With technical and funding support from Green Growth Africa in Partnership with the University of Waterloo – WISE, Canada and Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability, USA, ETEFOP TSS Saint Charles Lwanga, hosted the Worldwide Teach-In on Climate and Justice Event. The event was aimed at educating students on the triple planetary crises of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. The event was held on March 11th, 2023, at the school premises in Musanze, Rwanda, and it was a huge success.
The event started with an introduction to climate change, and the facilitators from Nature Rwanda were able to engage the participants in understanding the critical issues surrounding climate change. The students were grouped into four groups based on their area of training, which included tailoring, auto-mechanics, construction, and culinary arts. Each group was given an assignment to analyze how their area of work is linked with climate change using the “problem tree” as a method for analysis.
Afterward, the groups presented their findings, and the rest of the groups were allowed to ask them questions. The discussions revolved around the causes of deforestation, air pollution, soil pollution, and food pollution, and their relation to climate change. The students were able to establish a connection between their specific areas of work and climate change, and they identified actions they could take to mitigate its effects.
One of the key takeaways from the event was the need for students to become activists for their environment as their future heavily depends on it. The students resolved to be engaged in planting one tree every time the club has gathered, which is every Saturday, and to develop a project to promote a green water tank using waste plastic bottles for rainwater collection and storage. The event sparked new perspectives not only in the mind of the students but also to the school management. The school manager participated in the presentation about climate change and decided that the school will be more environmentally friendly than before.
In conclusion, the Worldwide Teach-In on Climate and Justice Event hosted by ETEFOP TSS Saint Charles Lwanga was a significant success. The event was successful in educating students on the critical issues surrounding climate change and empowering them to take positive action towards protecting their environment. The event also had a positive impact on the school management, who were inspired to take action to make the school more environmentally friendly. It is events like this that will help create a more sustainable future for our planet.
