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‘Environment Ambassadors’ trained to support clubs in seven schools
The environment ambassadors (green t-shirts) with project staff (left) and facilitators (right) during the camp.
A three-day environment camp hosted by Global Youth Movement – Guyana concluded yesterday at the Weldaad Youth Friendly Space, West Coast Berbice, for twenty five students from seven secondary schools in region five. The camp is part of a $23M Community Health, Environment and Recycling Project funded by the United Nations Development Programme/ Global Environment Facility – Small Grants Programme.
The exercise was supported by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
In providing an overview of the camp, Executive Director of the local NGO, Mark Ross, explained that the camp was designed to provide basic information to students on environmental issues as well as explore the solutions to these. The camp was delivered in a fun and simple way so that students could learn easily and return to their schools and share the information. The main goal was to strengthen students’ ability to manage their school environment clubs while sharing information so that environment issues are addressed.
The facilitators included Vanessa Williams and Candacie Brower-Thompson of the EPA, Taku Yoshida of the JICA and Aretha Forde from the MNRE.
Ross said that he is hopeful that the students will contribute positively to the enhancement of their schools and the communities in which they live, so that the re-education and change in behaviour begins.
The youth organisation is also implementing the Berbice Shines Project in both regions which seeks to enhance public spaces and raise awareness on environment issues with the aim of applying community solutions. The students were provided with information on the natural environment, the 3Rs; reduce, reuse and recycle, composting, mangroves, leadership, advocacy and communication, club management, materials and work plan development.
The students benefited from additional training in book keeping, public relations, photography, videography, fund raising, community mobilization among others as well as tours to the mangrove restoration project on the East Coast of Demerara and had exchange visits with environment clubs from other schools in other regions. They conducted community and school enhancement activities; tree planting, clean ups, conservation activities and played a key role in the implementation of the Berbice Shines Project.
The Global Environment Facility is a partnership of various sectors in 183 countries to address global environmental issues. Since 1991, the GEF has provided $12.5 billion in grants and leveraged $58 billion in co-financing for over 15,000 projects. The funds are used to support activities related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, and chemicals and waste in the context of development projects and programs.
The Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services. GEF SGP works with communities and civil society around the world to grapple with critical global environmental problems.
Global Youth Movement – Guyana is a registered organization which was formed in 2011 by youth and works with young people in various communities across the country.
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