Coleg Gwent staff are being invited out of the classroom for a once in a lifetime opportunity to see sustainability in action for themselves – in the exotic rainforests of Ecuador.
The trip will bring the curriculum to life for college staff, who have been taking part in Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC) training which promotes a more sustainable world through the curriculum. In July 2012 staff will get the chance to discover the benefits of a more environmentally friendly world first-hand in the forests of the Amazon.
The 12 day trip will consist of four days each in the Amazon (Ecuador), Cloud Forest and the plateaus of the Andes.
During the expedition organised by educational company Plan-It Eco, staff will stay at the Ecuadorian Yachana Lodge overlooking the Napo River. ‘Yachana’ is an indigenous Kichwa word that means ‘a place for learning’, run by the Yachana Foundation. They’ll learn about the challenges facing the Amazon region and take part in cultural visits, school education projects and community projects guided by indigenous bilingual tribes people.
“Experiencing conservation and sustainability in action will give staff a unique insight into the lives of people living in rainforest communities and the issues they face,” said Coleg Gwent’s Learning and Development Manager, Sue Snowball.
“Visiting such a dramatic and beautiful region really highlights the importance of finding sustainable solutions to global problems through education.”
Over the coming months staff interested in taking up the experience will be raising their own funds to meet the costs of the trip.
