PRESS RELEASE - Winners of the International YRE Competition 2021

The finalists of the 2021 Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) International Competition have now been assessed by the International Jury, and the awarded entries have been selected. Over 454,000 students participated in the YRE programme this year, and they produced over 19,000 pieces of environmental journalism for national YRE competitions. The number and quality of entries reflects the continued motivation and dedication of YRE students around the world despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The entries awarded this year showcase YRE students’ great journalistic talent and a deep understanding of the complex environmental issues affecting their local communities. The International Jury has based their assessment on the students’ topic selection, their reflections on how the topic connects to the Sustainable Development Goals and their overall journalistic skills. The awarded entries represent some of the top youth environmental journalism in the world today.  

This year’s YRE entries continue to demonstrate the challenges and hopeful solutions youth from around the world are addressing in their communities. The pandemic’s impact was apparent, and the urgency needed to address the climate crisis was resonant, as captured in the photo of the year. It is never an easy task to select winners from the thoughtful entries received. All of the YRE students deserve to be recognized for their passion and dedication and encouraged to continue to raise awareness and take action.   

- Anne-Vela-Wagner,
Executive Director of Mars Wrigley Foundation
and YRE Jury Member.

The YRE International Competition would not be possible without the hard work of our YRE National Operators, whose inspiring efforts have enabled thousands of teachers and students to participate in this year’s competition. It is humbling to see this level of engagement, which empowers more students every year to take an active role in the future of their communities.

The end of the world, Djordje Pejović, Secondary vocational school "Spasoje Raspopović", Podgorica (MONTENEGRO) - 1st place, single photo reportage

This year’s International YRE Jury

This year’s International Jury meeting took place virtually from the 31st of August to the 2nd of September. The jury has assessed each shortlisted entry thoroughly, and awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes, as well as Honourable mentions, based on their technical quality, level of investigation, originality, and dissemination. The International Jury represents expertise across a wide spectrum of fields, and consists of professionals in environmental journalism, corporate social responsibility and Education for Sustainable Development.

"Learning about the impacts of climate change is the first step to take action. The Young Reporters for the Environment competition is an inspiring way of raising awareness about our most pressing environmental challenges and engaging young reporters in the search for solutions. Through investigative reporting, creative campaigns and multimedia storytelling, the winners of this year's YRE competition prove that nothing is stopping young people from demanding a clean and sustainable future for all."

– Ignacio de los Reyes,
digital communications strategist,
 lead of Voices of Youth, UNICEF's platform for young content creators.
and YRE Jury member

List of Jury Members 2021:

• Bernard Combes - UNESCO

• Anne Vela-Wagner – Mars Wrigley Foundation

• Christopher Slaney - Freelance Journalist

• Siiri Mäkelä - UNEP, Kenya

• P.J. Marcellino - Portuguese-Canadian filmmaker, and a former YRE. Head of Development, Anatomy of Restlessness Films. Founder, Baobab Film Collective

• Sasha Karajovic, Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) Executive
  Board member with responsibility for YRE, Montenegro

• Nick Nuttall - the International Strategic Communications Director of EARTHDAY.ORG and a Director at the climate social platform We Don’t Have Time

• Adriána Henĉeková - journalist student

• Mark Terry - Executive director of the Youth Climate Report, a partner program of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

• Ignacio de los Reyes - digital communications expert managing Voices of Youth, UNICEF's digital platform

Find detailed information about each Jury Member here.
 

About the International YRE Competition

All entries competing in the YRE International Competition have been awarded 1st place in their respective countries’ National YRE competitions earlier this year. The entries are divided into three age groups (11-14, 15-18 and 19-25) as well as three media categories (articles, photos and videos). There is also a special category for International Collaboration. YRE students in countries participating in the Litter Less Campaign have the opportunity to submit entries concerned with litter and waste issues, which have been assessed separately. All entries have been uploaded on the YRE Competition’s Exposure page. You can also find all shortlisted videos in the UN's Youth Climate Report map. The winners of the competition will receive diplomas and will be published on different international medias, forums, environmental conferences and sessions.

The International YRE Competition winners for 2021 are:

Article, 11-14 years

1st Place
Title: Shimmering Dust
Country: Latvia

2nd Place
Title: The dark and murky messaging of the major watch brands
Country: Switzerland

3rd Place
Title: What the pandemic packed for us
Country: Slovakia

Honourable Mention
Title: Love protects Sinjajevina
Country: Montenegro

Article, 15-18 years

1st Place
Title: Avian inhabitants of the housing estates
Country: Slovakia

2nd Place (shared)
Title: Construction waste and dangerous waste – here on our backyard
Country: Israel

Title: Turning off the lights at night
Country: Switzerland

Article, 19-25 years

1st Place
Title: The north textile industry, the ideal network for inventing sustainable and responsible fashion
Country: France

2nd Place
Title: Villages at the foot of Luštek landfill inspire the whole Slovakia
Country: Slovakia

Honourable mentions
Title: “Moulay ali natural bathes” ... a natural healing water source that is not rationally used to support the community development of “awlad Stoute”
Country: Morocco

Title: Montijo: An Option For The Future Or An Announced Crime?
Country: Portugal

Single Photo Reportage, 11-25 years

1st Place
Title: The end of the world
Country: Montenegro

Honourable Mentions
Title: Hope
Country: Malta

Single Photo Campaign, 11-25 years

1st Place
Title: Our World is Slipping Down the Drain
Country: Canada

2nd Place
Title: Disposable Masks’ Double flight
Country: Portugal

Honourable Mention
Title: Sweet destruction
Country: Iceland

Photo Reportage of 3-5 Photos, 11-25 years

1st Place
Title: The waste collecting woman who is no waste.
Country: Ghana

2nd Place
Title: The Scythe for Life
Country: Slovakia

Video, 11-14 years

1st Place (as Reportage Video)
Title: Old Companions
Country: Slovakia

2nd Place (as Reportage Video)
Title: How to consume more responsibly?
Country: France

3rd Place (as Reportage Video)
Title: A valley behind Bars
Country: Israel

Honourable Mention (as Reportage Video)
Title: Create & Respect
Country: Portugal

Video, 15-18 years

1st Place (as Reportage Video)
Title: Warehouse vs. Wetland
Country: Canada

2nd Place (as Campaign Video)
Title: Toys Upcycling: A New Life for Toys
Country: Republic of Korea

3rd Place (as Campaign Video)
Title: Returnable bottle campaign
Country: Turkey

Video, 19-25 years

1st Place shared
(as Reportage Video)
Title: Green in blue jeans
Country: France

(as Campaign Video)
Title: Fast fashion dining
Country: Scotland

Honourable Mention (as Campaign Video)
Title: Where does your snack come from
Country: Slovenia

