Ed-ventures graduation ceremony. Photo courtesy of The San Pedro Sun (www.sanpedrosun.com).
This summer, six Smithies traveled to Belize for the Coral Reef Ed-ventures program. The program, which began in 2000, teaches local children about the ecological importance of the Belize Barrier Reef.
The program is sponsored by Smith College’s Environmental Science & Policy Program and Center for Community Collaboration, along with the Hol Chan Marine Reserve in Belize. Student teachers from Smith—including Kayla Clark ’14, Laura Malecky ’13, Kaylyn Oates ’12, Angela Oliverio ’12, Alyssa Stanek ’13, and Megan Svoboda ’12—work with the children to teach them the importance of conservation.
The program has now grown from its first year—when two Smith students taught seven youngsters—to its current structure, which this year welcomed more than 100 children from Belize and the six Smith students.
I just finished reading the link which describes this program and I’m impressed!
I’ve lived in Belize for almost seven years now, and sadly, I have personally witnessed the reef slowly dying in places due to improper management and gross overuse of this finite resource.
The ONLY way to help preserve this national treasure for the future is through education programs like this. Congratulations and keep up the great work!!!!
@ Dave,
Yes the same is true here in the Philippines, but it is very difficult to tell a starving family that they must no over fish the reef. Untill more assistance is given by the goverments of these countries, I don’t think much is going to change!
Thanks