Graphic novel makes UN SDGs interesting for children

Giving United Nations Sustainable Goals an interesting twist to make it appealing to children, author and illustrator Kavita Singh Kale has brought out a graphic novel discussing 17 major goals.
Titled "17 Seen Unseen", the comic book offers the young minds a narrative where social vices like poverty and inequality are represented by monsters, and urges children to come together for their eradication.
An initiative by the UNESCO in collaboration of the Mahatama Gandhi Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (MGIEP), the book is set in a dystopian future where the residents of imaginary Uno town are living in "darkness".

"The novel is set in a dystopian future. It reflects the futuristic lifestyle -- how people will be living, the city planning and its impact on the society.
"We have been conducting workshops, after which we distribute the books to the children. The main aim of the project is to make children aware of the sustainable development goals," says Kale.
Excerpts from the book are being exhibited as installations at the Jor Bagh Metro Station here, as part of the ongoing Photosphere Festival.

For Kale, the most challenging task was to discuss such serious issues in a way that would be appealing and interesting to children.

"The project was challenging and interesting at the same time because the topic which the UNESCO picked up is boring and not easy for children to understand.
"Presenting it in a narrative, and picturing the same with story ideas and monsters in an easy-to-communicate way, was a task," she says.
The book features a trio of young inventors -- Ayo, Ally, and Vyom -- who raise questions about the existing disparities in society.
The book underwent several changes at the Paris Youth Conference, where young children from different countries suggested alterations in the manuscript.
"We made a sample book which went to Paris Youth Conference. Youngsters from various countries gave feedback according to which we made changes in story line.

"The problems are around us but we don't recognise them. But once you are aware of it, you actually start seeing them. That is how we chose the title of the book," says Kale.