International Collaboration

1st Place (article 15-18 years)
Title: Unnoticed Danger: The Fashion Industry
Countries: Portugal and Turkey

2nd Place (article 15-18 years)
Title: How Can Traditional Watering Systems Help The Environment?
Countries: Portugal and Montenegro

3rd place (article 11-14 years)
Title: Honey bees are important members of a sustainable life
Countries: Turkey and Slovenia

Honourable mention (video 15-18 years)
Title: Different countries, same problem – Finding a solution for the pollution!
Countries: Portugal and Turkey

Litter Less Campaign Category:

Article, 11-14 years

1st Place
Title: Cat food packaging: exposed
Country: New Zealand

Article, 15-18 years

1st Place
Title: Is sustainability a joke?
Country: Malta

Article, 19-25 years

-

Single Photo Reportage, 11-25 years

1st Place
Title: Trapped
Country: New Zealand

Single Campaign Photo, 11-25 years

1st place
Title: The bottle fish
Country: Malta

Photo story (3-5 photos), 11-25 years

-

Video, 11-14 years

1st Place (as Reportage Video)
Title: YRE Rural Litter Report
Country: Ireland

Video, 15-18 years

1st Place (as Reportage Video)
Title: Open-hearted to the oceans
Country: France

Video, 19-25 years

-

Congratulations to all winners!!!

About Foundation for Environmental Education

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is the world's largest environmental education organisation, with members in 77 countries around the world. Through its five ground-breaking programmes, FEE empowers people to take meaningful and purposeful action to help create a more sustainable world. FEE is recognised as a world leader in the fields of Education for Sustainable Development, environmental education and sustainable tourism.

Partners and sponsors of the YRE programme

Eco-Schools Across Four Countries Will Engage with Green STEM and the SDGs through Alcoa W5 Project

Contact: Kristina Madsen, International Coordinator of Education -  kristina@fee.global

Copenhagen, Denmark (2 June 2021) – The Alcoa W5 project supported by the Alcoa Foundation and delivered through the Eco-Schools programme has officially started its fourth year of implementation. Over the next 14 months, thousands of students in 33 schools across four countries will participate in hands-on actions around the themes of waste, water, energy (watts), climate change (warming) and biodiversity (wildlife). 

The Alcoa W5 project will increase teachers’ knowledge of Green STEM – looking at the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines through an environmental lens – and its implementation in their indoor and outdoor classrooms. Green STEM provides students with opportunities to work with real-world sustainability issues where their learning outcomes help solve concrete problems in their school and local community through collaboration and critical thinking.

This year, schools in the project will also be working closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - 17 interlinked and ambitious global goals that are intended to ensure a sustainable world by 2030. Teachers and students will be connecting their learning and activities with the SDGs to help accelerate the achievement of the goals.

On a national level, National Wildlife Federation in the USA, FEE Norway in Norway, Keep Australia Beautiful in Australia and EcoSchools Canada in Canada will provide teacher training, develop resources, and support Alcoa volunteer opportunities. Canada is a new country in the project.

Lindsay Bunce, Executive Director of EcoSchools Canada, says, "EcoSchools Canada is thrilled to be a partner on the Alcoa W5 Project. In Canada, we will be working with nine schools in the province of Quebec to deepen environmental literacy and community action. By exploring issues that are pertinent to each community, focused on warming, water, watts, wildlife, and waste, schools will be inspired to launch meaningful projects and awareness-building campaigns. These include planting pollinator gardens, reducing single-use plastic waste, and planting trees. Over the next 14 months, EcoSchools is excited to support each unique school to take meaningful action for their community and the planet."

Daniel Schaffer, CEO of the Foundation for Environmental Education, says “Schools around the world have had a very challenging past year due to COVID-19. They have had to adapt and re-think their way of teaching and learning. The importance of Green STEM has been highlighted again during the pandemic. This creates opportunity for a project like this and the continued support from the Alcoa Foundation is vital in such challenging times. To support the programme, we will also focus on training of teachers through FEE Academy, an online teaching and learning platform.”

Rosa Garcia Pineiro, President of the Alcoa Foundation, says “Alcoa Foundation is proud to continue to support green STEM education and environmental literacy efforts in collaboration with our Alcoa W5 partners. We appreciate the opportunity to explore issues unique to each community and equip the next generation of leaders with better knowledge and tools to support our communities to be more resilient. We are also pleased the program will be aligned with the global Sustainable Development Goals in this year’s implementation, providing an opportunity to show communities´ support to a better planet. We thank our partners for their continued dedication and creativity as they implement this program in the midst of the global pandemic.”

Learn more about the Alcoa W5 project at https://www.ecoschools.global/alcoaw5

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About the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and Eco-Schools

With members in 79 countries, FEE is the world’s largest environmental education organisation. Through five ground breaking programmes FEE helps communities realise the benefits of sustainable living. FEE is recognised by UNESCO as a world leader within the fields of Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development.

Eco-Schools is the largest sustainable schools programme, providing a framework for Quality Education through experiential learning, sustainability leadership and the development of cognitive and non-cognitive skills. It reaches 19 million students and 1.3 teachers in over 56.000 schools in 70 countries globally. The programme aims to provide every child with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable future by integrating priority sustainable development issues and learning.

Website: http://www.ecoschools.global

About the Alcoa Foundation

The Alcoa Foundation invests where Alcoa Corporation has a presence, providing grants that contribute to environmental excellence around the world, particularly in the areas of biodiversity conservation and climate change research. Learn more at alcoafoundation.com and follow @AlcoaFoundation on Twitter.

Website: http://www.alcoafoundation.com

Twitter: @AlcoaFoundation

Global Action Days 2021 #MyActionsMatter

Let's celebrate Earth Day by starting a 21-day journey of compassionate actions!

Over the last four decades, Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has focused on the development of five cutting edge programmes that are recognised globally as key enablers in the field of Education for Sustainable Development. FEE continues to strive to create positive impact worldwide. Aligning with the Agenda 2030, FEE has identified three overarching goals that address three burning environmental problems that face us today – climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution. These are also the themes of the 2021 Global Action Days campaign.

Join the #MyActionsMatter Campaign

The Global Action Days 2021 Campaign, in partnership with Now.Here., will engage youth through the Treasure Earth app in small positive actions (Handprints) that each one of us can take to become more compassionate towards Earth. The campaign will mobilise the power of our network and demonstrate how small individual action can have a great impact on our own and our Earth’s wellbeing.

