Environmental Networking Platform for Children and Youth by SAMSUNG E&A
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An Eco Chrismas gift to Orphans and Vulnerable Children- Eco generation ambassador Event |
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by DAVID CHAPOLOKO | 27-12-2019 16:03
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The greatest challenge I have faced throughout my career as an environmentalist is the criticism that suggests that quite often, we environmentalists are so stuck to climate issues and we neglect other social responsibilities vital for the survival of humanity such as outreach and charity work. We only come out when the situation best suits us making our programs luck an integral ingredient to make them interesting because we quite often present to the public as somewhat their enemies or critics who only dictates their Do's and Don'ts . We seem as though we do not want to listen to their social challenges but often pronouncing on them their doom of extreme global warming awaiting them if the continued to disobey the laws of nature and how they should stop burning charcoal their main income source as well as condemning some their indegenous agricultural practices, those that may be unsustainable.
To eradicate such popular thoughts among the general public, I thought of how we can as environmentalists take advantage of the influence of some important days like Chistmas and present as friends to the public who only wish the best for humanity. I arranged for a community school Christmas visitation program. the target was Elim OVC community school in Zambia's Musonda compound that looks after orphans and vulnerable children. Most of these children come from female and child headed families whom their main economic activities are gathering of forest products for sell and home consumption as well as charcoal burning. The idea is that if we strengthened relationships with such children and use them as epitome of change in their communities would strongly create a bridge of friendship between us and their parents as well as an influence to sustain our environmental advocacy and arrest deforestation. The theme for the day was simply 'Love, Charity and Sustainability'. The program was complemented with a prior fundraising campaign that was aimed at raising funds to support children with their school needs as well as throw a Chistmas party with them. Fortunately, through the fundraising campaign with few interested individuals, we managed fundraise about U$D 300. Through this amount, we managed to buy food to eat with the children at Chrismas, we bought enough books, school bags, school socks and many other school necesities. We furthermore donated some Eco Pens and rules from TUNZA Ecogeneration and proudly I can comfortably say that over 105 children this January are going back to school on full learning kit. Furthermore, among main activities of the day we did environmental education and planted five pine trees around the school. During the tree planting excercise we insisted on pine because it is typically the real christmas tree. We emphasised to the children that instead of the plastic Christmas trees that people buy on Christmas, we can as well just plant a real Christmas tree, water it and use it on our Christmas celebrations. The headteacher for the school was so amazed with our gesture and we were warmly welcomed and he confirmed that whenever we wanted to come back for more environmental outreach program, the school is ready to receive us and work with us. Right now I can confirm that the community school has been marked as our territory for environmental programs and we hope to use it as channel to bring change to the people of Musonda compound especially on their perception towards forest resources. If we continued to explore more interesting ways that our message as ambassadors could be received, the world would surely be a better place I feel. Not just to show up when it best fits us, but if it was a priority to take care of people's needs first, to show love and put smiles on vulnerable children as a priority, we would create a friendly environment for us to reach out to the people not as critics but as friends. Love is the greatest tool we can ever use to change the world. And love, coupled with charity and a spoonful of environmental sustainability message is the recipe I tried this Christmas and it was the best Christmas gift to the children. Green Cheers from Zambia.
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7 Comments
Greeting david
I hope you are doing well!
Thank you so much for this report!
Keep writing
Green cheers
Regards
Hema
Posted 22-03-2020 11:24
Thank you so much for the encouraging comments. I will always do my best
Posted 31-12-2019 07:10
Hello David
You came up with such a meaningful program.
I also often thought that it's also important to make people come together under the idea of preserving the environment. But as you mentioned, I could see that not all people see the environmentalists positively. In that aspect, your program is hugely effective in achieving that goal and bring change to the local community.
Thank you for sharing your great experience with the report, and keep up with the great actions.
Posted 30-12-2019 17:27
Hello David
I do hope that you are fine and doing great with your works.
Thank you for your report about Eco Chrismas gift to Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Green Cheers from Nepal :)
Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.
Regards,
Kushal Naharki
Posted 30-12-2019 01:27
Wow David, great work! I really feel you on the environmentalists ‘neglecting other social responsibilities??. Thanks for making our Earth a better place! Keep it up!
Posted 29-12-2019 11:43
Thank you so much. Will always do my best
Posted 28-12-2019 14:27
Hey David!
It's Lisa:)
How sweet of you!!
You have been a real Santa for those children:)
I am very happy that Tunza's got such a warm-hearted person like you.
I am also very glad that Tunza goods could be a help.
You light up the world dear.
Great work :)
Posted 27-12-2019 23:32