Expose children to good environmental culture

ENVIRONMENTAL problems worldwide require solutions pioneered by human beings who are the causes of these problems. Children have the potential to conserve environmental resources and prevent pollution if they are exposed to a good environmental culture from a tender age.

The worsening global environmental challenges threaten future generations in meeting their basic needs and it is high time that the youngsters are enlightened on the essence of environmental protection measures and how they can contribute to solving this sustainable development challenge.

Catch them young! Indeed it is essential to have initiatives where young people are involved in environmental management through mainstreaming environmental management issues into their educational curriculum.

While most developing countries have included some aspects of environmental science in their curricula, there is lack of modern-day concepts of environmental management and some of them exclude emerging challenges such as climate change, ozone depletion and hazardous waste management.

Exposing young children to environmental literature, books, magazines and television channels that raise awareness is essential to build their love for nature. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks when it comes to issues to do with the environment.

As children develop, they adopt a lifestyle from what they are taught, what they see and also tend to adopt a combination of experiences from their adults.

It is essential in the family set-up to teach children why they should not dump litter everywhere. As they see parents throwing litter out of a moving vehicle when you drive, the children begin to think it is the ideal way of disposing waste and it is a normal way of life.

After all, everyone is doing it. Adults have an important role in children’s lives through leading by example, managing waste in an environmentally sound manner and preventing littering problems. This transition in our lifestyles is termed sustainable lifestyles by the UNEP/Wuppertal Institute Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP-Germany).

In Zimbabwe, we have seen an increase in the level of sustainability initiatives aimed at children, including schools environmental competitions, formation of environmental clubs and environmental debating platforms.

Tanzania recently carried out a very successful project for children, which was an internationally funded initiative called Nature For Kids.

This project involved competitions, awareness campaigns, writing and advocacy activities wholly managed by children.

This was an overwhelming success as the project impact resulted in improved knowledge levels among children in Tanzania.

A combination of writing and oral activities is essential when considering education for sustainable development projects. Written activities can include writing competitions on environmental issues and artists for sustainable development (ASD) involving illustration of complex sustainability problems through art.

These illustrations can evoke long-lasting impressions on the importance of environmental resources and facilitate behavioural change on environmental matters.

Participation of young children on events such as the World Environment Day, National Tree Planting and Schools Environmental Competition is of paramount importance to ensure that young people understand environmentalism from a tender age.

One of the reasons why children do not participate in environmental management is the grim expectation that adults will do it for them, not knowing that the same adults are the ones responsible for the current environmental degradation. Schools must organise field trips to environmentally sensitive areas, areas affected by environmental pollution and areas that conserve endangered species in order for them to appreciate the magnitude of the environmental challenges.

There is never a moment which is too early or too late to realise environmental problems and as a nation, it is time that we consider children as the key to unlocking complex solutions to environmental challenges.

Environmental clubs have been formed in local schools and these must be supported by the school authorities and the school development associations (SDAs). For a long time, sporting activities have been given a higher priority and environmental clubs have often been considered a necessary evil. This philosophy must change and we need to begin to see significant strides towards empowering the young people’s clubs focused on environmental protection.

International initiatives geared towards Education for Sustainable Development include the various United Nations programmes championed by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005–2014 experienced significant progress in creating sustainable development awareness among young people.

Another key aspect at the international level was the Tbilisi Communiqué — Educate Today for a Sustainable Future, adopted by the Tbilisi Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education for Sustainable Development (Tbilisi+35), held on September 6 and 7, 2012.

It is also essential to note that several international workshops, summer and winter schools have been organised on environmental and sustainability issues and these have involved children.

There is need to enable our local children to explore such opportunities and attend such international events.

Efforts should also be taken to organise local events for children involved in sustainability issues.