Send us a text

Welcome to the third episode of the IEFG Brains in Gear series. Inspired by the IEFG Together convening in Singapore last April under the theme "The Future of Teachers and the Teaching Profession," this episode explores education philanthropy's role in supporting teachers amid the climate crisis.

Our four discussants highlight the growing expectation for teachers to prepare children for climate challenges. Without adequate training and support, this responsibility significantly contributes to stress and anxiety. Education philanthropy has a critical role in addressing this gap.

Felicia Hanitio, Deputy Director of Education Initiatives, Djarum Foundation, leads efforts to nurture 21st-century skills from cradle to career. With a background spanning technology, philanthropy, and education, she advises the OASIS Schoolyards initiative on behalf of anchor funder Milklife.

Michelle Cruickshank, Lead of Child Development Innovation, Grand Challenges Canada, oversees Play Learn Thrive, a new fund for education in emergencies, and Saving Brains, one of the world's largest early childhood development innovation platforms. Michelle's work focuses on advancing integrated, science-backed and locally-led approaches, translating research into action and driving impact at scale.

Lennart Kuntze, Global Head of Climate Education and Leadership, Teach For All, works with 14,000 teachers and over 90,000 alumni in the Teach For All network to advance climate education globally. Previously, he worked in climate change and environmental sustainability for over 10 years at the UN Environment Programme, International Renewable Energy Agency, and Harvard University.

Djian Sadadou, Head of International Relations & Communities, Office for Climate Education, has worked internationally at the intersection of climate and education for 8 years. At the UNESCO-based OCE in Paris, he bridges the gap between climate science and pedagogy while connecting local and global action levers.

Here are some resources for your reference:

• Milklife OASIS Schoolyards Project
• Teach For All Earth Day 2025 Campaign “Building Teacher Readiness for Climate Education”
• Teachers for the Planet Programme
• Teach For All Climate Educator Story Series for Earth Day 2024 (with Rockefeller Foundation)
• Teach For All Climate Education Resource Hub
• Learn more about Teach For All’s Climate Education and Leadership work here.

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode! And don't forget to rate and recommend this podcast to your colleagues.

You can follow the IEFG on LinkedIn here. https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-education-funders-group-iefg