GwyrddNi’s education offer is carrying on! The intention of GwyrddNi’s education offer is to ensure that children and young people have the opportunity to contribute to solving the climate challenge in their communities.
We did this during the first phase of GwyrddNi by running an education program that ran alongside the Community Assembly process.
There were:
- Sessions about climate change;
- Visits to local climate solutions;
- Assemblies for children and young people;
- Presentations by the children and young people to the community assemblies; and
- Practical action sessions.
It was a privilege to work with so many – 613 learners in total – intelligent, enthusiastic, creative and active children and young people!
It was important to ensure that the voice of the children could be heard during the assembly process – after all, they will live in the future we create. And what a powerful voice it was! All five areas’ Community Climate Action Plans were influenced by the children and young people in one way or another.
“It was great to have the visit from the local primary school children too, sharing their hopes and aspirations for the future. It was really emotional. One thing I noticed that was very good was that they were quite ‘blue sky’ in their way of thinking. They’re not as attached to the practicality of things as adults, which is great because you can lose sight of things you want to aim for because you think ‘well it’s not practical’, but why not aim high, aim for the best results.” said Martyn from the Dyffryn Nantlle Assembly.
Another of our education offer’s aims is to foster links between schools and people or groups in the community who are acting on climate. In some areas, connections have already grown: after a day of visits to local climate solutions organised by GwyrddNi, Brynrefail High School is now sending groups of students to volunteer at Tyddyn Teg’s cooperative and organic farm. Also, in Bro Ffestiniog, students requested to do their work experience with one of the organisations that was part of their visit, after learning about its work during the day.
The children’s feedback was positive: “It was great to have the children of different ages together,” said Ela from Dyffryn Ogwen.
Teachers were also happy with the results of the education programme:
“It was great for the children to learn about the things that are happening in their community to tackle climate change. Many of the children said they were going to discuss the Pesda [Food] Pantry and the Library of Things with their parents. Thank you very much for all the information, it has been a real eye opener for the children” said one teacher about the visits to local climate solutions.
Now that GwyrddNi has received a second round of funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, we are moving on to our Community Action Phase. The education offer has changed to reflect this.
Sara, our Education Co-ordinator, says “We still offer climate sessions and visits to local climate solutions but the emphasis is now on action – with an opportunity for schools to collaborate with our facilitators and the community to develop or work on projects that tackle the climate challenge.
We will also collaborate with teachers to develop resources for the class on local climate solutions. Once the work with schools has been established we will look at how to develop education about the climate in our communities in general”.
Another exciting development in the world of GwyrddNi education is the appointment of Angharad Owen as Education Officer. Angharad is an asset to the team, with a wealth of experience of working with communities and schools on various environmental and creative projects. She was a member of the Dyffryn Peris Community Assembly on the Climate, and therefore has a deep understanding of what the GwyrddNi movement involves. She will work with the GwyrddNi Community Facilitators to implement the GwyrddNi education offer. Welcome to the team, Angharad!
Here is a video reflecting on the education offer – both what happened in the first phase, and our aims going forward:
If you work in a school in one of GwyrddNi’s areas and want to take advantage of our education offer, get in touch! GwyrddNi Education Co-ordinator: sara@deg.cymru / 07536974982
