The project is a schools outreach competition that requires teams of learners to research an assigned topic related to environmental sustainability, and to consider what possible recommendations or solutions they would propose at a local, national, regional and/or global level. Tutoring, workshops, and resource materials are provided to each of the participating schools, and regardless of competition results, each school is invited to be involved in various programme activities throughout the year.
The Environmental Sustainability Project is divided into three parts:
1. Research paper – Working in teams of three learners write a research paper of up to 12 pages on selected topics related to environmental sustainability.
2. Presentation – Teams with the best research papers are invited to present their research findings in a provincial or regional event organised by SAIIA.
3. Youth Negotiations at the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference – Each year in December, top learners who have excelled in the ESP are brought to Gauteng for the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference in which they participate in their own negotiation sessions to propose possible recommendations for global environmental sustainability issues.
2013 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT THEME
At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, world leaders came together to adopt the United Nations Millennium Declaration. Nations committed to eight targets, known as the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs, and agreed to a deadline of 2015. The eight MDGs range from halving extreme poverty (MDG 1) to ensuring environmental sustainability (MDG 7). Each year the theme of the Environmental Sustainability Project is designed to reflect global trends as related to broader themes around climate change and sustainable development.
The theme for the 2013 programme will focus on the global priorities for environment sustainability after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) deadline of 2015.
Topics around climate change adaptation and the possible creation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the forefront of global conversation, and we want our learners to be able to contribute to this dialogue.
To register your school for this year’s Environmental Sustainability Project complete the SCHOOL REGISTRATION FORM and return it to youth@saiia.org.za.
Download: YOUTH@SAIIA ESP 2013 Information Document and 2013 ESP School Registration Form
