The children of today are the adults of tomorrow. That said, how many of us really understand the implications of protecting the environment and the world that we live in for future generations?
The key to this is creating awareness. In recent years Nature Trust (Malta) has given a great deal of importance to environmental education. It was for this reason that in 2002 it became the representative of the Foundation for Environmental Education in Malta and since then has championed a number of programmes aimed at promoting sustainable development.
The Foundation for Environmental Education is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation which is currently running five programmes in Malta.
In its original context it acknowledged that local behaviour impacts the global situation and that investigative journalism could be a highly motivating factor for involving schools in environmental projects. This led to the development of the Young Reporters for the Environment programme which is aimed specifically at secondary and post-secondary students to not only highlight local environmental issues but also propose solutions.
To make things more interesting a competition was created – this is organised into different categories and age groups and the criteria include writing an article, making a photographic entry, or filming a video of no longer than three minutes. As from this year Malta was also sponsored for the YRE-Litterless Campaign by the Wrigley Company Foundation, and was thus allowed to enter two competitions.
In the 11 to 14-year-old category (YRE International Competition) a video entitled A Journey to Save the World, produced by 12-year-old Sarah Mifsud and 13-year-old Annalise Ebejer, who both attend St Joseph’s School, is thought provoking and focuses on the litter situation in Malta, the cutting down of trees and the importance of the three R’s – recycle, reuse and reduce. The video was filmed mostly in Marsascala, St Thomas Bayand Zabbar, near where both girls live.
Sarah and Annalise did all the filming themselves after attending a workshop on the subject and describe themselves as being “surprised but delighted” at winning this category in Malta. Both say that they were already aware of the litter problems in certain locations but have now been successful in motivating their friends to also be more environmentally aware. They also feel a great sense of achievement and feel that winning has given them more self-confidence.
St Edward’s College won the photographic category in the 11 to 14-year-old category with a photo entry by 12-year-old Mattia Agius Muscat, entitled, Where Flowers Don’t Grow (YRE-Litterless Campaign). Mattia explains that he was inspired by the fable of the goose that laid the golden eggs. He says that most people think that the protagonist is stupid – however, if we look at the bigger picture, it is exactly what we are doing to the environment. Profound words from such a young man whose photographic capabilities are certainly impressive – his photo of a broken piece of wood with a flower painted on it and rubbish in the background is particularly poignant.
Fellow Form 2 student Luigi Dimech’s video feature (winner of the local YRE-Litterless Campaign), A Constant Fight – Litter in Malta, aims at inspiring those who watch it to take active measures in helping save the environment. His footage was shot in many locations including Qala, Għajnsielem and Attard and highlights the issue of littering.
This is often due to the sheer laziness of some people who can’t be bothered to throw their litter in a bin. Luigi also tells me that doing the project has opened his eyes to what is going on in Malta.
Martina Mifsud and Angelina Dimitrova, 16-year-old students who attend St Margaret’s College, won the video entry in the 15 to 18-year-old category (YRE-Litterless Campaign) with a video entitled Saving the World in Three Minutes.
It is an entertaining production that nonetheless gets its message across. The girls tell me that they originally wanted to include many topics from acid rain to pollution but with just three minutes available, they decided to concentrate on the issues of poster degradation and pollution and also rubbish on beaches. Both agree that the project was a real eye opener – while they were conducting research and filming, they were shocked at what they discovered. Posters, for instance, emit chemicals as they become eroded and play their own part in polluting the environment.
The filming was done over several days and they also enlisted the help of friends and even parents. Both girls are going on to further education and have aspirations to follow medical careers. The project, however, has certainly made a lasting impression on them.
From a depleted ozone layer and rising CO2 emissions to the destruction of rainforests, the global environmental problems facing future generations are worrying to say the least. However, these issues cannot be tackled by individuals alone – rather, we need to take a unified stand in both education and the responsibility to bring about change. However, it is also a process that starts in our own backyard – this is why the work of Nature Trust (Malta) and the Foundation for Environmental Education is so important.
Watch a video interview with 13-year-old international winner of Reporter for the Environment competition Sephora Scicluna on The Zone.
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