The latest Sandwatch news from around the world
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Sandwatch Beach Records Platform Revised!
June 2024: We are pleased to advise all our partners and new users that a revised version of the Beach Records Platform is now available on the Sandwatch website in English and French at Beach Records.
Beach Records is an online platform – available on laptops, tablets and mobile phones – where schools, youth groups, NGOs and community groups can learn, record, share and apply their scientific observations to positive community action to enhance their beach environments and adapt to climate change.
We have listened to feedback from our partners and users and incorporated their suggestions for making Beach Records more user-friendly and flexible.
Highlights of the revised version include:
We invite prospective new users of Beach Records and anyone who is interested to view the online platform at Beach Records
For more information, please contact us at [email protected]
June 2024: We are pleased to advise all our partners and new users that a revised version of the Beach Records Platform is now available on the Sandwatch website in English and French at Beach Records.
Beach Records is an online platform – available on laptops, tablets and mobile phones – where schools, youth groups, NGOs and community groups can learn, record, share and apply their scientific observations to positive community action to enhance their beach environments and adapt to climate change.
We have listened to feedback from our partners and users and incorporated their suggestions for making Beach Records more user-friendly and flexible.
Highlights of the revised version include:
- Renaming of Parts 1, 2 and 3 to Forms 1, 2 and 3.
- A specific field on Form 1 where users record the position(s) at the beach where they carry out their measurements allowing them to always return to the same position(s).
- Information about each measurement – what it is about and how to carry out the measurement - has been added via a blue icon above each “characteristics” field.
- Users are encouraged to undertake a project or action, based on their monitoring results, that enhances the beach, creates awareness, builds capacity and resilience to climate change and to record the results on Form 3. A short guide for users and teachers demonstrating some projects and actions has been added to the Beach Records website Teacher and Users Guide
We invite prospective new users of Beach Records and anyone who is interested to view the online platform at Beach Records
For more information, please contact us at [email protected]
Sandwatch resumes in schools in Mauritius
October 2024: Mauritius has just completed a successful year of Sandwatch activities with the support of the “Resilience of populations and coastal ecosystems in the South-West Indian Ocean (RECOS) (2021- 2026)” project. Six schools (primary and secondary level) have been conducting beach monitoring at different beaches around Mauritius with the help of three NGOs: Association pour le Développment Durable, Reef Conservation and Eco-Sud. The monitoring results have been entered on the international Beach Records platform. At a meeting in October 2024, the groups met and agreed to continue the programme in 2025. The participating schools enjoyed the programme and appreciated the benefits of relating textbook material to practical applications and hands-on activities in real life. - Full details. |
Sandwatch Foundation Presents to The Caribbean Academy of Sciences
On April 25th, 2024 The Sandwatch Foundation’s Regional Coordinator, Mr. Andy Paul (also Principal of Mayaro Government Primary School, Trinidad and Tobago) was asked by the The Caribbean Academy of Sciences to present a webinar entitled ‘Sandwatch: An Educational Tool for Sustainable Development’ The Caribbean Academy of Sciences – Trinidad and Tobago (CAS-TT) Chapter hosted a webinar on “Sandwatch: An Educational Tool for Sustainable Development” in collaboration with the DMME - Industrial Engineering Office of the Faculty of Engineering, The University of the West Indies (UWI). It was held via Zoom, from 1.00 p.m. to 2.30 pm on Thursday 25th April 2024. - Full details |
Mauritius holds second national Sandwatch workshop
The Sandwatch Foundation is honoured to be partnered with RECOS, The Resilience of Indian Ocean Coastal Zones Project across the Indian Ocean region. 32 Educator trained: Under the aegis of Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology and in collaboration with the Mauritius Institute Education (MIE), the RECOS Project has organized the first national training of trainers in the Sandwatch Foundation's environmental education tools. - click here for full details and a copy of the RECOS Newsletter |
Mauritius holds national Sandwatch workshop, Feb 28-29th, 2024
A 2-day national “Train the Trainers” workshop was organized on the 28 and 29 February 2024 within the framework of the “Coastal populations and ecosystems resilience in the South-West Indian Ocean (RECOS)” project of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology (MoETS&T) and Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE). The main aim was to empower 14 school educators from 7 schools and 3 NGOs to participate in the implementation of UNESCO Sandwatch programme in the 7 schools in 2024 and beyond. - click here for full details |
Guyana's Sandwatch Workshop November 2023
