On November 18, I, along with various members of EDN staff, attended this symposium at the World Bank Group where we talked about the importance of education in environmental safety and action. It was mainly a one-to-one with high school studentsnd teachers about how they can get involved in Earth Day and the Global Water Network. Here are the main points we made:
Earth Day Network Mission: We promote environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide to promote environmental awareness. We help citizens interact and impact their communities by creating a positive change in local, national, and global policies. By coordinating millions of community developments and environmental protection activities throughout the year, Earth Day Network has many projects domestically and internationally. As a result, Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities.
Global Water Network Mission: We facilitate individuals, organizations, and businesses to help fund water projects in rural areas around the globe. We link water and sanitation-related information and strategies on a global scale to promote ecologically and socially sustainable water and sanitation services.
How Can You Help Nationally?
•Green Your School—EDN aims to green all of America's K-12 schools within a generation, through green school policy reform, green makeovers for schools across the country, two teacher grant programs and resources available on our Educators' Network. Recently, we have been in Chicago installing solar panels on top of schools and creating curriculums on energy, sustainable materials, and more.
•Fundraising Opportunities—A chance for U.S. students to become involved in making a difference in their community and worldwide. By bringing what they learned about global water and sanitation, students can raise awareness as well as funds to support multiple EDN projects such as Adopt-A-Water Projects in Burkina Faso.
•Volunteer Opportunities—There is always a need for more help directly in Earth Day Network. We need people who are excited about helping spread the world about EDN and Earth Day 2009! If you are willing to answer phones, encourage people, and assist staff members, go to http://ww2.earthday.net/node/9 for updated information.
How Can You Help Internationally?
•“School-to-School”—This is a way to green your school while connecting with a school in a different country. Because EDN has partners in 174 countries, there are many ways to get involved and make a different in two schools. Participating schools would follow the green curriculum and guidelines while staying in contact with an international school going through similar necessary changes.
•Adopt-A-Water Project—As a group project, funds raised will go towards providing a well, latrines, basic school supplies, and locally grown meals for students in developing countries. It is important to realize that water and clean sanitation is just as important as reading and writing. Not only will you be helping children in need, kids will also participate in written correspondence by forming a relationship with the school it helps. This promotes inter-cultural understanding, through curriculum development and a video journal and film-based dialogue.
Overall, this was a great experience to reach out to the next generation--the green generation, and many thanks to the CIE Washington International School and the World Bank Group for making this possible.
-Caroline Lemp
