Go Green Fund Supports Environmental Education

The Nedbank Go Green Fund has this year supported 86 pupils who hail from less fortunate backgrounds to attend an environmental education programme through the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust

NaDEET). Registered in Namibia as a non-profit trust, NaDEET is a vibrant environmental education organisation.At the core of NaDEET’s programmes is their environmental education centre located on the NamibRand Nature Reserve. The centre is a platform where children and adult participants learn first-hand about sustainable living, biodiversity and the balance between humans and the environment.

Jacky Tjivikua, Nedbank’s manager for the Go Green Fund and sponsorships, says the Go Green Fund is a co-sponsor of NaDEET’s education programme.

“A total of N$150 000 has been dedicated to the three-year programme which is currently in its second year and has enabled the schools to make the NaDEET Centre a part of their annual calendar,” said Tjivikua.

The NaDEET Centre offers comprehensive environmental education programmes that are closely tied to the Namibian school curriculum. According to Jacky, it is this invaluable experience that contributes to a good, well-rounded education of Namibia’s children.

Participating schools have found the environmental programme beneficial to the development of their pupils and their understanding of our environment.

Pupils from the Rehoboth-based Origo Primary School have attended the NaDEET programme for the second time, while the Ruimte Primary School had their fifth visit to the centre – proving the value that schools are placing on the practical environmental education programme.

Tjivikua says the programmes aim is in line with the Nedbank Go Green Fund that is managed in partnership with Namibia Nature Foundation.

“Both aim to support conservation through environmental education for schools, thereby protecting the natural environment through improved access to environmental education.”

During the week-long visit at the centre, pupils explore Namibian and global environmental problems focusing on energy, water, waste and biodiversity. The pupils do not only get to discuss the issues but through practical solutions taught by the centre, they get to learn ways in which one can play a role to counteract their issues.

“All of these activities and new information that pupils are exposed to have a profound impact on them as they, by the end of the week, become aware of their impact on the environment and the realisation that it is up to them to improve the environment,” said Tjivikua.

Viktoria Keding, the founder and director of NaDEET, recently made a comment during her visits to schools in the north of Namibia stating that “to reach the Sustainable Development Goals, we need to make education for sustainable development a part of every classroom nationwide”.