The Environmental Com-munity Health Organisation (ECHO) in collaboration with PAHO/WHO and the Ministry of Education yesterday launched the ‘Schools in Action against Climate Change’ project at the St Margaret’s Primary School.

The main goal of the project is to encourage children, especially at the primary level, to take leadership on environmental issues affecting the local community and see the environment as a serious personal responsibility. The pilot project will see the involvement of six primary schools in the first six months, after which it will be extended to other schools.

The six schools that are identified to be a part of the project, which focuses on water pollution and the proper disposal of garbage, are: St Andrew’s, St Margaret’s, Stella Maris, Agricola, Ketley and J E Burnham primary schools.

In his welcome address at the launch, Royston King, the Executive Director of ECHO, said climate change was like a global environmental bell that has been ringing for a long time, “…But we have not been responding to it with discipline and action,” he explained.  King noted that new ways are needed to change the “environmental mess we have found ourselves in,” adding that the project “is about giving our children a forum to take leadership on environmental issues in their school communities and to be young champions of positive environmental change.”

The project consists of three phases and is expected to start from the beginning of the new school year. Phase one involves consultations with members of the PTA, community leaders, among other stakeholders. The major aspect of this phase will be the training of teachers as coaches to help the children. In Phase two, the commitment phase, selected schools are required to sign on to an agreement with ECHO. In the agreement, schools must restrict the use of plastic and Styrofoam in their schools and educate the children on alternative materials to be used. The third phase, the hardware phase, will see garbage receptacles and water facilities installed in the selected schools. Environmental clubs will also be established. Badges will be given to the clubs so that they can be easily identified as champions of the environment.

Meanwhile, King stated that the project faced the challenge of sustainability. This is in relation to the sponsoring of environmental clubs that the schools are to set up as part of the third phase of the project. He said that ECHO has been working with the business community and other interested persons to sponsor one or more of the environmental clubs, noting that Western Union “is definitely on board” with the project.

However, King praised the tremendous support received from PAHO/WHO, along with the strong commitment received from the Consulate for Japan. “ECHO would like to publicly register its praise and support for His Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo’s strong advocacy for good environmental stewardship and resources to fight climate change within and beyond our national frontiers,” he added. He went on to state that other political leaders should emulate the President’s positive attitude towards the environment.

Also addressing the gathering was Geetanjali Chanderpaul, the Co-ordinator of the Climate Change Unit; Dr Teofilo Monteiro of PAHO and Petal Jetoo of NCERD, representing the Ministry of Education. All the speakers encouraged the schools selected to learn about climate change and measures they can take, such as using reusable containers, disposing their garbage properly and conserving energy to help their environment.

Meanwhile, Troy Peters, of the St Margaret’s PTA said that the school endorsed the work that ECHO has undertaken. “The school gives ECHO our divine support. We endorse the project and it is really a pleasure inviting us to be a part of the project,” he stated.