AKU, US Mission Celebrate Climate Action Fellows in KP
CHITRAL: Under the “Raise Awareness and Inspire Action on Environmental Protection” project of Aga Khan University Institute for Education Development (AKU-IED), tens of climate action fellows showcased their groundbreaking action plans at an event in Chitral out of which 10 will receive funding for implementation.
With the collaboration of US Consulate in Peshawar, the project aims to equip educators in KP with the knowledge and skills necessary to nurture a culture of environmental stewardship.
The speakers, including additional secretary elementary and secondary education KP, Abdul Akram, Dr. Fozia Parveen a of AKU-IED and others termed it a significant milestone in the province which is inhabited by 30 million people and is categorized by hot summers and mild winters in the southern part and extreme cold climate in the northern part.
They said that Climate change has intensified extreme events like forest fires, water scarcity, sanitation issues, and urban flooding in the province coupled with the rapid melting of ice and snow caps, along with erratic weather events, is severely impacting agriculture and livelihoods.
Regarding the project, they said that through scholarship and inquiry-based learning, teachers are implementing action projects within their schools and communities, encouraging hands-on approaches to environmental education.
“The educators’ motivation, reflected in their willingness to participate in a non-stipendiary fellowship, their action plans, and their commitment to implementing these action plans is an encouraging development as the outcome of the project”, they said.
U.S. Consul General Peshawar Shante Moore said the AKU-IED partnership underscores the U.S. commitment to environmental protection and education in KP.
“By empowering teachers, we are fostering a generation of environmentally conscious individuals who will drive positive change in their communities,” he said adding that through the U.S. Embassy’s Green Alliance initiative, we aim to create a more sustainable future.”
He said that one of the key elements of the project was the engagement of key stakeholders and policymakers in KP to support and promote climate change education.
District Education Officers of Upper and Lower Chitral, Miftahudin and Mehmood Ghaznavi respectively, commended the work of AKU-IED in providing training to teachers from remote districts and assured their unwavering support for the Climate Change project.
The fellowship received an overwhelming response with 500 applications, out of which 50 exceptional educators were selected through a rigorous process.
A panel comprising Dr. Nasima and Abdulwali of AKU-IED and Dr. Ali Nawab of Sukkur IBA university assessed 50 projects conducted by Climate Action Fellows and shortlisted 10 scalable projects for the next stage.
The Climate Action Fellows expressed their gratitude to AKU-IED and the US mission for the learning opportunity and mobilized their efforts for climate action. They reiterated their commitment to continue promoting sustainable development through climate change education in their schools.
