Problem Statement:

The various challenges facing humanity today, with the climate crisis being one of the foremost concerns, are well-known to all. Global efforts have been made to raise awareness among the general public, with the hope of halting and possibly reversing the effects of human-induced climate change. Education is undoubtedly key in the process of shaping individuals more environmentally conscious, making it imperative to develop Environmental Education (EE) programs in educational institutions worldwide.

In Ecuador, despite national efforts to implement EE programs, environmental education has not yet been included in the school curriculum as a formal or mandatory subject. Environmental topics are only briefly covered in biology or science subjects, often without practical outdoor components. Understanding activities such as recycling, composting, plant cultivation, and food production contributes to creativity and helps establish a connection with nature in children. This was one of the key motivations for this project.

Target Group:

Girls and boys aged 8 to 10 years old living in Quito city.  

Proposed Solution:

Environment Champions focused on providing environmental education for girls and boys aged 8 to 10 through a 'learning by doing' methodology, which combines theoretical components with practical activities. The methodology is summarized in five interactive and comprehensive modules: 1) global warming, 2) the importance of biodiversity, 3) waste management, 4) urban gardens, and 5) food sovereignty.

The methodology's structure relied on introductory stories, games, and a final project at the end of each week. Each module consisted of two classes, and the weekly progress allowed the completion of the program over a five-week period. Throughout this time, a playful approach was maintained for the children with the professional support of teachers or consultants who are experts in environmental issues. Since its beginning, the main goal of the project has been to foster the development of environmental awareness in participants, utilizing practical approaches such as recycling, composting, and plant cultivation.

Hub Activities:

To carry out the three implementations, the following activities were conducted:

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  Identification of an educational unit in the city of Quito interested in adopting the Environment Champions (CA) methodology.

  
  


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  Strengthening the capacities of the internal Shapers team responsible for replicating the methodology.

  
  


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  Development of an internal schedule for the Shapers team accompanying the methodology implementation.

  
  


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  Acquisition of the necessary supplies for delivering individual gardens to each participant.

  
  


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  Planning and development of the logistical process for the graduation of the children who participated in the training. The objective of this process was to provide a deeper and practical understanding of the information shared during the training.

  
  

Short & Long-Term Goals/Results:

Short-term: Educate boys and girls in good environmental practices such as recycling, composting, and reducing water or energy consumption through the intervention of 10 interactive classes over 5 weeks.

 

Long-term: Replicate the environmental practices learned by the children in their homes, sharing them with their family and friends after 1 year of the environmental project implementation.

Available Metrics:

Within the context of the Environment Champions process, the following results were achieved starting from 2021:

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  52 boys and girls aged 8 to 10 from the self-managed school "Solidaridad" in Quito certified as "Environment Champions" in 5 modules on environmental topics from February to March 2021, with a 95% acceptance rate among beneficiaries.

  
  


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  More than 70% of interest achieved by the children on the 5 education modules implemented during the project.

  
  


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  50 good environmental practices replicated by each child in their home with the participation of their parents at the end of the project.

  
  


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  5 animated videos created about environmental characters and shared in the methodology.

  
  


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  66 boys and girls aged 8 to 10 from the Abelardo Flores school in Quito certified as "Environment Champions" in 5 modules on environmental topics during March to April 2022.

  
  


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  17 boys and girls aged 8 to 10 from the Abelardo Flores school in Quito certified as "Environment Champions" in 5 modules on environmental topics during February and March 2023.

  
  


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  2 in-person environmental practices conducted at the school (composting and recycling) during February and March 2023.

  
  


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  1 technical visit and closing event at the Quito Botanical Garden during March 2023

  
  


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  2 educational institutions certified as part of the "Environment Champions" project between 2021 and 2023.

  
  

COLLABORATORS: 

The project was funded by the Climate Reality Project, based on an award received in 2019. Throughout the design and implementation phases, it received support from the Environmental Secretariat of the Municipality of Quito, as well as from key institutions in the process, including the Self-Managed Solidarity Unit and the Abelardo Flores Educational Unit. Additionally, certain project activities have received support from the British Embassy.