Teaching environmental concepts and practical strategies in La Gallina, Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a country rich in biodiversity, whose main economic output is agriculture, which is threatened by deforestation, contaminated soils and changes in rainfall.
Environmental education contributes to citizen awareness of the environment, and galvanizes activity to preserve the environment and its biodiversity, which is essential for the success of community based initiatives like small-holder sustainable agriculture. This is often referred to as agroecology and is related to permaculture and bio intensive farming.
Our Nicaraguan staff recently organized an activity to present the environmental documentary titled, ”The Planet Needs Us”. We wanted to increase awareness in the community about the need to protect the environment and conserve the soil. This was aimed at girls, boys, parents and the entire community present at the Rubén Darío School in La Gallina, our newest community.
The 30 minute film is a tool to raise awareness and empower children about the negative consequences of climate change in the community, the country and our planet. After the film we discussed measures for climate change adaptation, an explanation of how the greenhouse effect works, and a series of proposals of how to avoid contributing to climate change. More than 50 children from all grades, teachers and the recent graduates from our HCT program in the community participated in the activity.
Eveling Artola – a parent and HCT graduate:
”This was an excellent idea. Today the ViviendasLeon team came to our community to present this environmental film. It was a great way for our children and ourselves to learn to take care of our environment and why. This community is prone to flooding from the Rio Chiquito River which passes through it. The film educated us about climate change, whose effects are a reality that we can see in our community every day including the drought affecting us recently and the flooding river. It also taught us measures that we can put into practice in our homes to live with and adapt to the phenomena created by climate change.”
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