From November 7-10th, 2023, the Guyana Ministry of Education, via the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) organized a transformative Sandwatch workshop, for teachers of Primary and Secondary Schools, in Guyana. Facilitated by experts Andy Paul, Marlena Connor, and Megell Mohammed from Trinidad and Tobago, the workshop aimed to empower educators and curriculum officers with the necessary tools for sustainable coastal management, with participants from 30 schools, the event provided a platform for collaborative learning and environmental stewardship. The workshop introduced participants to the importance of coastal ecosystems and the need for active conservation measures. Emphasis was placed on the Sandwatch programs methodology, incorporating elements of Monitoring, Analyzing, Sharing and Taking action, the MAST methodology. - Click here for full details |
South Pacific Tourism Organisation gets involved in the Sandwatch programme
In April 2023 the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) expressed interest in the Sandwatch Programme. The SPTO is the mandated organisation representing tourism in the Pacific Islands region, based in Suva, Fiji, and with a mission to support sustainable tourism in the Pacific Islands. https://southpacificislands.travel/ Following discussions, a Sandwatch demonstration visit was arranged to two hotels on the Coral coast (west coast) of Viti Levu in Fiji on 7th July 2023. The Matanivusi Resort is a beach eco-resort popular with surfers. On 7th July 2023, a team from the Matanivusi Resort, SPTO members and The Sandwatch Foundation, took part in a Sandwatch monitoring activity, using the Beach Records field data sheet. General observations and photographs were demonstrated and recorded, and beach characteristics such as beach width, sand size, wave action, longshore currents, water quality, human activities, and the presence of litter were measured. -click here for full story |
4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES
SPECIAL ACCREDITATION FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS (Apply by 10 November 2023 here) The 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) will be held in Antigua and Barbuda from 27 - 30 May 2024, under the theme “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity”. It will aim to assess the ability of small island developing States (SIDS) to achieve sustainable development, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. The SIDS4 Conference will bring together leaders to agree on a new programme of action for SIDS with a focus on practical and impactful solutions and to forge new partnerships and cooperation at all levels. For more background information on the Conference, please see https://sdgs.un.org/smallislands. |
World Ocean Day, Mozambique - 8th June, 2023
LAUNCH OF BEACH OBSERVATION AND SANDWATCH PROGRAM IN IBO ISLAND, MOZAMBIQUE Associação do Sistema de Monitoria Orientada para Gestão (ASMOG) launches the beach observation program in Ibo island in Quirimbas National Park (a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve), during the celebration of the World Ocean Day – 8th June 2023. The event organized by ASMOG, is under its environmental education programs, involved 30 students of the environment clubs of three schools in Ibo Island and government representatives, Quirimbas National Park and Education authorities, communities’ leaders, CBOs and representatives of ONGs operating in the region. An online training session with Gillian Cambers, Co-Director of The Sandwatch Foundation was also held with participants - Click here to see more |
Three Indian Ocean and Caribbean Countries take part in Sandwatch's Online Beach Records Training Sessions in May
May 2023: Sandwatch holds training sessions with Trinidad, Mozambique and The Seychelles May has been a busy month for Sandwatch as online beach records training sessions have been conducted in three countries. These activities are linked below. Each training session takes around one hour. The Sandwatch Foundation is ready to conduct further virtual training sessions on the Beach Records Platform for interested groups. Please contact The Sandwatch Foundation if you would like to hear more about the online Beach Records platform and/or schedule an online introduction or training session. Click on the country links below to see details of their online training sessions. Trinidad, Mozambique, The Seychelles |
A message from the Sandwatch Ambassador in Guyana
Policy Forum Guyana launched its 1.5oC Lifestyle Campaign on April 22nd, despite challenges posed by heavy rainfall and flood warnings. Over 150 attendees participated in the event, which sought to encourage sustainable and environmentally conscious lifestyles aligned with this year's Earth Day theme, "Investing in Our Planet." The event had a Zero Single-Use Plastic Policy in place, and the mini-expo showcased environmentally-related science fair projects, a paint-by-numbers mural, music, and several lifesize games. The campaign challenged destructive ways of living that have contributed to the climate crisis and fostered pathways to a more unified, healthier, and inclusive youth-led future. Policy Forum Guyana expressed deep appreciation to the Marian Academy Administration and various organizations that supported the event. - click here to see full details of the event! |
April 2023: The Sandwatchers of Ibo Island, Mozambique launch ambitious projects!
