The post JUNIOR WETLAND DISCOVERY (JWD) first appeared on Kota Kinabalu Wetland.

A two-day Facilitation Skills Workshop, held at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC), was attended by 21 participants who are actively involved in the Environmental Education scene in Sabah. This workshop is the first activity under the second phase of the Invest in the Young and the Future project, which is fully funded by HSBC Bank Malaysia. The workshop was conducted by experienced trainers from Asia Ability, who partially sponsored the training.

During his speech at the closing ceremony of the workshop yesterday, Tuan Haji Zainie Abdul Aucasa, President of SWCS, explained that under the first phase of the Invest in the Young and the Future project – a joint project between HSBC, WWF-Malaysia and SWCS which ran from August 2006 to July 2009 – 11,089 secondary school students from throughout the Kota Kinabalu district were taught about the unique features of mangroves, and the important functions that this wetland ecosystem provides to mankind.

Students were educated through various outreach and Environmental Education Programmes held at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC), where two main programmes – Getting to Know KKWC, and, Exploring the Mangroves – were conducted. The methods used during the implementation included briefings, interpretative walks, and quizzes.

HSBC Bank Malaysia in its continued commitment towards conservation, has pledged another RM300,000 for the next three years to SWCS. This extension project will be conducted in various stages, and will include capacity building workshops for facilitators and educators, environmental leadership courses for secondary school students, and educational workshops for teacher trainees. Public awareness and outreach programmes, including World Wetlands Day (an annual event held at KKWC) and Wetlands Outreach Programmes, will continue to be held to promote the awareness of wetlands.

HSBC’s Executive Director and Deputy Chief Executive, Mr. Jonathan Addis said, “This project is very much in line with HSBC’s initiatives in environmental conservation and education especially among the younger generation. It focuses on the importance and role of the wetlands in mitigating climate change and we are pleased to be able to work with Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society in this issue that HSBC recognizes as one of the major challenges in the 21st century.”

*Press release circulated on 3rd October 2009

The post Continuing Environmental Education at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre first appeared on Kota Kinabalu Wetland.