The campaign is designed as a 21-days journey of ‘Compassionate Actions’. These actions will inspire participants to live and act differently by crystallising intentions into concrete actions and new patterns of positive behaviour.

Week 1 – Protect Global Biodiversity
Week 2 – Reduce Environmental Pollution
Week 3 – Empower Climate Action

Learn more about the campaign on the Eco-Schools website.

Announcing Earth Action Hub: A 3-Day Virtual Climate Event!

CONNECTING PEOPLE TO INSPIRE CHANGE

IT’S OFFICIAL!

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is excited to be announcing the launch of Earth Action Hub, a dynamic 3-day virtual event dedicated to engaging everyone from youth to elders in learning about and promoting sustainable solutions to climate change!

Hosted by FEE, Earth Action Hub is the creation of the international, youth-led Organizing Committee made up of seven dedicated members: Barry McLaughlin (Ireland), Jessica Laxton (England), Joanna Tao (New Zealand), Kristina Madsen (Denmark), Paola Bay (Italy), Reeza Hanselmann (USA/Germany) and Samia Gomes (Brazil), all with the shared vision of building an online collaborative community that will serve as inspiration and support for continued environmental action across the globe.

“Our mission is to offer international youth-led virtual events and showcase resources that will give people the knowledge, skills, support, and hope needed to make changes in their daily lives that collectively will have a profound positive impact on the environment.”

SAVE THE DATES: 21-23 May 2021

The first annual Earth Action Hub event will be kicking off on Friday, May 21st at 14:00 UTC, starting with an Opening Ceremony filled with individuals from around the world and diving straight into a variety of talks, conversations and workshops. We’ve got over 24 hours of fun, dynamic and educational activities and sessions planned so Earth Action Hub is sure to be a success! And everyone’s invited!

Since our goal is to highlight a diverse range of voices, stories and experiences around solutions to climate change, we’re fortunate to have a number of incredible partners and speakers supporting Earth Action Hub all around the world. You can learn more about our partners on the Earth Action Hub website - we’re adding new ones every day!

Help us support the creation and maintenance of the online Earth Action Hub website with a donation!

Follow us @EarthActionHub on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and share our posts using #earthactionhub!

Check out our website and sign up to our newsletter to join the Earth Action Hub community and stay updated on news both leading up to and after our inaugural event!

Interested in partnering with us or running a session at the event? Send an email to reeza@fee.global.                  

Global Forest Fund project in Kenya will plant 10.000 trees, engage 1.500 students in environmental education and green enterprise

The Foundation for Environmental Education is pleased to announce that the Global Forest Fund will finance a three-year project in Nairobi and Kiambu counties in Kenya, to be implemented by Foundation for Environmental Education member organisation Kenya Organisation for Environmental Education (KOEE). The “Tree Planting as a Pathway to Green Growth and Sustainability” project will run from November 2020 – November 2023 and involve over 1.500 students and 50 teachers from Nairobi Academy and Githiga Boys High School.

Students from Migwani Secondary School in Kitui County, Kenya participate in a previous KOEE tree-planting project

The project in Kenya was awarded funding by the Global Forest Fund Expert Panel, which is composed of several leading figures in the fields of environmental education and Education for Sustainable Development.

Sirpa Kärkkäinen, Liaisons Manager at the Finnish Forest Association and member of the 2020 Expert Panel, says, “All the proposals showed a tremendous amount of thought and innovation… In the end, following much debate by the Expert Panel an unanimous decision was reached. The proposal from Kenya demonstrated the most impact across all the measurable fields of the application. The Expert Panel felt that  Kenya’s attention to community and biodiversity aspects was very impressive and the scale of the planting ambitions was within reason. Furthermore, the project’s plans to work closely with experts in the field of forestry and bring in-kind sponsorship to the project were also compelling reasons to allocate the funding to Kenya´s proposal.”

Biodiversity, Education and Green Enterprise

According to Alvin Sika, Programmes Officer at KOEE, the project “aims to increase awareness among students on the importance of trees, promote tree planting in schools and communities and enhance eco-friendly enterprise skills among young people for sustainable forest resource management.”

Tree planting is a central component of all Global Forest Fund projects, and the project in Kenya will see students and communities plant 10.000 trees from a variety of ecologically and socially important species. The species were chosen for their suitability to the ecological zone and fast maturation rates that maximise atmospheric carbon intake. They also serve as windbreaks, have numerous agroforestry benefits and play an important role in soil conservation. Students will also plant mango trees that provide valuable nutritious fruit to their schools and communities and provide an extra source of income through sale at local markets.

A tree nursery established by KOEE at Watema Primary School in Makueni County, Kenya

The project in Kenya will also involve environmental education and capacity building for students, teachers, parents and others in the communities. Participants will learn about the important role of trees in mitigating the impacts of climate change, from carbon sequestration to promoting sustainable livelihoods. Classroom training will be supplemented by outdoor field trips to learn more about local forest ecosystems, and the schools will arrange student art competitions around the products, services and benefits provided by trees.

The participating schools and communities will also be trained in nursery management and long-term tree care, ensuring that the 10.000 new trees will continue to thrive in the future. The project will bring in forestry experts from the Kenya Forest Service to provide training on the more technical aspects of agroforestry and integrated forest resource management. By the end of the project, participants will be equipped with the motivation and practical skills to protect the health and sustainability of their schools, communities and planet for years to come.

As Mr. Sika concludes, “The enhanced partnership between schools and communities will give a much-needed boost to collaborative efforts on sustainable forestry and green enterprises. The biggest benefit for all the stakeholders will be reduced amounts of carbon in the atmosphere.”

A KOEE teacher-training workshop in Nairobi, Kenya

About the Global Forest Fund

The Global Forest Fund is a unique carbon compensation initiative developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education that allows businesses and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint by providing valuable resources and environmental education to communities around the world. Our web platform allows travellers to calculate their carbon emissions across a range of transport options, and compensate for those emissions by investing in projects that have a real and lasting positive impact on the environment. Global Forest Fund projects are designed to capture carbon, restore nature, protect biodiversity, promote sustainable communities and educate the next generation of environmental leaders.

Raising the next generation of eco-warriors to change the world

Frugi partners with Keep Britain Tidy’s Eco-Schools programme to help fund up to 150 UK schools to achieve a Green Flag certification

Press release from Eco-Schools England

2 July 2020 - Frugi, the leading ethical and organic children’s clothing company, is proud to announce a partnership with Eco-Schools as part of their Little Clothes BIG Change charity initiative. Each year Frugi donates 1% of turnover to charity and has so far donated £600,000 over the past 16 years to help children and environmental non-profit organisations.

