NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) hosted its annual Eco-Schools Bahamas (ESB) Workshop on October 11, 2024, drawing over 60 educators from across the islands to the New Providence Community Centre.
Participants hailed from Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Cat Island, and New Providence, attending a full day of presentations and interactive sessions aimed at integrating environmental education into their school curricula.
A key focus of the workshop was to empower teachers with the tools and knowledge needed to guide their schools toward achieving Green Flag certification, an internationally recognized sustainability award. Attendees participated in lively activities designed to inspire student leadership within Eco-Clubs, fostering a new generation of environmental stewards.
Raymond Knight, Eco-Schools Coordinator at Aquinas College, presented on renewable energy and carbon emissions, encouraging schools to monitor their energy consumption as a first step toward reducing it. Knight demonstrated how to calculate consumption costs and pinpoint areas for improvement, advocating for a shift toward renewable energy sources on school campuses.
“When we talk about energy consumption, sometimes we ignore the small, small bits, but they do add up,” Knight said, emphasizing the potential for schools to make significant environmental and financial impacts through conscious energy use.
In a heartwarming moment, Knight’s former student, Melissa Ingraham, now representing the Office of the Prime Minister’s Climate Change & Environmental Advisory Unit, took the stage after him. Ingraham shared how Knight’s teachings had influenced her career path, highlighting the long-lasting impact educators can have on their students.
“It was a full-circle moment where I reunited with this teacher who taught me science,” she said. “Giving a presentation back to him as an adult and professional was an honor.”
Sally Johnson, an Education Officer for Social Studies at the Ministry of Education and an Eco-Schools Assessor, expressed excitement about the growing participation of government junior high schools in the Eco-Schools programme. She noted that the initiative aligns with the country’s National Development Plan and the government’s Blueprint for Change, which emphasizes environmental sustainability.
“As more government junior high schools register for the Eco-Schools programme, I will continue to support them and others who wish to participate,” Johnson said. “This programme helps our teachers equip students with a deeper understanding of the environment and their role in preserving it.”
One of the highlights of the workshop was the opportunity for schools to network and exchange ideas. St. John’s College (SJC) Eco-Schools Coordinator, Kendia Ingraham, emphasized the importance of collaboration.
“We are so happy to be here, especially to exchange ideas and experiences with the other Eco-Schools Coordinators,” Ingraham said. “It was great to collaborate so that we can strengthen the Eco-Clubs in all of our schools.”
Similarly, Walcott Miller from Harbour Island Green School expressed his commitment to applying the knowledge gained from the workshop to empower both his students and fellow teachers.
“We believe that our students need to be empowered environmental citizens, understanding that every decision they make has an impact on the environment,” Miller said. He added that his school has already implemented initiatives like recycling and banning single-use plastics, but they aim to keep improving.
Other educators from family islands also found the workshop immensely valuable. Elvis Sweeting, Eco-Schools Coordinator at A.F. Adderley Junior High, shared that one of his key takeaways was the urgency of implementing an Eco-Schools programme and finding ways to reduce his school’s carbon footprint.
D.W. Davis Junior High’s Coordinator, Natasha Astwood, praised the testimonials shared by other schools, noting that they inspired her to persevere through the challenges of leading an Eco-School.
“This workshop was a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10,” Astwood said. “I’m excited about the prospect of collaboration with four other schools, especially those on the family islands. This is one of the best workshops I’ve attended.”
BREEF’s Eco-Schools National Operator, Nicola Fernander, highlighted that this year’s workshop focused on networking and providing new and registered schools with essential resources to achieve the prestigious Green Flag award.
“I am excited about the next steps we will take as a network of eco-educators, supporting each other and improving the environmental footprint of our schools and communities,” Fernander said. “I’m truly thankful to the many new coordinators and schools from the Family Islands and New Providence who participated in this year’s event.”
As more schools join the Eco-Schools Bahamas programme, the momentum for sustainability education continues to grow, empowering students and teachers alike to be proactive stewards of the environment.
