GVI

Fiji Launch Environmental Education Programme on Moturiki

Objective: Raising environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural environment

in the next generation

Class 1 perform an environmental puppet show on Earth Day

In 2015 GVI Fiji launched an environmental education programme with local primary schools on Mo-
turiki Island, Lomaiviti. The curriculum was designed by GVI Fiji in consultation with teachers at Mo-
turiki District School (MDS). Weekly learning activities with the aim of raising awareness on envi-
ronmental issues were planned and taught by GVI Fiji.
The programme has been implemented to complement GVI Fijis Marine Conservation Programme
run from Caqalai Island, with the aim of raising awareness, through outreach initiatives, of conserva-
tion and natural resource management issues, whilst building the capacity of educators and students
to better manage their natural resources which are critical to the livelihood of coastal communities.
The Programme enables students to gain a deeper appreciation of their immediate natural environ-
ment through fun interactive lessons, in the knowledge that they are the custodians of the future.


Achievements:

A 14 week curriculum, lesson plans and teaching resources developed

Weekly environmental education lessons for 60 children

Co-teaching with 4 teachers

Professional Development provided for 12 teachers

A family celebration end of term event for Earth Day

A recycling point constructed at the school

Professional Development for Teachers

Three professional development days were held on Caqalai for teachers from Moturiki District
School, Uluibau Primary School, Daku kindergarten and a few interested family and community
members. The training days help to ensure long-term sustainability of the environmental education
programme by inspiring the teachers and increasing their conservation knowledge so they can pass
this on to the students they teach in the future. A typical training day consists of presentations,
snorkeling, sharing lunch and playing volleyball then relaxing over kava. The GVI Fiji team has a wide

GVI Fiji May 2015


range of expertise to share with educators. With sessions on conservation issues, the ecology of
coral reefs, waste management, Emergency First Aid training and assisting with teaching snorkeling
skills and species identification. Snorkeling is always a highlight of the day; and for many teachers
this was their first experience of seeing coral reefs first hand.

Environmental Education in Schools

Following on from initial meetings with teachers and the school committee, GVI Fiji were requested
to develop a 14 week (term 1) plan for the environmental lessons, for presentation to the teachers
prior to engaging with students.
From initial needs assessments carried out by GVI, waste management was identified as a pressing
environmental issue for communities on Moturiki Island; where most waste is burned or buried and
there is a problem with marine debris. With waste identified as the starting point, the curriculum
was devised to take students on a journey from considering what waste is, what materials it is made
from how long it takes to decompose, and its impact on the local environment. In order to under-
stand the impacts of waste they also learn about ecosystems and how they are connected, the water
cycle, watersheds, habitats and food webs. Students are then guided through exploring solutions
such as the 3Rs and creative up-cycling projects.

Lessons are including elements of science, social studies, art, PE, music, drama and language devel-
opment. Teachers have commented that the childrens confidence with speaking English has signifi-
cantly improved since the programme began. The emphasis is on enriching students learning expe-
rience and involves practical activities and games both indoors and outdoors. GVI Fiji have made
lots of attractive teaching resources to enhance teaching and colourful posters created with children
can be seen in every class, thus reinforcing learning.
The term plan is designed to incorporate the Fijian curriculum; covering topics students are learning
already and exploring these in a way that encourages critical thinking and problem solving. Thus the
environmental education lessons dont take away from valuable teaching time, but enhance and
enrich the existing curriculum.

The students of MDS have been enthusiastic and engaged throughout the programme. Every class
eagerly participated in a cleanup of the school grounds and a competition to see which class could
collect the most plastic bottle caps. In just 3 weeks 1,573 were found! For GVI Fiji the school pro-
gramme is an opportunity to share knowledge and passion for marine conservation and contribute
to long-term sustainability in the region.

Class 3 students eager to answer questions Safe Habitat Game


GVI Fiji May 2015

Earth Day Its Our Turn to Lead!

Earth day was one of my favourite days it was incredibly rewarding to see how happy our efforts
at school made the parents and the entire community. A departing volunteers blog.

With perfect timing the end of our first term of environmental education lessons coincided with
Earth Day 2015. Together we organized an event bringing together everyone from GVI Fiji, the
teachers and children of MDS and their friends and family.

GVI Fiji gave a welcome presentation that shared our goals and vision, followed by a slideshow of
photographs and environmentally themed games made from up-cycled waste materials and during
the course of the day a recycling point was constructed to be used by the school and nearby villages.
Earth day provided a platform to further reinforce the outcomes taught in term 1 and provided an
opportunity for students to celebrate the environment and share their enthusiasm with others.

Beach Clean Bingo Interactive octopus poster and sculpture

Feedback from teachers, children and parents has been overwhelmingly positive. The curriculum
that has been created and trialed is now being adapted for different age groups and is continuing to
develop as new ideas and resources are added and shared. It has the potential to be used in differ-
ent locations and projects in Fiji in the future, and with planned presentations and training sessions
on waste management, recycling and up-cycling being carried out in villages and with community
members on Moturiki, environmental education is extending throughout the community. Following
the success of this pilot project, next term the programme will extend to Classes 5 8 (ages 9 14)
at MDS and Classes 1 8 at Uluibau Primary School (UPS). The environmental education programme
will to develop to engage local youth groups in environmental conservation awareness, and eco
camps and snorkel sessions for students giving the opportunity to interact directly with their natural
surroundings; further reinforcing their appreciation of the environment.
To view all of GVI Fijis achievement reports please visit: https://www.scribd.com/GVIFiji
For more information on GVIs projects in Fiji please visit www.gvi.co.uk
For more information on our global impact visit www.gviworld.com
To make a donation to our community projects in Fiji please visit www.gvi.org for more details.

GVI Fiji May 2015