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Our vision for
sustainable schools:
We hope to begin
working with all our local schools in Hout Bay.
Our vision for sustainable schools includes:
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solar water heating for sports
blocks and bathrooms
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rainwater catchment systems to
save otherwise wasted storm water runoff
-
grey water and irrigation
systems, thereby easing pressure on valuable
municipal supplies and ensuring green and
attractive school grounds
-
toilet stops, geyser blankets,
energy efficient light bulbs
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solar voltaic installations to
provide 'uninterrupted power supplies' for
computer rooms and security systems
By installing the above systems, significant savings
will be made in the budget of the schools and
therefore that of the Department of Education in the
case of state schools.
A further
part of the envirochild vision is to run environmental
education workshops at schools, both in
school hours and as possible extramural projects,
that focus on the evolving environmental aims of envirochild and the pupils themselves. These
tutorials could take many forms, limited only by
imagination. An interactive website could be
created which will be a valuable educational and
communication tool.
Initially, the installation of the above systems
could be done partly by the pupils where appropriate,
helped and guided by envirochild staff and
teachers. They will be involved in monitoring,
measuring and calculating the change in a variety of
environmental parameters (power produced, water
saved, CO2 emissions reduced, etc.), both pre and
post installation. In this way, not only will the
projects reduce the school's environmental
footprint, but pupils will be able to see exactly
how their positive actions can be measured in terms
of the school budget and benefits to their own
future.
Other school
or youth projects currently
envisaged could include
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tackling transport issues; car
free days, cycle path design, car pooling,
better public transport
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teaching of business skills, and
the value of barter and sharing
-
involving school discipline
procedures in community service/environmental
projects
-
tree planting in otherwise
treeless areas, to demonstrate the social value
of greening the local environment
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distribution and demonstrating of
solar cookers and solar lanterns where needed
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other joint projects between
brother/sister schools from different
socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, thereby
helping to bridge the current yawning divide
between communities
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training in herbal medicine
through the use, where possible, of plants grown
by the pupils
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involvement in permaculture and
organic agriculture on a site local to the
school grounds
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the teaching of woodwork and
other important basic skills
As mentioned above, the projects could be anything
that promotes our aims, from
practical hands on construction projects to
community spirited actions like visiting or
assisting the elderly or infirm. Ideas for the
future include sustainability centres where young
people can learn in enjoyable and relaxing
surroundings about the environment and sustainable
solutions.
We hope to establish an organic permaculture farm in Hout Bay where local people
will be able to grow their own produce, and earn a
living (raising self esteem in the process) by
selling it in a soon to be established community
centre. This could lead to the development of a
South African Centre for Alternative Technology as
there is in Wales (see
www.cat.org.uk)
("Africat?")
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