“My school needs to address climate change and support agroecology!”
From April 12 to 13, 2023, Inades-Formation Burundi organized a training session for directors and supervisors of environmental clubs. Six schools took part.
Environmental investment through youth is one way to promote agroecology and sustainable, climate-resilient food systems. This was the rationale for the exchange and capacity-building workshop held in Bujumbura from April 12 to 13, 2023, for the directors and teacher-coaches of the school club environments of the pre- and post-basic schools in the MISEREOR project area in Burundi.
To initiate a common understanding and awareness, participants are sensitized on environmental and climate change issues. Young students are agents of change in their communities, both in the present and in the future, depending on the career they choose. The easiest way is to organize them in environmental clubs. To achieve this, the program manager at Inades-Formation Burundi indicated four imperative steps in the proper conduct of this process: (i) identification of pilot schools (ii) Discuss with the principals of the selected schools the importance of establishing environmental clubs in their schools. It is at this stage that club leaders are selected from each school. (iii) Capacity building and a common understanding of the mission ahead for each stakeholder (iv) Effective establishment and support of environmental clubs.
In a participatory way, representatives of 6 pilot schools exchanged on the good practices of “produce without destroying”, without forgetting the AlimenTERRE awareness campaign, perceived as a tool to mobilize the opinion to healthy and sustainable food systems. The participants debated on some challenges including climate change. Its causes, impacts and coping mechanisms were shared so that everyone could reflect on the means of local resilience in accordance with the geographical location of their school.
Before the workshop closed, each stakeholder reflected on next steps and commitments. Representatives from each of the pilot schools have committed to establishing and leading an environmental club by the close of the 2022-2023 school year, scheduled for early July 2023.
Inades-Formation Burundi, for its part, has committed to providing each pilot school with pedagogical tools consisting of a picture box and booklets.
As a reminder, 6 pilot schools located in the Misereor funded project area have agreed to promote environmental education through environmental clubs with the following slogan “Environmental education from a young age and in the school environment, a safe investment in the medium and long term!”
Published by Richard HAVYARIMANA,
Advocacy and Communication Officer
