27/04/2017
Health and Environmental Awareness Program
Health and Environmental Education and Awareness Program for Kenyan governmental schools in slum areas
Iran Medical Clinics in Kenya , with join effort of Green Africa Global Foundation implemented “Health and Environmental Awareness Program”, for more than 1000 children in Kawangware slum area.
While environmental protection issue is one of the luxuries for some countries, in other courtiers it has remained as community’s basic right, which is still missing.
According to the report of The Water & Sanitation Crisis in Kenya, with a population of 46.7 million, 37 percent of Kenyans still rely on unimproved water sources, such as ponds, shallow wells and rivers, while 70 percent of Kenyans use unimproved sanitation solutions. This translates into more than 17.3 million people using unimproved water sources and 32.7 million people using unimproved sanitation facilities.
These challenges are especially evident in the rural areas and the urban slums.
After visiting the slum area and situation status, it is clear that the environmental education in schools of the slum areas is very poor. The living conditions in this community which has been chosen, is very far below the required standards. A quick look can show a lot of water and soil pollution, poor waste management systems, smelly sewage, dismal or no health facilities, sanitation problem and few infrastructures.
To deal with these challenges we must adequately prepare the children for the future they will inherit. That requires a commitment to provide children with environmental education and knowledge that helps them become the educated thought leaders of tomorrow.
We create a strong link between the children, parents and teachers, and engage them in efforts to protect their ecosystem.
Students can transfer their knowledge into positive environmental actions in their own schools and communities.
Improving the level of awareness of local people on the importance of clean and sustainable environment and its habitat and reducing pollution were part of the main objectives.
For achieving these aims we have done below activities:
Key activities
We involved children as a fundamental tool to impact the community by changing their culture and making them leaders of environmental conservation.
1. Auditing the school before starting the project.
2. Establishing Green Africa work-group in the school.
3. Pre- Evaluation of the Health and Environmental knowledge of the students.
4. Training workshop for school teachers about Health and Environmental problems.
5. Local teachers transferred the knowledge about Health and Environment to the students.
6. Post - Evaluation of the Health and Environmental knowledge of the students.
7. Holding the first painting contest, on reduction of waste production and conservation of the Environment.
8. Holding Free Healthcamp to check on the children’s health and well-being of the society.
09. Green Festival with football match with the message of Health and Environment, painting Gallery and recycled product prepared with students.
10. Select and awarding 10 best active students, who tried to change the school in-to green school.
Dr.Abdolreza Shahrezaee Director of Iran Medical Clinics in Kenya: This project started from January to April 2017. Iran Medical Clinic with the team of this project particularly “Green Africa Global Foundation” wish and are looking for opportunities so that this successful project can be repeated and continued. But to continue along this path, we seek the support and participation of other partners.