Associação do Sistema de Monitoria Orientada para Gestão (ASMOG) The Ibo island community, located in Quirimbas National Park (UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve) are working together to preserve their unique traditional, cultural, and natural heritage including... 1. An artistic mural wall built by students using recycled material collected during the cleaning up activities with the involvement of students from the Sandwatch environmental club at Cumuamba Market Old School 2. Production of various species of plant seedlings with students from environmental clubs. 3. Community participation in numerous environmental activities. 4. Community participation in beach and coastal cleaning campaigns and composting 5. Training and induction of students from environmental clubs into the community compost bin project. 6. Exhibition of artistic paintings at Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane Primary School. - click here to see all their amazing projects! |
Feb 2023: Sandwatch Foundation partners with RECOS Project in Indian Ocean
The Sandwatch Foundation, represented by Dr Gillian Cambers was invited to participate in the First Regional Workshop for Group 4 – Environmental Education of the "Resilience of Coastal Ecosystems of the South-West Indian Ocean" (RECOS) project from 21 – 24 February 2023 in Mauritius. RECOS is a 5-year project (2021 – 2026) with the overall objective to strengthen the resilience of coastal populations to the effects of climate change by restoring the services provided by coastal ecosystems.The RECOS project is administered by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM). - Click here for details |
March, 2023: Trinidad Sandwatcher clean beach and protect leatherback turtles
Wow, what a day it was. Mayaro Sandwatch was happy to be part of this event, organized by Nature Seekers, a non-profit organization who looks after the conservation and protection of the vulnerable Leather-Back turtles, in the Matura Bay. Nature Seekers engages volunteers to be part of a beach clean-up in preparation for the nesting season of turtles. The Matura Beach is a world renown nestling ground. - Click here for details and photos |
Oct 31st, 2022: Vessigny Secondary School (Trinidad) Begin Sandwatch
On 31st October 2022 the Sandwatch team from Mayaro Environmental Wave, led by Mr. Andy Paul, conducted a Sandwatch training session with 29 students and two teachers at Vessigny Secondary School. The students were excited about Sandwatch. Three measurement points were established on the beach. A follow-up classroom session is scheduled for early November, after which the monitoring of the beach will take place monthly. The monitoring data will be sent to the Sandwatch Foundation who will apply the results to fine-tune version 2 of the Beach Records Platform, which is scheduled to be launched January 2023. - Click here to read our report |
28th Sept, 2022: Sandwatch Training Workshop held in Mayaro, Trinidad
Today, we conducted another successful workshop for teachers/schools in the St Patrick Education District. Come join the bandwagon. Sandwatch is for you! The Trinidad and Tobago National Commission for UNESCO hosted its second Sandwatch workshop on September 28, 2022, in the St. Patrick Education District, training an additional 27 teachers of both primary and secondary schools on the global environmental programme “Sandwatch”. The Sandwatch methodology links education to real-life issues such as climate change and teaches participants the importance of environmental education outside the classroom. - See our homepage for full details |
The Sandwatcher's 20th Issue - Our Greatest Hits!
Since the inaugural issue of 'The Sandwatcher' in June, 2006 we have published 20 issues of our news magazine (sometimes in multiple languages) with each issue featuring dozens of amazing articles and photos created by Sandwatch Teams in more than 50 countries around the world! To mark the return of Sandwatch after more than 2 years of Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns, we are relaunching 'The Sandwatcher' with a look back at some of the truly amazing stories our teams have featured since that first issue back in 2006. We know you will be as impressed now by many of these featured stories and photos from more than 15 countries as we were then...enjoy! - The Sandwatch Foundation Team, Gillian, Paul, Michelle & Dave * The Sandwatcher, July 2022 (hi-res, 12mb PDF) * The Sandwatcher, July 2022 (low-res, 2mb PDF) |
9 June, 2022: Sandwatch Training Workshop held in Mayaro, Trinidad On 9th June 2022, 30 teachers from primary and secondary schools and three curriculum officers participated in a Sandwatch Training Workshop in Mayaro, Trinidad. The workshop was organised by the UNESCO National Commission for UNESCO and presented by Andy Paul of Mayaro Government Primary School. Representatives from the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean also attended. Plans are being made for further training workshops to be held in the school year starting in September 2022. - Click here for the workshop report and photographs |
The Sandwatch Foundation launches French version of their online 'Beach Records' application
