Learners should protect, preserve the environment
Various schools accompanied by the Namibia Correctional Services brass band on Monday marched across town to the Jan Möhr Secondary School in Windhoek to commemorate Earth Day.
The event is observed worldwide on 22 April each year since 1970.
The theme for this year is ‘Planet vs Plastics’, which closely links to the environment ministry’s commitment to reducing the use of plastics in Namibia.
Vibrant student environmentalists attended the event.
Grace Hiskia – the Jan Möhr Environmental Club leader – said the theme highlights a commitment to significantly reduce plastic use to safeguard both ecological and human health.
On the importance of environmental clubs in schools, she informed attendees that these clubs are crucial in raising awareness about environmental issues, fostering a sense of responsibility towards the planet, and empowering students to take positive actions to protect the environment.
“These clubs provide opportunities for students to engage in hands-on activities, learn about sustainability practices, and collaborate on projects that promote environmental conservation,” she stated.
Hiskia further noted
they proactively started a school garden where they grow onions, cabbage, spinach and chili that the students sell to their parents and the community at large, which generates income for the club and teaches the students entrepreneurial skills.
She added that the school also has regular cleaning campaigns by the club members and fellow students, which is competitive as the team that collects the most garbage wins a prize, which has taught them teamwork and keeps them competitive.
Hiskia and her fellow members narrated that “every day should be Earth Day; it makes that much of a difference when everyone takes a collective responsibility to keep our earth clean”.
She urged humanity to “show love to mother earth by keeping oceans blue, forests green, rivers clean, save trees by recycling paper, and plant trees and save the earth”.
The event showed that it is the responsibility of every individual in Namibia to preserve their environment through little things like having small gardens (planting trees), using less water for bathing, not having leaky pipes, etc.
International University of Management (IUM) professor Alex Kanyimba said every day should be Earth Day, as it is the students’ role and every individual to protect the earth.
“We should come as a team, work together to protect and preserve the environment.
We are to be educators, and correcting others to be better environmentalists,” Kanyimba said.
Julia Muyunda, a senior education officer from the education ministry, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment and dedication to taking action to raise awareness in schools on the current climate crisis, and the drive to influence positive behavioural change as measures to protect the planet.
Muyunda stated the importance of education as the fundamental key to implementing environmental sustainability, especially in schools due to the earth belonging to the children. Therefore, all children have the responsibility to protect, restore and save the planet for a better future.
Hiskia Tyapa Mefi, a control warden representing the environmental commissioner, reminded all that they could protect the environment through recycling, reducing plastic use, saving power, conserving water and using eco-friendly reusable bags.