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ATP Promotes Civic Engagement On Local Environmental Issues

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  • ATP Promotes Civic Engagement On Local Environmental Issues

    ATP PROMOTES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ON LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

    http://asbarez.com/112039/atp-promotes-civic-engagement-on-local-environmental-issues/
    Friday, July 26th, 2013

    Armenia Tree Project operates environmental education centers near its
    tree nurseries in Margahovit and Karin villages, where thousands of
    local and diasporan students visit for lessons and outdoor field-based
    learning

    MARGAHOVIT, Armenia-The quality of irrigation water in Aghtsk, the
    condition of the public park in Margahovit, and the cleanup of the
    grounds of Isahakyan Park in Gyumri were some of the topics presented
    by students at a workshop hosted by Armenia Tree Project (ATP).

    High school students from Aghtsk, Margahovit, and Gyumri participated
    in a poster presentation on June 10 at ATP's Michael and Virginia
    Center for Environmental Studies. The event was part of a collaborative
    program between ATP and Armenia's National Institute of Education
    (NIE) on the integration of environmental education in the social
    sciences curriculum.

    "The goal of the program was to introduce environmental education
    to these students and to create a generation that is not only aware
    of current environmental issues, but is concerned enough to learn
    specific skills to solve the issues," explained Karine Harutyunyan,
    social sciences specialist from the NIE. "We hope such projects
    will contribute to the formation of socially active and responsible
    citizens."

    Student groups in grades 8-10 were instructed to identify a local
    environmental problem and conduct independent research on the issue
    including a study of relevant legislation and regulations. The students
    recommended solutions and addressed their findings to responsible
    officials and organizations for implementation.

    The exercise was based on articles in Armenia's Constitution that
    address the right to live in a healthy environment and the Aarhus
    Convention which guarantees public access to information about the
    environment.

    Environmental education has been one of ATP's core programs since
    the 2005 publication of the "Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree" teacher's
    manual. A second edition of the manual was published in cooperation
    with the NIE in 2010 and already more than 1,200 teachers from all
    regions of Armenia have been trained on its use in the classroom.

    ATP operates education centers near its tree nurseries in Margahovit
    and Karin villages, where local and diasporan students visit for
    lessons and outdoor field-based learning. Nearly 1,400 students
    including young schoolchildren and university students visited the
    Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Educational Center in
    Karin Village last year.

    The Michael and Virginia Ohanian Center for Environmental Studies was
    inaugurated in Margahovit in 2012 and has already hosted more than
    200 visitors. The center is run by biology teacher Gayane Margaryan,
    who supervises several student eco clubs that meet there regularly.

    Elementary and high school students are members of the eco clubs,
    where they discuss environmental challenges, do hands-on work at the
    ATP center, and learn environmentally friendly methods of gardening.

    Earlier this year, ATP partnered with the Italian CISP charitable
    organization (International Committee for the Development of People)
    on teacher training focused on the Lori region. ATP trained teachers on
    the use of the "Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree" manual and "Participatory
    and Innovative Pedagogical Tools for Education on Environmental Health"
    prepared by the French Histoires Recyclables NGO.

    A total of 125 teachers have already been trained, and the program
    will continue this fall. "It is of major importance for ATP to conduct
    environmental trainings in these regions as there has been widespread
    deforestation caused by logging and other environmental challenges,"
    explained program manager Alla Sahakyan.

    "Teachers seem to appreciate this opportunity as it demonstrates
    innovative methods and introduces new insights for environmental
    education. International organizations are interested in our trainings,
    and we're excited about our first training with CISP," continued
    Sahakyan. "We express our gratitude to CISP for their charitable
    mission throughout the world. When organizations having similar
    interests cooperate in their activities, it leads to even greater
    impact and encouraging results."

    ATP's mission is to assist the Armenian people in using trees
    to improve their standard of living and protect the environment,
    guided by the desire to promote self-sufficiency, aid those with the
    fewest resources first, and conserve the indigenous ecosystem. ATP's
    three major programs are tree planting, environmental education,
    and sustainable development initiatives.

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