May 2022 – The Sandwatch Foundation is pleased to announce that their online 'Beach Records' application is now available in French. Created with the assistance of our Sandwatch partners in Senegal, Fii Laa Tékee and The Casamance Erosion Control Project , the app will allow French speaking Sandwatchers, teachers and students to enter their beach data (measurements, observations, photos etc) directly into the Sandwatch website either via laptop or Smart Phone while in the field or classroom. We look forward to working with our new Francophone partners in Senegal (and else where!) over the coming months. - Click here for French Beach Records page |
The Sandwatch Foundation partners with innovative erosion control project in Southern Senegal
April 2022 – Professor Patrick Chevalier, an Associé at the Université de Lille, France has been in discussions with The Sandwatch Foundation, regarding integrating our methodology for involving local communities in direct participation in the scientific monitoring of coastal environmental issues with his current project in the Casamance region of Southern Senegal. The project involves efforts to mitigate shoreline erosion through a very innovative erosion control programme of his design (details below), whereby communities located on several erosion prone islands in the Casamance region, will participate in the construction and monitoring of “semi-permeable groynes” using locally available and renewable organic materials. - Click here to see full details of this exciting project! |
A great idea from Australia to record changes in the coastline
This is a great idea from The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), an Australian govt science and technology agency. By putting up these stands overlooking coastal areas and beaches and asking visitors to take a photo from exactly the same location every time, then send the photos to CSIRO, where it can be recorded into a database, it will be possible to track erosion or other changes in the coastal environment. To learn more, just click on the photo (left). Are there any Sandwatch Teams out who could construct and install a similar camera stand on their local beach? If so lets us know and we can discuss! |
Local people making a real difference by replanting mangroves!
When a pristine Caribbean mangrove was decimated by a tourism project, locals on Union Island found a way restore it to its former glory. On a sweltering summer day in 1994, an ancient mangrove forest on Union Island was ripped apart. A foreign investor had started the foundation work for a hotel, marina and golf course in Ashton lagoon on Union Island, one of the 32 Grenadine islands which dot the clear, blue waters of the southern Caribbean Sea. The sounds of birds chirping and waves crashing against the intricately woven roots of the mangroves was replaced by the noise of excavators and cement trucks, cutting the trees to make way for culverts and concrete pillars. Poorly-sized pillars collapsed, cutting off tidal flow in the 10-acre (4-hectare) lagoon. More mangrove trees began dying. The clear water turned putrid and yellow. And what was once the most ecologically diverse lagoon in the region became a barren eyesore and mosquito breeding ground. Click here to read the whole article By Jose Alison Kentish29th March 2022 |
The Sandwatch Foundation joins forces with Fii Laa Tékee in Senegal March 2022 - The sustainable development and environmental organization Fii Laa Tékee (FLT) has begun discussions with the Sandwatch Foundation to establish a programme to mobilise school students in the Dionewar region of Senegal to assist local communities in combating beach erosion and shore up protection of the coastal environment. Susan Williams of the FLT has been in talks with Sandwatch Co-Director Paul Diamond, who has enthusiastically encouraged this new programme which FLT will implement with the NGO Nebeday and the Dionewar's Environment Club. The Sandwatch Foundation looks forward in the coming months in assisting FLT and their colleagues in their vitally important mission, so stay tuned! - Click here to visit Senegal's homepage for further details |
December 2021: Sandwatch Restarts in Trinidad 2022
Sandwatch has been active in Trinidad and Tobago since 2001 and has now been reactivated after covid restrictions were lifted. Sandwatch has been championed by Andy Paul, Principal of Mayaro Government School since the start of the program and has travelled around the world training other teachers in Sandwatch methodology. - View the "Sandwatch is Back!" promo video on their Facebook page here |
November 2021 - Nurdles: Toxic waste coming to a beach near you?
The Guardian: When the X-Press Pearl container ship caught fire and sank in the Indian Ocean in May, Sri Lanka was terrified that the vessel’s 350 tonnes of heavy fuel oil would spill into the ocean, causing an environmental disaster for the country’s pristine coral reefs and fishing industry. But the most “significant” harm, according to the UN, came from the spillage of 87 containers full of lentil-sized plastic pellets: nurdles. Since the disaster, nurdles have been washing up in their billions along hundreds of miles of the country’s coastline, and are expected to make landfall across Indian Ocean coastlines from Indonesia and Malaysia to Somalia. In some places they are up to 2 metres deep. They have been found in the bodies of dead dolphins and the mouths of fish. About 1,680 tonnes of nurdles were released into the ocean. It is the largest plastic spill in history, according to the UN report. Read the full article... |
October 2021: Sandwatch Launches a New Online Beach Records Platform
The Sandwatch programme launches a new and exciting online initiative – the BEACH RECORDS PLATFORM.
