Children taught to become environmental ambassadors

A call has been made for children to be sensitised to becoming environmental ambassadors as one means of addressing climate change.

Principal Director for Field Services at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Winston Simpson says that students can play a key role as stewards of the environment by keeping their space clean, recycling plastics, and planting trees.

"We, as parents, must set the platform through education, mentorship and through guidance. Without the students becoming aware of their environment and how to protect and care for it, there is no future," he argued.

Simpson was speaking at the launch of the LASCO-sponsored Releaf Environmental Awareness Programme (REAP) on Tuesday at the White Marl Primary School in St Catherine.

He applauded LASCO for sensitising children on environmental issues through the REAP initiative, which engages primary, preparatory, and junior high school students in multipronged environmental competitions.

Categories include art, poetry, planting, recycling, drama, dance, cleanliness of school grounds, and more.

Simpson noted that the programme, now in its sixth year, has resulted in the planting of 15,000 trees and the establishment of 100 school gardens.

He is encouraging more schools to grow their own produce in order to increase consumption of local foods and cut down on imports.

LASCO Brand Manager Kelia-Gaye Dunbar, who provided some environmental tips to the students, said that REAP was doing its part to preserve the environment.