Schools key in promoting lifelong environmental habits

By Sihlobo Bulala

Schools are playing an increasingly important role in shaping how future generations engage with the environment amid challenges posed by climate change, deforestation, land degradation, waste management, water scarcity and food insecurity.

Organizations like Green Hut Trust in Bulawayo whose thematic areas encompass environmental education and awareness, climate mitigation and adaptation innovations, have innovated around how they work with communities through streamlining their work to target school going children.

Speaking during a WhatsApp discussion conducted by Community Podium, Nonkanyiso Gumede, Programs Manager at Green Hut Trust shared that while not impossible, they have realized that it is relatively harder to change harmful habits once people are older.

“Changing years and years of bad habits is difficult. For example, the littering we see in town can be attributed to years of social conditioning. People have desensitized themselves from taking pride in clean surroundings, and dismantling such habits is not an easy task,” she said.

Having identified these patterns, the organization recognized the importance of early engagement, and they have since gone to engage schools like Thembiso Primary School, Sibanesezwe Primary School, Passionate Alms Primary School, Prestige High School, Emakhandeni High School, Maranatha Adventist High School, Bulawayo Adventist High School, V Mhlophe High School, Hamilton High School, Lupane State University and the National University of Science and Technology.

“School-based environmental activities have a powerful impact on how students think and act toward nature. When learners are directly involved in hands-on projects like planting trees, creating food forests, or managing waste, they begin to see themselves as part of the solution. These activities make environmental issues feel real and personal,” said Gumede.

Green Hut Trust is currently implementing a project on climate resilient food systems where they are establishing food forests in schools. These are done in co-creation with students who first receive training on tree propagation, composting and agro-ecology principles to ensure they have a deeper understanding of what they are doing and why. In the last six months, they have managed to establish environmental clubs in seven schools.

“Our expectation is that young people become environmental stewards as we are in the midst of a climate crisis. Young people are present and future custodians of the planet so we want to see them taking up space in advocacy, for example, as climate diplomats,” she highlighted.

In the age of green economy, school-based environmental action has also been identified as an opportunity to spark innovation among young people.

“This is important for creating green enterprises and improving community livelihoods. Many students are not aware of the variety of opportunities that are available with regard to green jobs. Environmental projects open their eyes to the possibilities within the space and that can help guide their career paths,” she said.

Communities have also been encouraged to partake in simple, yet impactful environmental actions like tree planting, community clean up campaigns, recycling initiatives, and sustainable nutritional gardens. More so, the discussion also revealed that students can partake in debate and speech competitions to sharpen their knowledge on environmental issues and climate policies.

School-based environmental projects can benefit students and the wider community where direct benefits like improved green spaces, cleaner environments, access to fresh produce from school gardens and increased awareness of local environmental issues can be realized.

“The initiative is at a pilot stage and the plants are still small, but the plan is for students to utilize their food forests to generate income and also as a living classroom that can be integrated into the school curriculum for example, agriculture, food and nutrition, etc,” she said, as she further advised that it’s important to encourage young people to explore careers within the environmental space as the future is green.

Green Hut Trust works with youths up to the age of 35 which allows students who have graduated from school to continue partaking in environmental action.

“We have a volunteer program which exposes them to more opportunities within the environment and climate space. Some of the projects we are implementing also have the option of supporting exceptional climate SMART innovations as well as providing financial literacy so that young people are able to monetize within the environmental/climate resilient food systems space,” she said.

One call to action raised during the engagement was an invitation for private players to join the cause and offer technical capacity building and financial support where possible, through corporate social responsibility. More so, youth centers where young people can engage and explore environmental activities outside of school were highlighted as a need, with areas like Cowdray Park lacking in such infrastructure.