The search for Sustainable schools in Suriname. Eco School Suriname

Project objectives: The project objectives are: • Build a shared vision of sustainable schools: achieve a common framework of understanding of sustainable lifestyles through a multi-disciplinary approach; • Integrate sustainable lifestyle principles and practices in school curricula; • Capacity building for achieving greening of the learning process and learning environments; • Empower teachers, students and communities to adopt sustainable lifestyles through active participation and education; • Deepen and strengthen the Program Basic Life Skills and Education of Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (MINOWC). Impact & Results: Progress achieved and the impacts involve multiple factors and can be measured at many levels. Outcome indicators for this project will be identified, together with criteria and monitoring methodologies. The outcome of the project must be that within one year of the commencing of the project the selected schools must have implemented their plans. Through guiding and monitoring the schools (teachers, students and communities) must comply with the specific criteria of the project. These criteria will be an essential part of the school plans and will be communicated through the workshops, sessions and roadshows. These criteria are: • Development, mobilization and empowerment for sustainable lifestyles; • Educating and enhance knowledge of communities, teachers and students about sustainable lifestyles; • Transforming current lifestyles into new and better lifestyles. Raising awareness, deepening knowledge and building towards sustainable living must start at a local level and the best medium to accomplish that is the through the schools in Suriname. As the twig is bent the tree is inclined! Key in this project will be to engage students, teachers and their communities to deepen their understanding and knowledge of sustainable lifestyles and how to incorporate these lifestyles into their daily routine and activities. The areas in which this can be done are: • Build a shared vision of sustainable schools: achieve a common framework of understanding of sustainable lifestyles through a multi-disciplinary approach; • Integrate sustainable lifestyle principles and practices in school curricula; • Capacity building for achieving greening of the learning process and learning environments; • Empower teachers, students and communities to adopt sustainable lifestyles through active participation and education. Through national workshops, consultation sessions and roadshows the shared vision of the concept of sustainable schools will be addressed. These workshops, sessions and roadshows will be held in all districts of Suriname. These 10 districts are: Paramaribo, Commewijne, Para, Saramacca, Coronie, Nickerie, Marowijne, Brokopondo, Sipaliwinie, Wanica This will be part of the raising awareness stage of the sustainable school project. The next stage will be the call for schools to submit their activity plans; how to best incorporate a sustainable lifestyle into their daily school activities. The third stage will be the selection of schools with the best plans for a pilot implementation. The fourth stage is the actual implementation of the school plans. The purpose of this project is to raise awareness of sustainable lifestyles for students, teachers and their communities. With an increasing population, an increasing consumption rate, impacts on our climate, loss of biodiversity we need to educate our children (students) how to improve their lifestyle and be engaged in activities that will promote a healthy living.