By Alex Baah Boadi,
Sefwi-Debeiso (WN/R), May 19, GNA -The European Union (EU) funded Landscape and Environmental Agility Across the Nation (LEAN) project in collaboration with Rainforest Alliance has launched an Environmental Club in 20 basic schools in the Western North Region.
The schools, five each from Waiwso, Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai, Akontombra and Bodi districts, form part of efforts to inculcate the habit of protecting the environment among pupils to grow with it.
The project, which is been implemented in three landscapes, high Forest zone, comprising Waiwso, Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai, Bodi and Sefwi-Akontombra districts.
It also affects transition landscape within the Offinso North and South, Nkoransa North and South and Techiman North and South districts.
The third landscape, which is the Savannah landscape had Damango area in the Savannah Region and Kassena Nankana, Chaana and Navorongo in the upper West Region.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency after the launch, Madam Abena Dufie Woode, Senior manager, Rainforest Alliance (EU,LEAN) project consortium Lead disclosed that over 30,000 farmers had benefited from the project.
Some of the farmers according to her benefited from climate Smart education to help them improve on their yields in order not to be affected by climate change while the rest also benefited from diversification and livelihood enterprises such as ruminants, bee hives, vegetable farms, piggry, among others to earn extra income to support themselves and their families, especially during the off cocoa season.
“Children play a critical role in the Environmental Agility hence the essence of engaging children on how best to protect the environment.”
Madam Dufie said, over 40 teachers, had also been trained to help in training the children in climate change, tree planting, toxic waste, community clean ups, water conservation and all activities geared towards protecting the environment.
She further appealed to government to accept the project and help set up environmental clubs within other schools, which were outside districts within the LEAN project to help the environment for generations.
Nana Gyapong Manu, Abakomahene, on behalf of the chief of Debeiso, lauded the initiative and suggested it be extended to all schools to protect the environment.
He further asked teachers to use some minutes during instructional hours on the need to protect the environment.
Mr Richard Boateng, Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai district Director of education, who represented the Western North Regional Director of education on his part, said the success of the project would not only benefit the children and their various communities but the country as a whole and entreated residents to take environmental protection seriously.
Mr Solomon Tawiah, teacher at Ntakam basic school, on behalf of the beneficiary schools, pledged to nature the children for the successful implementation of the project.
GNA
Edited by MSM/CA