By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Fiapre, (Bono), Nov. 03, GNA – Fifty students and teachers of the Fiapre Methodist Junior High School in the Sunyani West Municipality have undergone a day’s training, empowering them to spearhead and promote practical school-led climate action.Â
The Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) in collaboration with the Citizens Watch Ghana (CWG) and the Indigenous Women Empowerment Network (IWEN), non-government organisations, organised the training under the “Green Minds, Clean Schools” initiative.
ActionAid Ghana (AAG) another NGO is supported the initiative and the participants were members of the school’s Climate Change Club.
Speaking at the opening session of the training at Fiapre, near Sunyani, Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the GloMeF advised the participants to spearhead climate change action.
He said the training offered the opportunity to strengthen the knowledge and practical skills of the participants in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures as well as environmental protection and waste management.
Mr Ahenu said the initiative sought to equip more than one million young people with the knowledge, skills and practical tools needed to understand climate change, protect the environment and promote sustainable practices within their schools and communities.
He said the training covered introduction to climate change, causes, effects and local impacts of climate change, as well as climate change mitigation, adaptation and environmental protection and waste management, plastic pollution and sanitation.
Mr Ahenu advised the students to translate their knowledge into practical environmental action, urging them to adopt environmentally responsible practices like reducing the use of single-use plastics, waste segregation, and water conservation as well as protecting trees.
He also introduced the participants to a school environmental audit exercise, designed to help them identify environmental problems, document observations and propose practical solutions.
Mr Ahenu noted that the exercise was necessary to empower the students to take ownership of their school environment and develop the confidence to lead local environmental initiatives.
Mr Simon Asore, the Executive Director of CWG, highlighted the role of young people in building climate-resilient communities.
He said equipping students with the requisite knowledge would encourage them to become environmental ambassadors to foster a culture of environmental responsibility in their respective communities.
Mr Asore called for effective collaboration between the students, teachers, families and school authorities as well as local government institutions and environmental stakeholders to sustain the school-based climate initiatives.
He said that the Green Minds, Clean Schools initiative provided an opportunity to connect climate education with practical community action, enabling young people not only to understand environmental challenges but also to participate actively in developing solutions.
Mrs Janet Ameyaa, the Headmistress of School encouraged members of the club to put the knowledge and skills acquired into practice.
She urged the students to take responsibility for maintaining a clean school environment and to share their learning with their colleagues, families and the wider community.
Miss Jennifer Appiah Fosuaa, the Patron of the Club and a teacher noted that the club could serve as an important vehicle for promoting environmental awareness, encouraging responsible behaviour and sustaining practical climate action within the school community.Â
GNAÂ
By Dennis Peprah/Benjamin Mensah Â
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