THE Environmental Community Health Organisation (Echo) launched 25 Echo Clubs in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) earlier this month, and plans to open another 15 in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) shortly.

The clubs aim to raise awareness on environmental issues, provide ‘green education’, organise children into structured groups to take the lead on environmental issues and improve the aesthetics of schoolyards and local communities.
According to a press statement from Echo, the schools involved included Ithaca, Blairmont, Cotton Tree, No.5, No.8, Bath, Hopetown, Zealand, Mortice, Biaboo, No.29, District No.10, Karamat, De Hoop, Abrary and Novar.
The event was attended by more than 150 children, along with teachers and volunteers and was supported by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Farfan and Mendes, Guyana Media Proprietors Association, Bounty Farms and Ali‘s Supermarket.
PAHO/WHO’s Representative Adrianus Vlugman encouraged the children to be environmentally alert and to care for the natural environment.
He said PAHO/WHO was supporting the efforts of Echo and he would do everything practicable to advance the clubs in schools.
He commented on the smoke nuisance he observed in the area and encouraged the children to think about recycling and composting.
Echo’s Executive Director, Royston King said that the vision was to establish a network of Echo Clubs throughout Guyana to facilitate environmental awareness and action by all. He pointed out that they were not sanitation clubs but were about raising environmental awareness.
Echo works in three areas namely,   solid waste management, water and climate change, King observed, adding that the utility of the clubs was not only in environmental awareness but also in developing leadership skills in children.
King encouraged the students to read and be properly informed about the environment and charged the newly-formed groups to be good leaders in their schools and their attitude towards the environment.
“The organisation is encouraging corporations and other organisations to become involved in good environmental stewardship and to support its plan aimed at protecting and preserving the natural environment,” King is quoted as saying.