Overview

Climate change has increasingly led to droughts throughout the world, but especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, resulting in famines and water scarcity issues that affect the lives of many Tanzanians. Society realizes that a change in the way we interact with the environment is very necessary, but where do we start?

CHEMA believes that giving local youth a strong foundation in environmental science is key to securing our natural resources for today's and for future generations. Teaching youngsters how to manage the environment in a sustainable way also creates a channel for reaching their parents as they share what they have learned in school. It is imperative to provide tomorrow's policy-makers with the tools they need to face the environmental problems of the future.

The Basic Environmental Education Project is the latest component in the CHEMA Programme and aims to provide a supplement to the curricula in primary and secondary schools in the region. Environmental education is conceptualized as the root of all the environmental activities undertaken by CHEMA.

Specific Objectives

1. To provide trainings to teachers and other interested persons on environmental issues.
2. To elevate the importance of environment-based teaching and learning approaches in schools and curricula.
3. To create a user-friendly manual for primary schools.
4. To contribute newsletters bi-annually & develop brochures focused on environmental education.
5. To create a network of teachers and other stakeholders to facilitate and promote basic environmental education.

Activities to date

1. Collected information (reports, books, CDs) on environmental concepts.
2. Shared information and documents among CHEMA's core staff and the pioneering team of teachers in Karagwe district.
3. Conducted a workshop on Basic Environmental Education at the district level.
4. Annual World Environment Day (WED) essay competition in Biharamulo district.

How you can help

Implementing a basic environmental education program is a multidisciplinary activity which involves technical know-how. If you are an environmental science teacher or professional, we would appreciate any learning materials that you could contribute. Please contact Lucas Kwezi .

Annual Essay Competition

World Environment Day

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, and this year`s goals were "to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future." (Read more from the official WED website)

The awards luncheon on September 14, 2007, honored the top three particpants of each school and their teachers, and several prominent members of the community were invited to speak.

And the winners are...

First Place: Princepius Beebwa (Katoke Seminary)
Second Place: Elivis Dan (Biharamulo Secondary School)
Third Place: Ferdnand Kyamwangile (Katoke Seminary)
Special Jury Prize: Julieth Eustrad (Nyamirembe Secondary School)

Participating schools:
Zhakia Meghji S.S., Nyamirembe S.S., Katoke Seminary, Katende S.S., Kagango S.S., Chato S.S., Biharamulo S.S.

Thanks to all the teachers, judges, students and parents for all their hard work and contributions that helped make the WED 2007 essay competition a great success!

If your school would like to participate in next year`s essay competition,  please contact us!