Next week students from enviroschools in Hamilton and Auckland will show an international group of teachers what they are doing to create sustainable local communities. New Zealand is hosting a delegation of teachers from Chile, Singapore and Brunei who will see how the New Zealand experience can help them, back in their own schools and countries.
Enviroschools is an innovative nationwide school programme where students plan, design and create sustainable communities.One quarter of schools in New Zealand are now part of the growing network of enviroschools.
Heidi Mardon, National Director of The Enviroschools Foundation comments: “We are seeing a wave of sustainability-savvy young people now emerging from the Enviroschools network and beyond. Their schools are being sought out to showcase their knowledge and expertise, and to show that sustainability makes good sense economically and socially, as well as environmentally.”
The Enviroschools Programme has been approached by the New Zealand Government as part of their commitment to provide leadership within the group of P4 nations, in relation to sustainability.P4 is a trade agreement between New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei.At the instigation of the New Zealand Government, the agreement goes beyond trade to include an Environmental Cooperation Agreement.
The Ministry for the Environment has played a lead role in organising this opportunity working in collaboration with The Enviroschools Foundation.
The Enviroschools Foundation is the national support agency for the Enviroschools Programme.They run the programme in collaboration with a number of national and regional agencies, including 45 Councils.The Foundation is a charitable trust based in Waikato.The Foundation receives some of its funding from Ministry of Education and also has a national partnership with the Department of Conservation.
For further information please contact:
Heidi Mardon, National Director, The Enviroschools Foundation
021 355 926 or heidi.mardon@enviroschools.org.nz
Refer attached itinerary for opportunities to cover school visits.
