How did Egyptian children in colors express their awareness of climate change issues?
TheGreen Zoneof the Climate ConferenceCOP27 witnessed many events and activities, and a large number of pavilions of various institutions also attracted attention, some of which tried to deliver green messages with an aesthetic touch, but there is no doubt that the pavilion of the Ministry of Education (in cooperation with…UNICEF) The pavilion was the most attention-grabbing because it displayed a large number of wonderful paintings with messages related to the environment and climate.
The Earth Guards was there to learn more about the secret behind these paintings, where we met Dr. Susie Hussein, from the International Relations Department at the Ministry of Education, who told us the story behind the innovative design of the pavilion, and the message that these paintings aim to convey.
Egypt’s children’s message to the world
The paintings carry a message from the children of Egypt to the whole world, as each of these paintings was drawn by a child who expresses his feelings about the crises the world is going through; As a result of climate changes. The paintings participating in the pavilion were chosen through a competition, in which children in various schools were asked to participate with drawings that express the damage and problems that result from climate change, and their dreams and vision towards a better world free of environmental problems for us and for future generations.
The competition received a large response from children in various schools, who presented to us a number of distinctive paintings, some of which showcase the most dangerous problems on the planet Earth, such as rising temperatures – global warming -, or the threat to biodiversity and endangered animals, while some children highlighted with their colors the dangers of carbon emissions and the great harm of air pollution, in addition to expressing the suffering of the planet Earth with wonderful creative touches.
The paintings received the attention of many visitors from different parts of the world, which indicates the great impact that a child’s drawing in a major international forum can have in leaving a civilized image that indicates the awareness and perception of an entire nation, far from the stereotypical image that many Western peoples have of developing countries.
The importance of environmental education in young children
During our meeting with her, Dr. Suzi Hussein pointed out that these paintings also shed light on another important issue, which is environmental education in young children. Because this has an important and fundamental role in building the awareness of the next generation, as today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders, there is no dispute that instilling a culture of the environment and climate in the hearts of children, and increasing their awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at an early age, will be the seed that we plant today to reap its goodness in the future.
She added: “We developed environmental awareness for children in schools, and for their part, the children expressed their awareness of these important issues through colors, drawing with their soft hands these wonderful paintings, between fear for the planet Earth, and cultivating hope to change it for the better.”
Without a doubt, the process of shaping any person’s conscience is decisively influenced by the circumstances, directives, and behaviors that he grows up with and are inculcated in him from an early age. Therefore, correct environmental education carries with it many benefits, including that the child interacts positively with the nature around him, and acquires some social skills that make them role models for others, even adults. With the aim of transforming behaviors and habits into green and sustainable behaviors and habits.
In the coming issues, we will present to you the story behind a group of climate-related paintings, which were displayed in the Ministry of Education’s pavilion in the Green Zone at the climate conference.