Frugi’s ambition is ‘to help raise the next generation of eco-warriors to change the world’, which makes the Eco-Schools programme, the largest educational programme in the world, the ideal partner.   

With a goal to empower young people to take environmental actions to get their whole school and community involved, schools follow a Seven Step programme that culminates in achieving an international Eco-Schools Green Flag certification.

Frugi/Eco-School Partnership

Frugi is committed to funding the Eco-Schools Green Flag fees for up to 150 UK schools from Early Years Foundation (3-5), Primary Schools (5-11) all the way through to Secondary and Further Education (12-18) and is the first company to sponsor schools for all age groups. 

To kick off the partnership, Frugi is sponsoring a ’10-day challenge’ as part of the hugely successful #EcoSchoolsAtHome campaign which was launched during the Covid-19 lockdown. Each day Frugi and Eco-Schools will launch a new challenge around one of the Eco-Schools topics: Biodiversity, Energy, Global Citizenship, Healthy Living, Litter, Marine, School Grounds, Transport, Waste and Water. The challenges are being supported by a raft of environmental influencers, including household names such as Rowing Champion Helen Glover, Robert Douglas from This Father Life, TV Presenter Radzi Chinyanganya and young cycling guru Ruby Isaacs.  Frugi will also be running various competitions for pupils to win organic t-shirt and sock bundles, water-bottles, back-packs, and other ethically made goodies, during the week.

“Benefiting children, communities, and our environment, Eco-Schools share the same goals, ambitions, and ethos of Frugi.  That’s why we are so proud and excited to be part of this collective global effort to support the education of children on sustainable and environmental issues and to help them to change our world for the better,” says Hugo Adams, CEO of Frugi.

National Eco-Schools Manager Lee Wray-Davies says, “No school in England has to be an Eco-School, and yet 20,100 Eco-Coordinators have given their valuable time (some for over 20 years) to manage and run the programme in their schools, on top of the additional pressures and responsibilities they face within an ever-changing education sector. The maturity and determination of their students to make an environmental difference is a testimony to these inspiring individuals and the Eco-Schools programme. We are the largest educational programme on the planet and with the support of wonderful organisations such as Frugi; helping us to create innovative projects and financially support schools, I don’t doubt we will continue to be for another generation.”

What is Eco-Schools?

Eco-Schools was introduced in 1994 in England as a response to the 1992 UN Rio Earth Summit. It now runs across 67 countries with more than 1,000 English schools proudly flying the internationally recognised Green Flag Award.  It is operated globally by the Foundation for Environmental Education and is managed in England by Keep Britain Tidy.

Keep Britain Tidy is a charity and it is free to register on the Eco-Schools programme. Once registered, schools gain access to free Eco-Schools resources that help them meet the international Seven Step criteria. A fee of £200 (+VAT) is charged to cover the cost of an assessor visit once the programme has been completed and the Green Flag/certification schools received. 

How Does It work?

Spanning 67 countries worldwide, the Eco-School’s programme gives pupils the freedom to decide one of ten Eco-Schools topics they want to work on. Once they have chosen the topics, they are free to decide what actions they want to take and how they are going to involve their school and community. The whole process takes around one academic year until they become a proud Green Flag owner and fully established Eco-School.

The Eco-Schools programme consists of three structural elements, including the Seven Step Framework, the Eco-Schools Topics and assessment for the international Green Flag award. To be successful the programme requires support from school leaders and active involvement from staff, as well as a long-term commitment and the willingness to involve students in decision-making. The Eco-Schools Seven Steps methodology is a series of carefully engineered measures to help schools maximise the success of their Eco-School ambitions.

Why is it worthwhile?

The Eco-Schools programme is an ideal way for schools to embark on a meaningful path towards improving the environment in both the school and the local community while at the same time having a life-long positive impact on the lives of young people and their families.

When a child gets actively involved with Eco-Schools, they enhance their development and are encouraged to use their imagination and voice in a safe, non-judgemental environment. They become minute makers, organisers, planners, and influencers. Eco-Schools has the power to transform pupils into forward thinking, challenge solving, decision making adults of the future.  This not only benefits so many children’s lives, but it helps raise environmental change-makers of the future.

As well as the benefits to pupils, individual schools’ benefit from reducing their environmental impact. Eco-Schools consume less water and energy and produce less waste – in turn saving money that can be allocated elsewhere in the school.

Find out more about the Eco-Schools programme and register for free on their website:
https://www.eco-schools.org.uk/

About Frugi

Frugi was founded in 2004 by Kurt & Lucy Jewson after they struggled to find clothes to fit over cloth nappies. 16 years later, Frugi is the UK’s leading ethical and organic children’s clothing brand available to buy online from welovefrugi.com and over 500 retailers globally in 30 countries. The full range includes tiny baby to ten years with a stylish twinning, maternity, and breastfeeding range for Grown-Ups, as well as bedding and accessories.

Designed in Cornwall, Frugi are daft about clever details and famous for vibrant prints, fun appliqués, and super comfy designs. The range is made from supremely soft, premium organic cotton or recycled materials. Frugi are proud to be certified by the Soil Association and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) receiving the highest level of certification in the world of leading textile processing standards. Every year 1% of turnover is donated to charity through the Frugi Little Clothes, Big Change initiative.  

Frugi is the trading name of Cut4Cloth Ltd registered in England, company number 05011885. The registered office is Wheal Vrose Business Park, Helston, Cornwall TR13 0FG.

Media Inquiries: Samantha Dark, PR Manager at Frugi, sam.dark@welovefrugi.com

Sam Patterson overcomes challenges to take first place in Northern Ireland YRE competition

Sam Patterson’s love of the environment started when he was a just a baby, when he would be calmed by the sound of wind moving through the trees. As a toddler he could be found gently stroking snail shells in the garden, and by age four he regularly wondered if trees might have senses we don’t understand. At age seven, the same year he was diagnosed with dyslexia, Sam was speculating if we could freeze exhaust fumes and somehow reuse them, or at least prevent them from polluting the air. When he was nine, Sam was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.

And this year, Sam published a piece of environmental journalism that won first place in the Northern Ireland Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) national competition. His Litter Less Campaign article ‘The Natural Respirator’ explores the paradox between humanity’s connection to nature and our tendency to harm it through human activities. 

Read Sam’s winning article here

Sam’s lifelong passion for the environment inspired him to participate in the YRE competition, and personal experience moved him to choose the topic of his article.

