This week held special significance. We celebrated Teachers’ Day, the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies and the International Day of Literacy. As we advance our commitment towards inclusivity in environmental stewardship, we planned a one-day workshop on September 6, 2023, at ChildREACH. ChildREACH is a Charitable Trust founded in 1987 for students with learning difficulties that range from dyslexia, behavioural problems & ADHD. It was a wonderful experience to walk on a path less traveled. We went in not really knowing what to expect and come out with profound insights. We are now more certain than ever of the need for inclusivity in environmental stewardship.
Here’s why inclusivity holds such significance:
As we strengthen our resolve towards achieving sustainable development goals, here’s why inclusivity is important.
- Environmental stewardship begins early. We all depend on the environment for our health, well-being, and livelihood. Therefore, we all have a responsibility to protect it. By inculcating sustainable lifestyle practices in children, we are ensuring that they grow up to be responsible citizens.
- Collective action for a collective challenge: In order to improve resilience to a rapidly evolving climate, it is vital for environmental education to become mainstream and universally accessible.
- It takes a village to raise a child: It’s true! When a child is involved, a lot of people become involved, their families, teachers and perhaps a much larger community. This approach allows us to reach a wider audience and have potential to create a greater impact.
Adopting an inclusive approach:
There are many ways to make environmental education more inclusive. Here are a few:
- Diverse Teaching Methods: Utilize a range of teaching techniques, including hands-on activities, group projects, and guest speakers. In our workshops, we use a combination of short, animated videos to enhance understanding, games to translate knowledge into potential action and an activity that involves experiential learning.
- Real-Life Relevance: Draw connections to everyday life with relatable examples. Analogies such as ‘You wouldn’t drink dirty water, then why breathe polluted air?’ drive home key concepts effectively.
- Incorporate indigenous knowledge: For instance, policies like seasonal fishing bans, based on indigenous wisdom, can sustainably augment marine fish production in a responsible manner.
- Accessibility for All: In addition to knowing your target audience, this requires a little bit of time and effort to customise programs/initiatives and ensure that the content is accessible to all.
- Safe and Welcoming Environments: Listen and foster an atmosphere where diverse voices are heard and innovative solutions are encouraged. Actively seek inputs to enhance engagement.
By taking these steps, we can bring inclusivity in environmental stewardship and make it relevant for everyone. Moreover, we can ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity at learning and contributing through active participation.
We welcome feedback. Additionally, if you would like to share your story, let’s connect.