Thursday, September 20, 2007

PEPY does it again...

The folks at PEPY have done it again. This time they're partnering a well-respected Khmer NGO to enhance the knowledge of teachers and students at schools in the Kralanh area of northwest Cambodia. PEPY's first school, at Chanleas Dai, is in the same area.

Kids learn to practice conversation in rural Cambodia

PEPY, an adventure cycle tour and humanitarian aid organization, has partnered with Mlup Baitong, a well respected Cambodian NGO to launch an Eco-Club program at eight primary schools in the region of Kralanh, Siem Reap province. The innovative program gives rural students hands-on experience in environmental awareness and resource management.
With PEPY’s support, Mlup Baitong will train teachers and principals at each school about environmental education and conservation, and how to apply the action-based Eco-Club concept. The trained teachers will be involved in facilitating club activities through micro-projects, where students can choose to initiate activities such as tree planting, compost making, waste collection, vegetable gardening, a schoolyard clean-up, or an anti-litter campaign. The program launches at all eight schools at the start of the academic year in October.

This program is one of PEPY’s many educational and environmental initiatives, aimed at increasing opportunities for students and families in developing areas. PEPY has funded the construction of two rural schools in Cambodia, and has several humanitarian programs, which focus on increasing access to and quality of education. These programs are funded by PEPY’s unique volunteer and adventure tours. PEPY founder Daniela Papi notes, “Many people donate in support of development projects they will never visit, but with PEPY, you can go where your money goes. By joining one of our trips, you see first hand the difference you are making.” Each tour participant fundraises for specific, ongoing projects, which they then have the chance to visit during their tour in Cambodia.

This December, PEPY will organize an experiential tour in Kralanh, offering a chance for the 20 volunteer travelers to witness the activities of the Eco-Club program and assist with student-run environmental initiatives. Thus far, over 50 schools, 250 teachers and 4000 children have participated in Mlup Baitong’s existing Eco-Clubs all over Cambodia. The partnership with PEPY will allow even more schools to benefit from this program. Cooperation with a school typically lasts two to three years, after which the schools may still be involved as demonstration centers for new target schools in the project. Eco-Club members develop an increased awareness of the natural environment around them and how they can make a positive impact. Students are encouraged to share their new skills and knowledge with their friends and family. To strengthen this effect, the project also implements activities in the communities surrounding the schools. In addition to environmental education projects such as the Eco-Clubs, Mlup Baitong is also invested in Community Forestry and Ecotourism activities across Cambodia.
Links: For more information about PEPY, to make a donation, or to sign up for any of the upcoming volunteer trips, please visit www.pepyride.org To learn more about Mlup Baitong’s environmental programs across Cambodia, please visit www.mlup.org.

1 comment:

Andy said...

From the PEPY Newsletter September 2007:
PEPY Partners with Mlup Baitong to Start Eco-Clubs in Rural Cambodian Schools

In the midst of all our programs and projects and tours, we always want to stay true to our PEPY mantra: Protect the Earth, Protect Yourself. What better way to incorporate our love for the earth than with an educational eco-project run by a fantastic tree-hugging organization? Last week, PEPY began a partnership with Mlup Baitong, a well-respected Cambodian NGO that works to increase environmental awareness and conservation through education and community-based natural resource management activities.

With PEPY’s support, Mlup Baitong is initiating their Eco-Club program at 8 primary schools in the region of Kralanh, Siem Reap province, which includes The PEPY Ride School. Teachers and principals at each school are trained how to teach environmental education and conservation, and how to apply the action-based Eco-Club concept. The trained teachers will be involved in facilitating club activities through micro-projects. Training at our schools in Kralanh began this month, which means the program will be ready for launch at the start of the school year in October.

An Eco-Club usually consists of around 40 volunteering children from 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. Students choose to initiate activities, such as tree planting, compost making, waste collection, vegetable gardening, a schoolyard clean-up, or an anti-litter campaign. Four times a year, the Eco-Clubs produce an informative newsletter called "My Environment," which includes children's drawings and poems.

Thus far, over 50 schools, 250 teachers and 4,000 children have participated in Mlup Baitong’s Eco-Clubs all over Cambodia. Cooperation with a school typically lasts two to three years, after which the schools may still be involved as demonstration centers for new target schools in the project. Eco-Club members develop an increased awareness of the natural environment around them and how they can make a positive impact. The students are encouraged to share their new skills and knowledge with their friends and family. To strengthen this effect, the project also implements activities in the communities surrounding the schools.

We admire Mlup Baitong’s philosophy: A good environment starts from the individual and can only be achieved with participation of all. In addition to environmental education projects such as the Eco-Clubs, Mlup Baitong is also invested in Community Forestry and Ecotourism activities. They seek out solutions for sustainable and equitable use of natural resources, and are problem-solvers in a tricky political and economic landscape. Cambodia’s environment has been severely damaged by decades of war and conflict, but this is the time to reverse the damage and educate a new generation in methods of conservation.

-Written by Rachel Allen