“My family were experiencing quite a lot of difficulty at the time as my grandfather was dying of Covid in hospital,” says Sam. “There were a lot of these man made policies and safety regulations and things for them to deal with. But really I was thinking about how I could help to benefit the environment. The environment feels more straightforward – there’s no catch to looking after it. It’s a flawless thing. That’s why I called it the Natural Respirator. I knew about shortages in the UK and that they were tied to leaving the EU and the secrecy around this. There’s no pride in nature. It’s easier for me to relate to it.”

Sam at age 3 with one of his beloved garden creatures.

Sam’s mother Rachael says that despite his differences, he has always been enthusiastic about expressing his love of nature. Even though he struggled to read and write when he was younger, Sam has always had a vivid imagination and a strong grasp of language.

“Sam preferred to communicate by drawing and talking, and much of what he drew was to do with the natural environment,” says Rachael. “On discovering his dyslexia he gained the support he needed to allow his love of words to take shape on the page. He was then able to enjoy the text as well as the photos in his many wildlife books. Sam then joined the school's Eco Council and found his place. There he developed confidence in writing about what he loved, often illustrating his ideas. His great passions in life are the environment and art, with writing coming along a little later, but with growing confidence it proves an ever increasing channel for Sam's self-expression.”

Sam drew this illustration of a Blyth’s Hornbill as a birthday present for his mother this year.

Sam joins the ranks of other spirited young environmentalists with autism, including Greta Thunberg and fellow Northern Irishman Dara McAnulty, who channel their particular ways of seeing the world into positive action for the planet. Leadership comes in many forms, and these young activists are using their unique perspectives to change the way people think about the environment.

As for Sam, YRE has given him the opportunity to hone his environmental reporting skills and provided a platform to communicate his message to the world. He hopes that his article can inspire others to reconsider their attitudes and behaviour towards nature.

“I hope it’ll allow them to realise that we need to strengthen our relationship with the environment. To understand that we’re all part of one huge ecosystem, and we’re all interconnected. Distancing ourselves from fully knowing this isn’t good for us… When there’s an increase in knowledge there’s an increase of support, of passion and of a will to change things, I think.”

FEE to play meaningful role in CAN$2.5-million partnership project to promote global climate change education

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) will collaborate with over 80 leading scholars, agencies and organisations in the fields of climate change and education to implement the six-year Monitoring & Evaluation of Climate Change Education (MECCE) partnership project.

Dr. Marcia McKenzie of the University of Saskatchewan will lead the partnership. (Photo: Dave Stobbe)

The MECCE partnership, led by University of Saskatchewan College of Education Professor and Director of both the Sustainability Education Research Institute (SERI) and Sustainability and Education Policy Network (SEPN) Dr. Marcia McKenzie, aims to increase both the quality and quantity of global climate change education, training and public awareness. Funding for the project is provided by a CAN$2.5-million Partnership Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

Despite the urgent threat that climate change poses to the future of our planet and the integrity of human life on Earth, there is still a troubling gap in public climate change knowledge. Climate change denial, along with rhetoric minimising the risks associated with climate change, continue to be amplified worldwide despite scientific evidence to the contrary. Effective education is essential to overcoming climate denial, advancing climate literacy and driving climate action.  

“Education plays a critical role in fostering the kinds of changes in lifestyles, attitudes and behaviours needed to create a sustainable world. Through this major federal investment and working with our many partners around the world, we will help improve climate change education policies and practices, train students and policy makers, and develop a standard set of quality education indicators for monitoring progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said University of Saskatchewan Vice-President of Research Karen Chad.

The expected outcomes of MECCE include a greater understanding of the factors that characterise quality Climate Change Education (CCE), new indicators to enable effective CCE target-setting, the incorporation of project outputs into environmental policy practices, a new generation of effective climate education leaders and researchers, and increased global climate change action through a more educated citizenry.

“With better understandings of quality climate change education and training, countries will be able to improve their policy and practice, whether that is developing more effective environmental education curricula for elementary schools, or launching employee emission-reduction programs for local businesses,” said Dr. McKenzie.

FEE strengthens the MECCE partnership

With nearly 40 years of experience facilitating environmental education around the world, FEE will contribute to the objectives of MECCE by sharing practical and informed input about the evaluation and implementation of quality environmental education. The strength of the FEE network, with 99 member organisations in 77 countries, will also prove a valuable asset for assessing and disseminating Climate Change Education around the world.

One of the first actions of MECCE will be to gather 30 case studies from six continents to generate a greater understanding of quality CCE from diverse geographical and cultural perspectives. FEE, through the extensive reach of its programmes, will support the acquisition of truly global case studies based on existing FEE projects with various economic, social, cultural and geographical contexts and diverse target audiences (students, managers, teachers, tourists etc.).  

Another critical outcome of MECCE will be the development of new CCE monitoring indicators to enable global CCE target-setting and evaluation. FEE will contribute to this element of the project with advice based on its own experience monitoring and evaluating FEE’s educational programmes and projects, and by providing validation of the proposed indicators.

FEE is an ideal MECCE partner when it comes to knowledge mobilisation, based on the organisation’s strong global network and extensive programme reach. FEE also plans to integrate MECCE’s findings into its own programme and project designs in order to build educational capacity and maximise positive impact. FEE’s multinational Member Organisations can assist with translating and adapting materials for different national and regional contexts. FEE is also in the process of developing an online learning platform called FEE Academy, which will further the dissemination of MECCE materials through an open online repository of educational courses and learning materials.

As Dr. McKenzie concludes, “The science on human-induced climate change is conclusive, but it has been challenging to connect the need for societal change with existing priorities and values. This project will help us better communicate with various groups in ways that resonate with them, with an aim to ultimately inspire and incite more communities and countries to act.”

All quotes are taken from the original University of Saskatchewan article and are used here with permission.

Chilean Senator Kenneth Pugh calls for all beaches in Chile to work toward Blue Flag certification

Click here for the original article from The Times Chile (in Spanish)

Translation by Lourdes Diaz, FEE Board of Directors

The senator for the Valparaíso Region, Kenneth Pugh, raised via video conference for a colloquium - organized by the Chilean Maritime League - the need for Chilean beaches and ports to obtain an international certification known as Blue Flag that has the support of the United Nations (UN) and which considers four criteria: quality of bathing water, environmental information and education, environmental management and security and services and facilities.

“The benefits of having our coastline and beaches have this certification are multiple. From greater possibilities for tourism, since more and more tourists are looking for this type of certified beaches to go on vacation (especially those from developed countries), boost the economy of these localities, promote recycling, sustainable development and sustainability on our beaches, improve the care of our marine resources such as fish, crustaceans and shellfish, generate environmental awareness and education, among others, ”explained the independent congressman for the RN.

