.
For students, this global framework can be translated into questions much closer to everyday life: How can schools reduce waste? How can we conserve water? How can cities become greener? How can technology help communities? What can young people do to address climate change?
The Pathways World School SDG Summit seeks to provide students with an opportunity to explore precisely these questions.
Students from Around 15 Schools to Participate
The participation of students from around 15 schools across Delhi NCR will give the summit a wider platform for young voices.
The event is designed not merely as a competition but as an opportunity for students to exchange ideas, collaborate with peers and approach sustainability challenges through design thinking.
The theme, “Build the Change You Wish to See,” puts students at the centre of the process. Instead of simply discussing global problems, participants will be encouraged to identify challenges, think about possible interventions and communicate their proposed solutions.
The summit's recognition categories include Best Team Collaboration, Positive Impact, Eco Champion, Most Innovating Idea, Best Presentation, Inspiring Voice, Strong SDG Connector and The JAM Champion.
This approach places students at the centre of the sustainability conversation and encourages them to see themselves not only as learners but also as problem-solvers and changemakers.
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Sandy Khanda to Deliver Keynote and Judge Design Thinking Challenge
One of the key highlights of the summit will be Sandy Khanda, Founder of Green Pencil Foundation, climate activist and Teach For Nature Fellow at Bhoomi College, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Sandy will join the summit as a Keynote Speaker and Judge for the student-led Design Thinking Challenge.
With more than eight years of experience across climate action, public health, gender equality, youth engagement and community-led development, Sandy has worked extensively on initiatives that connect young people and communities with social and environmental challenges.
As Founder of Green Pencil Foundation, he leads initiatives focused on climate education, sustainable lifestyles, environmental action, menstrual hygiene management, gender equality, youth empowerment and mental health. The summit profile highlights his emphasis on developing community-rooted solutions and working with people rather than merely for them.
His participation is particularly relevant to the summit's focus on turning sustainability education into action. Through his work in climate education and nature-based learning, Sandy is expected to encourage students to look at environmental challenges not simply as global problems, but as issues where local action and individual choices can make a difference.
Kanika Khurana to Bring Education and Digital Media Perspective
Kanika Khurana, General Manager at Jagran Josh, will also join the summit as a Keynote Speaker.
With over 18 years of experience across education journalism, digital media, student guidance and career counselling, Khurana brings extensive experience in understanding the information and educational needs of young people.
Her participation adds an important education and communication perspective to the summit. As students develop solutions around the SDGs, the ability to research, communicate, collaborate and present ideas effectively becomes an important part of turning those ideas into meaningful conversations.
Through her experience at Jagran Josh, Khurana has worked closely with the education ecosystem and student audiences, making her participation particularly relevant to a summit that places young learners at the centre of the sustainability conversation.
Pathways World School's Role in Creating Young Changemakers
The summit reflects Pathways World School's effort to create learning experiences that connect students with real-world issues.
The school describes its SDG Summit as a platform where young learners can speak up, think creatively and take on real-world problems, positioning Gurugram as a “school of ideas” where students can explore the SDGs through active participation.
The school's leadership also places emphasis on student-centred and experiential learning. Ms. Monica Bhimwal, Principal, Primary School, brings more than 22 years of experience as an IB educator. Her educational approach combines innovation with empathy, with children placed at the centre of learning.
This philosophy aligns closely with the SDG Summit's focus on allowing students to learn through participation, collaboration, creativity and real-world problem-solving.
From Global Goals to Local Action
The significance of an SDG-focused school summit lies in making a global framework understandable and actionable for young people.
The United Nations 2030 Agenda recognises that achieving the SDGs requires the participation of governments, civil society, businesses, academic institutions and people, including today's younger generation.
A school therefore becomes more than a place where students learn about the SDGs. It can become a space where they experiment, question, collaborate and design solutions.
That philosophy is reflected in the summit's design. Students from around 15 Delhi NCR schools will come together, work on sustainability-focused challenges and present their ideas before judges and fellow participants.
SDG Summit 2026: Key Highlights
The SDG Summit 2026 will take place on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM at Pathways World School, Gurugram.
The programme will include the opening session, keynote addresses, the JAM and Design Thinking Challenge, student presentations and showcase, followed by recognition of students and teams across various categories. The official agenda also includes keynote addresses by Rahul Gupta, Founder of Kesa Kambali Foundation, and Sandy Khanda, Founder of Green Pencil Foundation, along with addresses by Wg Cdr Vijaylaxmi Sen (Retd.) and Arnav Agarwal.
With students from around 15 schools across Delhi NCR, educators, sustainability practitioners and education and media professionals coming together, the Pathways World School SDG Summit 2026 aims to create a space where young people can move from learning about sustainability to imagining solutions and building change.
And the theme captures the purpose of the summit in five simple words: Build the Change You Wish to See.
