More than 2,000 Guanacastecan boys and girls from 19 rural schools in Nicoya and Hojancha will receive workshops and environmental education materials so they can learn to become “guardians” of nature.
This project is possible thanks to a grant from Primer Canje de Deuda por Naturaleza EE.UU-CR (Tropical Forest Conservation Act) that The Voice of Guanacaste and the environmental education program Guardians of Nature won.
Each of the 2,242 children from the 19 schools will receive a book from the Guardians of Nature series that tells the story of Lucia, a girl that teaches about recycling, environmental values and taking care of natural resources.
This is an opportunity for more children and teachers to strengthen environmental education in their classrooms,” said Jessica Sheffield, biologist and creator of the Guardians of Nature program. “We want Guardians of Nature to be a model in Latin America for sustainable human development through environmental education for kids,” said biologist and creator of Guardians of Nature, Jessica Sheffield”
Currently, nature and conservation are included in science class, but, according to Sheffield, this is not enough to empower boys and girls to live sustainably with nature.
Education resources in Spanish are limited and it is difficult for teachers and children to get their hands on them, especially in rural zones.
The project has already started as a pilot program in some schools in Hojancha. Zailin Torres, former regional supervisor in the zone, said this initiative is excellent.
This project is important because of the awareness it develops in students about issues such as protecting, conserving and taking care of the environment,” Torres said.
Investment in Nature
Of 52 projects that applied for the grant, this was one of the 12 winners.
The money comes from a donation made by the United States government, which pardoned a portion of Costa Rica’s external debt so long as the country invested the funds in financing conservation projects.
Our relationship with the Guardians project has existed since its first steps and we have always been watching its development. When they invited is to join forces and apply for a grant to hold workshops and provide educational material for rural schools, we knew we had to do it,” explained The Voice of Guanacaste’s executive director Emiliana García.
If the mission of our newspaper is to help communities in Guanacaste through the exchange of information, how could we not participate in a project that informs and educates people at an early age?” Garcia added.
The schools that will receive the program in Nicoya Oriente, Juan Díaz, San Martín, Los Ángeles, Cola de Gallo, Cacique Nicoa, Leonidas Briceño, Arturo Solano, Virilio Camaño, El Jobo Norte, Garcimuñoz, Fray Bartolomé, 20 de marzo and Anselmo Gutiérrez.
Those in Hojancha are La Libertad, 26 de febrero, Victoriano Mena, La Maravilla and Pilangosta.
Comments