This platform provides a place where:
The Sandwatch programme launches a new and exciting online initiative – the BEACH RECORDS PLATFORM.
This platform provides a place where:
- you can easily record and share your Sandwatch activities and community action;
- students can see for themselves the practical application of classroom learning;
- we can learn from each other about ways to conserve our beach environments and at the same time make our contribution to the enormous challenges posed by climate change.
- The first step is to enter some details about your Sandwatch group.
- Monitoring your selected beach comes next – the group visits the selected beach and records some simple observations and measurements about the beach environment.
- After discussing the observations and measurements, the group identifies the main issues at the selected beach.
- Finally the group designs and implements a small project to address a particular issue and enhance the beach environment.
- to visit the BEACH RECORDS PLATFORM
- to view an example BEACH RECORD
- or to contact us for more information about getting started at [email protected]
August 2021: Sandwatch Alumnus wins Young Heroes Fund Award
Guyana: Benita Davis can still recall her seemingly insignificant decision back in 2016 to attend a Sandwatch workshop which ultimately led to her developing the River Guardians Project to increase the protection of rivers and freshwater resources. This again led to her being the latest recipient of the Young Heroes Fund Award given by the Stone Soup Leadership Institute. The 26-year-old was in primary school when she realised that she was passionate about environmental protection, and when she moved on to Queen’s College, she continued to enjoy being part of the environmental club and scout group. - click here for full details. The Stone Soup Leadership Institute's press release on her award can be read here |
Salineiro Secondary School, Cape Verde Islands conducts Sandwatch
July 2021: This Sandwatch/UNESCO report was conducted in order to bring important information about the study visit carried out on Saturday, June 5th, to the Porto Mosquito bathing beach, located in Ribeira Grande de Santiago-Cidade Velha, UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. - Click here for full details! Julho 2021: Este relatório enquadra-se no âmbito do projecto da UNESCO intitulado ‘’Sandwatch’’, a fim de trazer informações importantes sobre a visita de estudo realizada no dia 05 de Junho, Sábado, à praia balnear de Porto Mosquito, situada em Ribeira Grande de Santiago-Cidade Velha, Património Mundial da Humanidade pela UNESCO em 2009. - Clique aqui para mais detalhes! |
An acceleration of coastal overtopping around the world
Need another reason to join Sandwatch?: June 18th, 2021 - The combination of sea level rise, tides, storm surge and waves has increased the overtopping of natural and artificial coastal protection by nearly 50% in the last two decades. Low-lying coastal regions host nearly 10% of the world's population. In addition to ongoing erosion and rising sea levels, these areas and their unique ecosystems are facing destructive hazards, including episodic flooding due to overtopping of natural/artificial protection. The study was published in Nature Communications on June 18th 2021. -Click here to read the full article |
UNESO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development
Berlin Declaration on Education for Sustainable Development: We, participants from governments, international, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, civil society, youth, the academic community, the business sector and all spheres of teaching and learning, convened online from 17 to 19 May 2021 for the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, organized by UNESCO in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany, and with the German Commission for UNESCO as advisory partner, adopt this declaration. - click here to read the full declaration |
Half of the worlds sandy beaches could be gone by the end of the century
Why Sandwatch is important: If you were hoping to head to the beach until the climate catastrophe blows over, think again. Around half of the world’s sandy beaches could be gone by the end of this century if climate change is left unchecked, according to a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.The new research used 35 years of satellite coastal observations, paired with over 80 years of climate and sea-level rise projections, to predict how our planet’s coastlines fare over the next 80 years. - click here to read the full article |
Malta offering Post-Graduate scholarships for SIDS students
We are excited to share the news that the Maltese Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA) in collaboration with the Islands and Small States Institute of the University of Malta (ISSI), is providing scholarships for students who are nationals of certain Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Citizens of the following countries are eligible: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Montserrat, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, São Tomé and Principe, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. - Click here for full details |
Register your events for ESD in May with UNESCO
In celebration of the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, UNESCO aims to give as many people as possible the chance to be part of the global efforts to promote ESD in the month of May. To this end, we would like to invite all partners across the world to organize your local, national or regional ESD events. Select events will be promoted on the UNESCO World Conference website. We invite you to organize your own in-person or virtual ESD-related events or register pre-planned ones in May. Find out more and register your event |
UNESCO-Japan Prize for Education for Sustainable Development
Call for Nominations: UNESCO is launching the call for nomination for the 2021 UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Generously funded by the Government of Japan, since 2015 the Prize rewards exceptional projects and programmes in the field of Education for Sustainable Development. In 2021, three winners will be rewarded with USD 50,000 each and will be invited to establish a long-term collaboration with UNESCO by joining the ESD for 2030 Global Network (ESD-Net). Find out more |
Implementation of Sandwatch in Mauritius in 2020
In February 2020, an update was published to the Sandwatch Mauritius page providing a brief on the start of implementation of Sandwatch 2020 in three schools. These were: (i) Second time at France Boyer de la Giroday State Secondary School (FBGSSS) at Blue Bay Beach in the south of Mauritius (ii) First time at (a) Sir Leckraz Teelock SSS (SLTSSS) at the Belle Mare Beach in the east, and (b) Dr. Regis Chaperon SSS (DRCSSS) at Flic en Flac in the west. Now our report on our 2020 activities is complete. Click here for full details and photos! Or click here to d/l the report in Word |
Hawaii's beaches are disappearing!
