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Launch of the second stage of Project: Environmental Eco-Schools

Faustino Salcedo | Aug 8, 2012

Part of the organizing team of the program during the launch Conference. | Photographer: CREA Comunicaciones

After a first phase of training, they will now pass to activities with students and teachers.

As societies grow, the care for the environment reduces; as a result, campaigns to prevent the total destruction of nature around us arise. One of these projects is the Eco-Schools 2012-2013, whose second phase was announced today. It is organized by the “Fundación Nicaragüense para el Desarrollo Sostenible FUNDENIC-SOS” (Nicaraguan Foundation for Sustainable Development), in conjunction with Coca-Cola in Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education (MINED).

The Eco-Schools program was launched as a first stage in August 2011. That first period was to train and raise awareness on the preservation and protection of the environment to 89 teachers with 2,775 students from 4 public schools in the north of Managua. In addition the program aims to promote knowledge and appreciation of natural resources in the educational community.

During the first stage two students of the “Nueva Esperanza School” were selected to travel to the United States where they received training on how to perform cleanups, and how to care for and protect the environment. Dora Rodríguez one of the benefited students, said that the trip helped her to join the program in a better way and pass on her knowledge to her peers.

Second Stage

According to the Dr. Jaime Incer Barquero, director of FUNDENIC, “Now that teachers and students are trained, it was necessary to move to a second phase, which consists of running different action plans”. The second step is to build warehouses to sort garbage in each of the 4 schools, in order to ensure that society learns how to select the solid rubbish from an early age.

The second phase of the program is effective from August 2012 to March 2013, at which time there will be activities such as:

  • Talks with the population about the importance of recycling.
  • Visits to the “Fondo Natura Reserve” Located in the municipality of San Rafael del Sur
  • Environmental contests of drawings alluding to the cleanup.
  • Participation in the national television show: “Nicaragua Salvaje” (Wild Nicaragua).
  • Assessment Tours, cleanups and reforestation around the benefited schools.
  • And other activities with students and teachers.

Incer Barquero also said that the program will be extended to other parts of the country (the cities of Nagarote and La Paz Centro for example), where some local companies have expressed interest in running the project. Arturo Campos, director of corporate affairs at Coca-Cola FEMSA, stated that the entire society should unite to implement environmental security plans. Campos culminated by mentioning that the development of societies should go hand in hand with the care of natural resources.

Auralila Marenco, departmental representative of MINED said they are promoting training through natural physical projects, and that they are also looking after the schools benefited by the Eco-Schools program, to give a follow up and support them. It was also mentioned that they plan to have an indirect impact on the families of students and teachers in order to multiply awareness and training.

Translated by Aída Pichardo