2025 UNESCO Japan Prize
Earlier in the year, the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR) Education on the Move (STEAM-Y Mobile classroom), was one out of 120 nominations world-wide submitted for the 2025 UNESCO Japan Prize. In November, we were honoured to be mentioned as one of the top nine finalists showcasing outstanding work in advancing sustainability through education and community engagement.
Background
The UNESCO–Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), established in 2014 and funded by the Government of Japan, honors outstanding projects that use education as a tool to drive sustainable development. Each year, the Prize celebrates three innovative initiatives that demonstrate how learning can empower communities, strengthen resilience, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
About this years prize
The 2025 laureates reflect this mission through a wide range of educational contexts and approaches. Their work spans cultural heritage conservation, sustainable consumption, and youth-led environmental restoration—together showcasing the transformative power of education to reshape societies and build climate resilience.
This year’s laureates were selected from 120 nominations submitted by UNESCO Member States and organizations in official partnership with UNESCO. An independent international jury of five Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) experts reviewed all submissions and ultimately recognized the three winning initiatives for their excellence in advancing sustainability through education and community engagement.
These awardees exemplify how education can be a driving force for meaningful, lasting change and stand as global models for impactful ESD practices.
Check out the three winning contributions and our honourable mention: UNESCO awards outstanding education for sustainable development projects in Benin, Brazil and Panama
Learn more, watch the video about the three winners.
UNESCO YouTube channel: Laureates of the 2025 UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development
Photos below feature recent CWBR Education on the Move activities at local primary schools.
Focusing on the following Education on the Move topics: Water Conservation with Droppie the Water Mascot, Soil Ecology and Conservation, Fynbos, Fire, and Alien Invaders: Understanding Our Unique Ecosystem, Pollution and Waste Management: Protecting Our Land, Water, and Farms
