An update from PEASMA
By Eugenia Velasco Vergara and Natalia Ortega Ruiz
August 22, 2008 San Miguel de Allende
PEASMA, the Environmental Education Project of San Miguel de Allende is an initiative of Fundacion de Apoyo Infantil (FAI, Save the Children, Mexico).
PEASMA’S objective is to educate a new generation through the promotion of awareness, love, and respect of the environment, while stimulating enthusiasm for learning both in and out of the classroom. Working with teachers to reinforce activities in a practical way, we focus on short-term hands-on workshops and field trips that allow students to become closer to their natural surroundings, enabling them to see the immediate impact of their actions.
This project has been designed to incorporate the students’ stages of development, students’ right to receive education that promotes a healthy environment and lifestyle and the basic government curriculum for elementary schools with strong collaboration by NGOs and GOs. The organization counts on a network of eight environmental NGOs and three GOs, various companies, foundations and private donations.
PEASMA works with fourth grade students an average of nine hours per year—this year with students from 19 urban schools and four rural schools. The program includes two classroom workshops, one field trip and evaluation session. Topics include Garbage Management, Recycling, Native Plant and Animal Lifecycles and Rehabilitation of Watersheds. Class time encourages lively interactive discussions, investigations and questions. The following is a summary of the biannual report, to see the entire report go to www.peasma.com and click on “results.”
PEASMA January–July 2008 report
From the children participating in the project
What the majority of children liked best were outdoor fieldtrips, games, teamwork and hands-on activities.
95% feel the workshops should occur on a yearly basis because they get to play, have fun and learn.
3% without comment
2% don’t want annual workshops (without saying why).
From parents
97% request yearly school workshops and fieldtrips
93% consider it has a positive impact on the education of the participants
94% feel that the project creates a change in environmental awareness of the participants
90% rate the project between 8 and 10
From teachers and group leaders
96% feel there should be yearly workshops and visits
91% feel their expectations are met
89% rate the project between 8 and 10
From school directors
100% feel there should be yearly workshops and visits
100% consider they are positive for the learning of the participants
Summer School (Two courses in July)
120 children participated in workshops in the Community of Montecillo Nieto and Botanical Garden el Charco del Ingenio. The curriculum covered ecosystems, water, garbage, composting, birds, recycling, eolic energy, nutrition and children’s rights
School composts
27 composts were developed with groups of third graders
48% received great maintenance
48% composts received regular maintenance
4% did not receive maintenance at all
Collection of PET (Poli Etilen Tereftalato) plastic
15 schools participated in the plastic recollection program with the support of Public Municipal Services
8,668.5 kg of plastic = 2,028 jumbo bags were collected during seven months
Teacher training in state municipalities
4 workshops
75 Schools
120 teachers, directors & assistants
Various municipalities in the state of Guanajuato
Financed by the Institute of Ecology of the State of Guanajuato
Complementary Teaching Material for the Environmental Education Manual
120 teaching material kits were distributed to specially trained teachers.
23 San Miguel schools received teaching material kits.
An educational video was produced in addition to the teaching materials kits
Special Events
World Environment Day: information booth, compost, recycling and water workshops were held at the Plaza Principal, 183 participants attended
Earth Day: (Garbage recollection day) 345 volunteers collected and classified garbage. (160.5 Jumbo size garbage bags)
Traveling Exhibit: Árboles Majestuosos de México, PEASMA personnel guided 250 children through the exhibit
New partnerships
Save the Laja Inc. will finance the wages of an environmental teacher for fourth graders and additional costs required for teaching fourth grade students for the next three years
Reforestamos México A.C. will finance the creation of 30 new mini-greenhouses; including the wages for a coordinator of the program “Crea Bosque” as well as all of the necessary operational costs for the time span of one year.
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