In addition, the parliamentarian emphasized the importance of connectivity that the sea has, not only for maritime transport, but also for the connections and trade that take place in its waters, through container ships over the sea and submarine fiber optic cables, that carry electronic commerce of the Internet by the seabed.

In Chile, the municipality of Zapallar announced during December of last year that it started the international implementation process to obtain the Blue Flag certification for the Cachagua beach. This would make Chile the first country in the South American Pacific to achieve this worldwide recognition.

Worldwide, Spain leads the Blue Flag certification, adding almost 600 beaches (252 municipalities) and 100 marinas. In South America, Brazil is the benchmark with four beaches and two marinas. "We have to follow the example of Spain, in which the work of the municipalities together with social and neighborhood organizations and the private sector has allowed this country to be a pioneer in this matter. To achieve this, education at an early age is very important, since if we teach our children from a young age the importance of the sea and the care of water resources, it will be easier to raise awareness by the time they are adults," said the MP.

Reform in favor of the sea

Regarding other projects to protect the seas, Senators Kenneth Pugh and Ricardo Lagos Weber presented a constitutional reform project last year that seeks to recognize the duty and interest of the State to safeguard Chile's maritime spaces and, in this way, contribute to the care of the environment.

“Today it is of utmost importance that the State of Chile commits itself to the highest legal level; that is, in our Constitution, with our maritime territory. We have an obligation to protect and promote knowledge about our oceans, "said Pugh.

Senator Kenneth Pugh, photo from https://www.pugh.cl/

Nicole Andreou, International Eco-Schools Coordinator, Selected as EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grantee

Washington, D.C., United States, March 9, 2020 – Nicole Andreou, International Eco-Schools Coordinator at the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), was selected as an EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker grantee by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). She will join a cohort of thirteen leaders from eight countries, receiving small grants and technical support to implement environmental education projects that build low-carbon economies, create resilient communities, and protect and restore ecosystems.

Nicole’s grant project will provide EE professional development opportunities for National Operators of the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Eco-Schools programme across 68 countries.

“This project involves different aspects of learning and transferring knowledge that ultimately help build my capacity as an educator and will support many in the FEE network with the right knowledge, tools and skills to implement work with environmental education more effectively,” said Nicole Andreou. Her project will be implemented in collaboration with experts within the global FEE network.

“Wells Fargo understands the urgency of accelerating a just transition to a low-carbon economy and helping communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change – that’s why we collaborated with NAAEE to support these inspiring Changemakers. Through their passion, innovation, and perseverance, these young leaders are helping to shape the communities of the future,” says CaSondra Devine, Enterprise Sustainability Leader at Wells Fargo.  

EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker grantees will lead their projects over the course of 10 months, and in addition to seed funding will receive professional development support, including the opportunity to present about their work at NAAEE’s 49th international conference in Tucson, AZ, in October 2020.

Says Judy Braus, Executive Director of NAAEE, “Our EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker grantees exemplify the very best in environmental education and inspire us to think boldly about how we can tackle the tough issues we face. NAAEE is so proud to collaborate with Wells Fargo on this initiative, and to be able to provide these leaders with the support they need to shape healthier and more sustainable communities.”

In 2019, Nicole Andreou was recognized through NAAEE’s global EE 30 Under 30 program, which annually recognizes exemplary leaders under the age of 30 who are harnessing the power of education to create a more sustainable future. To learn more, visit naaee.org/ee30under30.

About NAAEE

For nearly five decades, the North American Association for Environmental Education has led efforts to use the power of education to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement and create a more equitable and sustainable future. NAAEE supports a network of more than 20,000 educators and 56 state, regional and provincial affiliate organizations working in environmental education in more than 30 countries. 

Contact Name: Nina Hamilton | Contact Email: nina@naaee.org | Contact Phone: (202) 419-0412

2019 FEE Annual Report

The Foundation for Environmental Education is pleased to share our 2019 Annual Report. The publication highlights FEE’s developments, accomplishments and stories from the previous year. As always, we would like to acknowledge our extremely dedicated global network of members, partners and other stakeholders for their continued commitment to positive change. Thank you for working with us to build a more sustainable world!

Click on the photo below to read the full Annual Report.

2020 Travel Retail Awards will raise funds for Litter Less Campaign projects in India

01/04/2020 Update: The Travel Retail Awards will now take place at the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes in October.

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has been nominated by our valued partner the Mars Wrigley Foundation to be the beneficiary of funds raised during the 2020 Travel Retail Awards. The third edition of the annual awards ceremony, which is organised by TRBusiness, will be held on the 12th of May at The Conrad Hotel in Singapore.

The funds raised at the Travel Retails Awards will be directed towards the Litter Less Campaign, a joint initiative of FEE and the Mars Wrigley Foundation. The Litter Less Campaign educates children and youth on the issues of litter and pollution and gives them the opportunity to engage their local communities in awareness-raising activities. Since its launch in 2011, the Litter Less Campaign has educated over three million students around the world about the challenges of litter and waste in their communities and empowered them to become leaders driving sustainability and positive behaviour change. Phase IV of the Litter Less Campaign was launched in 2019 and will be implemented in 15 countries through two of FEE’s global education programmes, Eco-Schools and Young Reporters for the Environment.

The Travel Retail Awards raise funds through a charity prize raffle of high-value products donated by the event’s sponsors and participants, along with cash donations made throughout the evening. Proceeds raised for the Litter Less Campaign at the May 2020 event will be specifically directed to projects at twelve schools the region of New Delhi, India. The Litter Less Campaign will engage roughly 6,000 students and reach hundreds of communities in the region, where littering and waste management issues pose a serious challenge.  

“As a business that is all about better moments that make the world smile, Mars Wrigley ITR is proud to partner with TRBusiness to raise awareness and funds for the Litter Less Campaign. FEE’s Litter Less projects drive behaviour change around litter and waste prevention. They will create better communities in India with the support from the travel retail community, and we are very excited about the opportunity to drive impact in this way.”

–Gary Clarke, General Manager, Mars Wrigely ITR

“FEE is privileged for the funding and for the partnership it has been granted by the Mars Wrigley Foundation since 2011. Litter is a form of pollution that poses an increasing global problem but that can be solved by change in individual behaviour. The Litter Less Campaign is an essential part of our ongoing efforts to educate and change the behaviour of children, youth and adults around the world to reduce the negative impacts of litter. Any additional support that can help us in our pursuit to make schools hubs of positive change will be greatly valued and put to good use. We are grateful to be the designated charity of the Travel Retail Awards and thank the travel retail industry for its generous support and cooperation.”

