–To mark World Environment Day
CHILDREN from schools across Georgetown on Monday emphasised the importance of environmental sustainability at a symposium held at City Hall to observe World Environment Day, celebrated the world over on June 5.
The symposium, hosted by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), featured schoolchildren from Georgetown, who made presentations on the importance of sustaining the environment, especially in a world battling climate change.
These presentations, which were aimed at inculcating values of environmental preservation, were done in creative forms such as song, dance and poetry with few school groups dressing up to depict environmental hazards or the ‘green’ economy.
Tying into the overall observance of World Environment Day under the theme: “Connecting people to nature”, the M&CC conceptualised this symposium to underscore the importance of the environment while “connecting our children with nature”, according to Town Clerk Royston King.
King, in an attempt to foster the connection between the youths and nature, distributed animals (rabbits, fishes and birds) to some schools. Recipient schools were, however, tasked with establishing a “nature room” in their schools, and keeping a log book detailing how they cared for the animals each day.
It was also highlighted that three weeks ago, a competition aimed at having Grade Five and Six pupils create poems and posters focusing on the environment and in observance of World Environment Day, was launched by the M&CC. There were some 20 entries from various schools.
The winners of this competition were also awarded at this symposium; the North Georgetown Primary school copped the first place prize for the Best Poem while the J.E Burnham Primary School managed to gain the first place prize for the Best Poster. According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the M&CC, Debra Lewis, the competition was launched in an attempt to inculcate values of environmental preservation and sustainability in the young children.
Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green, affirmed, “These are little positive things we [the M&CC] do to encourage our youths.”
