This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Leah Tai. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
This project was to assist with an overall environmental education plan, with a particular focus on the Health, Hygiene and the Environment program.
Leah reports:
During this Environmental Education project the Câmara Municipal collaborated with the Delegation of Education, the private waste collection enterprise, SaLimpa, and school leaders to organize an Environmental Education curriculum for students and teachers. This plan was created in late 2009 and implemented throughout 2010, including speeches, ecocontests, environmental talks in the classroom, environmental games and crafts sessions, field trips and training for teachers.
The project goals included passing new knowledge to students related to environmental concerns and to teachers about how to incorporate environmental education in the classroom. The objective of the training sessions with teachers was to capacitate them with new skills to use in the classroom to approach environmental issues. The overall project, which was created and executed with various groups of professors and other stakeholders, would also create linkages between professors from different schools and collaborating institutions as well as improve the communities positive environmental habits and increase awareness about environmental issues.
The trainings were very positive, teachers learned a lot and reported that they used their new knowledge in the classroom during the final months of school. 535 participants acquired new knowledge or skills.
Teachers acquired knowledge/skills about climate change, biodiversity, and reutilization of trash for educational school materials. Students learned about reusing and recycling “trash”, the importance of separating different types of garbage, waste disposal, plants, and the value of green space.
Community members and teachers will continue to apply their new skills in the classrooms during the next school years.