-Daniel Schaffer, CEO, Foundation for Environmental Education

Funds from the 2020 Travel Retail Awards will benefit Litter Less Campaign projects in India

About the Travel Retail Awards

TRBusiness, retail’s leading provider of duty free and travel retail news, launched the first and only consumer-voted awards dedicated to the travel retail industry in 2018. The game-changing initiative and awards event recognises true ingenuity in travel retailing. It awards airports and products following a judging process, which involves expert research and priceless consumer blogger and video blogger feedback to crown the industry’s trailblazers.

About Foundation for Environmental Education

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is the world's largest environmental education organisation with members in 77 countries. Through five ground-breaking programmes, FEE empowers people to take meaningful and purposeful action to help create a more sustainable world.

About the Mars Wrigley Foundation

The Mars Wrigley Foundation partners with organizations around the world to help people and communities flourish. Founded in 1987, the Foundation works to provide oral health education and care, improve lives in mint- and cocoa-growing regions, prevent litter and waste, and create vibrant communities.

CEO Daniel Schaffer talks FEE and positive action with Great.com

“Instead of telling people what they shouldn’t be doing, we try to provide them with ways that they can actually find solutions to do things in a more sustainable way.”

That’s the message that CEO Daniel Schaffer emphasised as part of the core philosophy of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) when he was interviewed by Spirit Rosenberg of Great.com as part of their Great Talks With… series.

Daniel elaborated that part of the “golden thread” that runs through all of FEE’s work is a positive and solution-based mentality. “Telling people what they can’t do is not the way forward, so FEE shows people what they can do and gives them concrete ways to make real change happen.”

Daniel appeared on the series to introduce FEE to a new audience and explain why the work FEE does around the world is so critical. He describes how FEE educates multiple stakeholders about environmental issues and inspires them to take positive action for sustainability. Daniel and Spirit had a lively discussion about the current state of environmental activism and how FEE fills a unique and important role in the sustainability movement. Watch the video below to hear the full conversation.

Great.com is an organization that is changing the way people think about charity, development, and organizations. They’re leading the next generation of charitable giving with their completely remote and radically transparent charity.

Photo from Great.com

Keep Britain Tidy celebrates 25 years of Eco-Schools with National Award Ceremony

On 12th December 2019, 160 Eco-Schools students, teachers and supporters gathered at the world famous Etihad Stadium in Manchester for Eco-Schools England’s first ever National Award Ceremony. The evening was hosted by Keep Britain Tidy and presided over by famous adventurer, television presenter and author Steve Backshall. Marking 25 years of the Eco-Schools programme in England, the event was a celebration of the amazing work undertaken by a generation of Eco-Schools across the country.

“The purpose of the event was to recognize the hard work and determination of Eco-Schools, Eco-Committees, Eco-Coordinators and Green Flag Assessors who have made the programme as successful as it is in England - without them we would not be the largest educational programme.”

— Lee Wray-Davies, Eco-Schools Manager, England

Sixteen schools and individuals were honoured with awards for excellence in the Eco-Schools programme. Over 70 students aged 6-17 from award-winning schools attended the ceremony, along with their teachers and Eco-Coordinators. A number of local authorities and corporate partners who have supported the programme over the years also joined in the festivities.

The evening culminated with the presentation of the Eco-Schools Lifetime Achievement Award to Cannon Burrows Church of England Primary School. In 1998, Cannon Burrows became the first school in England to earn a Green Flag. The school has since achieved 10 Green Flags and has been frequently recognised for excellence in environmental education. One of the Cannon Burrows teachers in attendance at the award ceremony was also a student on the school’s first Eco-Committee in 1994, proving that Cannon Burrows has been educating young people about the environment for a generation.

All of the awarded schools and individuals have gone above and beyond to achieve Eco-Schools excellence. You can find out more about the award winners here: Award Winner Biographies

Steve Backshall addresses the audience

Steve Backshall addresses the audience

Biodiversity Topic Award - Heswall Primary School

Energy Topic Award - St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School

Global Citizenship Topic Award - St John’s Church of England Primary School

Healthy Living Topic Award - Cradle Hill Community Primary School

Marine Topic Award - Sutton High School

School Grounds Topic Award - Honey Pot Nursery

Transport Topic Award - Avenue Primary School

Waste Topic Award - Dean Trust Ardwick

Water Topic Award - The Park Primary School

Litter Topic Award - Catherine Junior School

Keep Britain Tidy staff with Steve Backshall

Steve snaps a selfie with students with Etihad Stadium in the background

Volunteer Green Flag Assessor of the Year - Sandra Mcleod

Early Years School of the Year - Everton Nursery School and Family Centre

Primary School of the Year - Damers First School

Secondary School of the Year - Cardinal Allen High School

Eco-Coordinator of the Year - Sarah Wilding, St. Mary’s School, Colchester

Eco-Schools Lifetime Achievement Award - Canon Burrows Church of England Primary School

All photos by Martin Birchall

The Eco-Schools National Award Ceremony was made possible by the Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Changing Together: Eco-Schools releases publication to commemorate 25 years of environmental education

For a quarter of a century, the Eco-Schools programme has been engaging young people in taking positive actions that transform their lives. From its modest beginnings in a few European countries, the programme has expanded to effect change in some 59,000 schools in 68 countries across the globe. Recognised by UNESCO and UN Environment as a world-leader within the fields of Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), the Eco- Schools programme is not just an economic model to lower costs, it is also a humanistic model that places the students and stakeholders at the centre of a process of change towards sustainability, connecting them to the real issues in their communities.

This publication is dedicated to the teachers who are at the forefront of providing children with the most stimulating experiences possible: it is they who have built this programme. Though their role is envisaged as facilitators, it takes many hours to glean the necessary experience owing to all the challenges that our education systems are faced with. It is their belief and commitment that has created the Eco-Schools we see today.

“Eco-Schools are a strong and credible partner for UNESCO. They work on the ground, every day, to make ESD a reality for students worldwide. With its over 59,000 schools in 68 countries, and a strong network of National Operators, the Eco-Schools programme provides quality ESD at a large scale. For five years, the Foundation of Environmental Education and its Eco-Schools programme have been one of the most active Key Partners of UNESCO’s Global Action Programme on ESD (2015-2019). At UNESCO, we look forward to continue working with the Eco-Schools programme as we move beyond the Global Action Programme into a new ESD framework that will strive to accelerate the transformational change that is needed across the world to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”

— Alexander Leicht, Chief, Section of ESD, Education Sector, UNESCO

“The programme changed my perspective on things that I once turned a blind eye to and it widened my view, enabling me to think outside of the box rather than just stay in my comfort zone. The Eco-Schools programme taught me that despite having different beliefs, different dreams, different races and just being different in general, we humans are still living on ONE planet with ONE mother nature. Throughout my four years of being in this programme, I also realised that changes are possible and it is up to us to help make our world a better place so that our future generations could have a chance to live in a world filled with the wonders of mother nature.”

