Active Citizen

In July 2012, Initiative Africa (IA) and the British Council (BC) planned to hatch the next ECO -SCHOOLS LEADERS i.e.; schools committed to Environmental Education (EE). The proposed project entitled “Improve Environmental Leadership and Active participation of Young Conservationists through Active Citizens Program in Amhara, SNNPR and Addis Ababa selected Secondary and Preparatory Schools” was hosted by Simachew Alemu Limat Foundation (SALF) – Bahir Dar, Center of Concern (COC) – Hawassa and Addis Ababa Youth Associations (AAYA) – Addis Ababa.

The project facilitated enriched educational and cultural exchanges that enhance learning about issues connected to the environment and to give participants an experience that lasts a lifetime.

Ongoing Programs

Please view the following sheet, contains all the nessasary informations of the programs we had and are having on 2019.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C6lBqA6rHpQsT5pfwBlHY9lkmZNWpVto_oHwWsXNT3Y/edit?usp=sharing

Objectives

  • To enable youth to build trust and understanding among themselves and in their community,
  • To value differences and work effectively towards sustainable development through creation of a strong sense of identity and culture
  • To encourage participants to explore local communities
  • To develop project planning, leadership and management skills
  • To engage participants in Social Action Projects that will improve the lives of communities especially in the area of Environmental Protection

Activities

The overall purpose of the project is to educate the youth on their immediate environment and to impart knowledge about the Ecosystems; their inter-dependence and requirements for survival. The project also instills the spirit of Scientific Inquiry into Environmental problems and involves the youth in efforts of Preservation.

To ensure that Environmental awareness becomes an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of schools using Eco-clubs, the project;

  • Frequently draws on the wonder of nature to inspire respect and reverence for truth and beauty
  • Enables children to learn about the effects of global warming, the use of resources, healthy living, local and global issues, means of protecting nature, and promoting biodiversity
  • Recycles waste, values a litter-free school environment, and uses water sparingly, thereby becoming a positive role-model for surrounding neighbors
  • Creates links with neighboring schools to take environmental action
  • Teaches children in schools to recycle, create compost, grow vegetables, and monitor the use of resources
  • Purchases locally produced food and green products
  • Urges School administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni to embrace the effort to pursue sustainable living practices

In teaching students to be stewards of their communities, the earth and its resources, the Active Citizen project therefore strives to educate the next generation of leaders to make a difference in improving the Environment for humanity.