Bead & Proceed is a social enterprise dedicated to educating people about the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and inspiring action through creativity.
Their workshops focus on sustainability, creativity, and leadership, as well as offering participants a unique way to engage with these global goals. Recently, Unitec’s Student Support and Scholarships team held one of these workshops for a valuable team-building experience.
They were first introduced to the idea at a Manaaki New Zealand confe
rence earlier this year, attended by Student Support and Scholarship Manager Monique Bell, New Zealand Scholarships & Youth Guarantee Lead Sophie Aleke Fa’avae, Student Support and Scholarships Advisor Byron Iosia, and Director of Student Success, Annette Pitovao.
Each Student Support team member had the opportunity to create a five-beaded necklace representing the top five SDGs they were personally passionate about. As they painted each bead, participants shared their most important sustainable goals and brainstormed ways to incorporate more of these values into their daily lives and workspaces.
Byron Iosia shared his insights on the experience:
Which of the 17 SDGs did you choose, and why did these goals resonate with you?
“What influenced me and my selection of some of the goals that resonated with me was my personal experience living in a country at the forefront of the impacts and effects of climate change. I saw the rising sea levels, problems with access to clean water and sanitation, poverty and densely populated areas on limited land, and poor access to employment and education opportunities for locals while living in Kiribati.”
How did participating in the Bead & Proceed activity impact your perspective on sustainability and your work at Unitec?
“It was a good reminder for me and the team to reflect on whether we’re practising sustainability behaviours in our daily activities. It had me asking myself am I disposing of waste correctly in the coloured bins provided at Unitec? It was a gentle reminder that sustainability could be practised in all areas of life—at home, at work, and with family and doing your part, no matter how small because it plays a significant role in the bigger picture.”
As a group, were there any specific SDGs that stood out as most popular or meaningful? “Reducing poverty resonated with many of us because we often see students seeking support, whether it be a need for help with access to the food cupboard, petrol vouchers, and scholarship funding. Gender equality was also important, highlighting the need for equal opportunities.”
Overall, how did the team respond to the Bead & Proceed workshop?
“By the end of the session, everyone walked away with a fresh perspective on how they practice sustainability in their lives. The Bead & Proceed workshop was more than just a creative activity—it was a powerful reminder of how we all can contribute to a more sustainable world, both personally and professionally. ”