Stories Can Change How We Learn About Sustainability
Leuphana students bring Living Libraries to Charting New Horizons for ESD
This reflection is written by Nayama Elsa Christy who in her capacity as the student representative of the UNESCO Chair at Leuphana University had the privilege to attend the Charting New Horizons for ESD Conference in Hanover, Germany, held from 19 to 21 November 2025.
In every story, there is a lesson and sometimes a spark for change. This was exactly what we experienced when participating in the international conference “Charting New Horizons for Education for Sustainable Development” in Hanover in November last year. The event brought together students, educators, and sustainability practitioners from around the world to explore innovative ways to teach and live sustainability.
Together with my co‑student representative Jeanine Marie Rühle, we hosted an interactive session called “Sustainability Narratives with Living Libraries.” Instead of a traditional lecture, participants became living books, sharing their personal experiences with sustainability and learning from each other. The session created rich dialogue, deep reflection, and a sense of shared purpose that went far beyond conventional teaching or a conference speech.
The feedback to the conversation was overwhelmingly positive. Many attendees told us they were inspired to take the concept back to their own universities and implement it there. Hearing that our session sparked ideas for change in others was both humbling and motivating.
The experience also gave us valuable insights into how to adapt the Living Library format at Leuphana University. Such spaces can bring together students, staff, and faculty to exchange sustainability stories, learn from diverse perspectives, and foster stronger community engagement. The most powerful part of the session was seeing how personal stories can connect people and inspire action. We realised that sustainability learning is not just about knowledge but also about empathy, dialogue, and shared experiences.
The conference itself was a vibrant hub of ideas and collaboration. Workshops, plenaries, and networking sessions highlighted innovative projects from universities around the world, showcasing how higher education can drive sustainability transformations on both local and global levels. Being part of this international exchange broadened our perspectives and reinforced the importance of student-led initiatives in shaping practical approaches to sustainability.
As we bring these insights back to Leuphana, we are excited to create spaces where storytelling becomes a bridge between knowledge and action. Sharing our stories, listening to others, and engaging in dialogue has given us the glimpse to the transformative potential of storytelling in sustainability education, and we look forward to bringing that energy to our university community.
Nayama Christy
About the UNESCO Chair at Leuphana University
Leuphana University has held the UNESCO Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Development since 2005, highlighting the ever-increasing role of academia and higher education for sustainable development. Nayama Christy is the first student representative of the UNESCO Chair. In this role, Nayama brings forth the perspective and voices of students on the Leuphana campus on sustainable development, generating ideas and solutions for further improvement.
For any further information about activities of the UNESCO Chair, click here: https://www.leuphana.de/en/portals/unesco-chair.html or write to unescochairstudentrep@leuphana.de or unescochair@leuphana.de
