Students launch book on climate change
STUDENTS from Duleek Girls NS are doing their bit to shine a spotlight on the current environmental crisis with a new book focusing on climate change told through the eyes of a koala.
The girls from 6th class wrote the book to highlight the urgent need for environmental conservation and hope their unique story will help to raise awareness and funds for climate conservation.
The genesis of the book, called ‘Where are You, Mammy?’, came as part of an initiative for the Junior Entrepreneur Project 2020.
The students are no strangers to the Project, having scooped a Creative Pioneers Award last year for their lifesaving bracelet design.
They are hoping their innovative story will help to engage and inform their fellow students, teachers and parents about the problems caused by the rising global temperatures.
‘ The girls wrote the story through the eyes of a koala called Jimmy to make it accessible to all and spread the message of the devastation of the bush fires in Australia,’ explained their teacher, Ellen Costigan.
They came up with a number of ideas for their entrepreneur project, including a gardening and baking kit, but eventually chose to go ahead with the book idea because of their desire to raise awareness of climate change, of particular relevance given the current situation in Australia, and the necessary financial logistics of creating, designing, printing and selling the book.
They previously welcomed local entrepreneur Gavin Duffy and Dr Eric Clinton from DCU Business School to their class to pitch their ideas in a version of Dragons’ Den and they chose the book idea on the advice of their mentors who believed it had the most potential as a financially viable business idea.
‘ The Junior Entrepreneur Project is completely student led so they have to check if thei ideas are profitable, explore the costs involved and come up with a business plan,’ explained Ms Costigan. ‘ There are two elements to the project, to give the firls an understanding of business itself but also to increase their awareness and knowledge of climate change, not just amongst the girls but throughout the whole school.
‘ They are busy keeping up with all the stories about climate change and what’s going on throughout the world. They follow Greta Thurnberg on Instagram and they are cutting out stories from the papers about the bush fires at the moment so it links in with every aspect of the curriculum.’
The book is currently in the process of being published and will be available through the website www.whereareyoumammy.ie
The girls are donating a percentage of each book sold to charity, split between an Irish and an Australian charity, to support climate conservation. The book costs €10 and each one comes with a koala teddy so that children can tell and retell the story over and over.
‘Each of the girls have worked so hard on this, the message is really important to them. We believe that everyone can make a difference, no matter how small,’ added Ms Costigan.