— Nojuel JC Soluku, Student, SM St Michael Penampang, Malaysia

Changing Together can be viewed and downloaded here

Foundation for Environmental Education’s statement on the devastating Australian bushfires

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) joins the global community in expressing our deep distress at the bushfires that continue to ravage parts of Australia. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the individuals and communities who have been impacted by this catastrophe. We would also like to extend the utmost gratitude and esteem to the countless professionals and volunteers who have been working tirelessly to control the bushfires and provide relief to the Australian people.

Experts from around the world have spoken out to declare climate change a significant factor contributing to the extreme bushfires afflicting Australia, as well as to the frequency and severity of other extreme global weather events. As we move into a new decade, FEE has committed itself to refocusing our efforts to address the climate emergency. Through our environmental education programmes, we empower young people to find positive, action-based solutions to the climate crisis that is already beginning to affect our planet. Additionally, our newly launched Global Forest Fund employs environmental action and education efforts to offset carbon emissions associated with travel.  

On the ground in Australia, FEE member organisation Keep Australia Beautiful operates our Eco-Schools and Young Reporters for the Environment programmes to engage Australian children and youth in the pursuit of a sustainable future. The skills and passion these young people acquire will no doubt play a role in Australia’s ability to survive and thrive in years to come.

The indomitable spirit of the Australian people in the face of this tragedy renews FEE’s commitment to environmental education and inspires us to work even harder to empower the climate leaders of tomorrow. Although the current situation is undoubtedly dire, the passion and drive of the next generation inspires a positive outlook for the future of Australia and the planet as a whole. 

Students celebrate the launch of Eco-Schools Australia at Harrington Park Public School in 2014

Action for Climate Empowerment at COP25

Join us Friday December 6th at the COP 25 in Madrid! We are co-sponsoring an event with Earth Day Network to make environmental education mandatory in all classrooms at all education levels and for schools to promote a sustainable lifestyle all over the world.

Global Forest Fund - new calculator and platform launch

After nearly a decade of compensating for our organisation’s own emissions, we have been privileged to have received a donation to upgrade this internal tool to a cutting-edge platform. Today FEE launches this new Global Forest Fund calculator and platform which allows travellers to calculate their carbon emission across a range of transport options. Open to the public and other organisations interested in compensating for CO2 emissions related to travel, the Global Forest Fund is trustworthy, transparent and makes a real and lasting impact.

We strongly believe that education is an essential part of the process and will contribute greatly to the future impact of this tool. Our methodology focuses on engaging youth in schools with educational resources delivered over the course of the school year, with these learning outcomes being reinforced around the focal point of a hands-on tree planting event involving the local community.

Project Leader Barry McGonigal

Project applications are awarded based on striking a balance between planting as many trees as possible and education as many children as we can. Working with our members means drawing on decades of collaboration and expertise to deliver the maximum for the funds we disseminate with 90% of the income going directly to the projects and the remainder used for administration at FEE.

 We are currently establishing a jury including representatives from outside of our organisation whose task it will be to select the projects to be awarded according to a strict set of criteria. Transparency and integrity are as key to the success of our fund as they are to our organisation as a whole: with nearly forty years of running global programmes the Foundation for Environmental Education has become a leader in the public eye, representing quality and environmental awareness both in the tourism industry (Blue Flag and Green Key) and formal education (Eco-Schools, Learning about Forests and Young Reporters for the Environment).

New Eco-Schools Children for Children Campaign to Support The Bahamas

It is estimated that 70,000 people, including more than 18,000 children and teachers, have been severely affected by the recent Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas. Twelve Eco-Schools on two islands, Grand Bahama and Abaco, suffered extensive damage or were destroyed.

To support children from our twelve affected Eco-Schools and to raise educational awareness on the increasing vulnerabilities to natural disasters from climate change, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has teamed up with our member in The Bahamas, Bahamas Reef Environmental Education Foundation (BREEF), to launch the Children for Children campaign.

Individual Eco-Schools from our global network of 51,000 schools in 67 countries will be able to participate in this global campaign, which will help educate students on climate change risk reduction and resilience. Each of the actions taken by these schools will also include a fundraising component so they can make donations to help the recovery efforts of affected Eco-Schools in The Bahamas. Donations from outside of the Eco-Schools network are also welcome.

 “The overall goal is to raise educational awareness on the impacts of climate change and the increasing vulnerabilities to disasters, and at the same time help the schools in The Bahamas buy new equipment and educational materials that will allow students to return to normality as soon as possible,” says FEE’s CEO, Daniel Schaffer.

Since 1981 FEE, through its Eco-Schools, Young Reporters for the Environment, and Learning about Forests programmes, has been educating children, youth and adults to increase awareness and action on creating a more sustainable world. Today, with increasing vulnerabilities to natural disasters from climate change, FEE is in a position to mobilise support for rehabilitation and climate resilience, particularly within the educational infrastructure.

“Though born out of adversity, the Children for Children campaign unites the global Eco-Schools network with the children of The Bahamas not only to show that they care, but to lend their financial support to the ongoing recovery of children affected by Hurricane Dorian. As a low-lying archipelago, The Bahamas is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the adverse effects of climate change. Nevertheless, climate change affects every one of us on earth and it is up to us all to take action,” says Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, Executive Director of BREEF.

Next summer the campaign will follow up with the progress of how the recovery efforts for the children and schools in The Bahamas is progressing and a final publication on the ‘Climate change risk reduction and resilience education’ will be published.

To find out more about how to donate, school fundraising activities, educational resources and how an Eco-School can register for this campaign, please visit: www.ecoschools.global/childrenforchildren

Eco-Schools Petition to 10 Downing Street

Allison Ogden-Newton, Lee Wray-Davies and Suzy Brain England outside 10 Downing Street

Today Eco-Schools England presented their petition to No 10 Downing Street asking for all schools in England to become Eco-Schools and to receive the support they need to achieve Green Flag success.

‘We believe that every school in England, from Early Years to higher education, should feel able to benefit from being enrolled on the Eco-Schools programme. Every school should be actively supported to achieve their Green Flag and overcome any anxiety about future climate through a programme that delivers the learning that young people need and personal strategies they can employ to take action and make a difference, at school, at home and in their future working lives’

To follow the story on social media please use #AllSchoolsEcoSchools