Green initiative for schools gathering steam

Several schools in Region Four have been identified for adoption under the recently launched Green School Project (GSP). This is a programme that aims to re-socialise children who would have been taught to discard of their waste indiscriminately and develop a grassroots approach using the formal education system.

The Project falls under the Ministry of Communities flagship, Green Generation Guyana (#3G Project), which was launched at the Yarrowkabra Primary School on March 21, 2018.

The 3G team is currently scouting several schools with the help of Region Four (Demerara – Mahaica) education officials. A few schools have been identified including the Diamond Secondary School.

According to Ministry officials, the intention is to create a model of greening that is not only limited to the condition of the environment, but extends to the way students and teachers behave, their habits, mannerisms and attitude to waste disposal and the adoption of green designs into the construction of these schools such as Solar panels and sun roofs.

The programme also focuses on a green diet, which covers aspects of food and nutrition and hunger eradication. It is expected that the project can be replicated throughout the Region at other primary schools and so far the Ministry of Education has committed to this process.

The Ministry is currently working with the Diamond Nursery School through the University of Guyana’s Local Regional and Municipal Government- DPM 3209 Class to introduce some level of greening including the weeding of the compound, the distribution of waste separation bins and some amount of tree planting.

The Green School Project is one of several projects which falls under the Green Generation Guyana Project including the soon-to- be launched Green Quiz, the Green Debate and the ongoing #3G outreach.

The Ministry will also be working in Region Four to continue its 3G outreach to schools and have so far completed five schools in Georgetown including West Ruimveldt Primary, F.E. Pollard, St. Winefride’s Secondary and St. John’s College.

All of the Secondary and Primary Schools along Woolford Avenue were contacted, as recently as April 13 and these schools are expected to join the 3G team on the Waste Management Crusade.

The Ministry will be working along with the constituency representatives on these various projects.

The #3G Project was launched in August 2015, with the aim of sensitizing children about the importance of adopting proper waste disposal habits and to educate them on the basic concepts of waste management of separation, composting, recycling and waste-to- energy initiatives.

Since then, the programme has grown to encapsulate a regional recycler’s camp, a waste to resource (green) exhibition, a composting project for secondary schools, a national word-search competition, support for environmental clubs and a tree planting initiative.

So far, these programmes have reached over 3,000 students in more than 30 primary and secondary schools across the country and in all nine municipalities.

The composting project will be launched on April 25 at the Ann’s Grove Secondary School.

Source:https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com