Hawaii is famous for its spectacular beaches. But over the past century, three of the state’s major islands, Oahu, Maui and Kauai, have lost roughly one-quarter of their sandy shores. With rising seas, the losses are projected to grow much worse. Why is this happening? Seawalls are erasing beaches. This article was produced by ProPublica a nonprofit newsroom in partnership with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser - Click here for the full article |
UNESCO publishes roadmap for the next 10 years of ESD
UNESCO has just published Education for Sustainable Development: A roadmap which provides guidance for Member States and other stakeholders for the implementation of the new global framework 'Education for Sustainable Development: Towards achieving the SDGs' (ESD for 2030). UNESCO is organizing regional online launch events of the ESD for 2030 Roadmap to discuss implementation at the local level. Register for your local session:
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Environmental Citizen Science Contest
We've just announced a $10k Challenge Grant on Experiment (science crowdfunding) for environmental citizen science projects If you manage a project that could use some extra funding, this could be a great opportunity. If you're curious about Experiment, you can read more about the process here: https://experiment.com/guide Some stats that might be useful: - Takes ~2 hours to fill out an Experiment project. - Success rate is 46% (but we expect it to be higher given the $10k in funding to be distributed). - Average amount raised by a project is $4,120 It's a proportional prize contest, meaning the $10k will be distributed amongst all the participating and eligible projects. You can read more about that on the site. Deadline for submission Oct 15, 2020 |
What is effective climate adaptation? Case studies from the Least Developed Countries by Sejal Patel, Binyam Yakob Gebreyes (Issue paper, 29 pages)
Sept 2020: Adaptation is an investment that becomes effective over time through learning. International climate talks are serving as a key platform for bridging such learning. The LDCs, from the frontlines of climate impacts, are pioneering large-scale and innovative adaptation responses. This issue paper draws from experiences in the international dialogues and of LDC national practice to explore how the adaptation narrative is developing at both levels. It examines where they are aligned, and where they clash, in influencing adaptation scope and delivery. Some key lessons that we can learn from the LDC Group are highlighted. - Click here to d/l the publication |
Sharing knowledge for resilient, sustainable and prosperous islands worldwide
The Virtual Island Summit is a free and entirely online event designed to connect global islands to share their common experiences through a digital platform. Join islanders from around the world to share ideas, good practices and solutions. 7th-13th September 2020 - Click here to register! |
OECS -GIZ Photo Contest Opens!
OECS-German Development Cooperation (GIZ) media release Wednesday, July 8, 2020 — The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) have partnered to launch a photo contest on Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change. The general public is invited to register by email through [email protected] for the photography training coordinated by Kirk Elliot on July 15, 2020. To participate in the contest, submit photos to [email protected] before August 22, 2020. - Click here for details |
Sandwatch Paper Published in "International Symposium on Climate Change and the Role of Education"
Originally presented at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, England, April 12-13th, 2019. The paper explores the role of informal education in enhancing climate change resilience for beach and coastal systems using the multi-stakeholder approach Sandwatch has developed over the last two decades. Specifically it addresses using an action-oriented, volunteer network working to enhance beach environments using a tried and tested pedagogical approach called MAST– Monitoring, Analysing, Sharing, Taking action. Authors G. Cambers, P. Diamond and M. Verkoy - Read the full paper here (pdf) |
Happy Earth Day!: Belize Sandwatchers Create New Video!
Follow the link for a short (3 min) video on #fragmentsofhope outreach Sandwatch and related activities with the primary schools in southern Belize the last few years. Thanks to partners #CrocodileResearchCoalition, #SouthernEnvironmentalAssociation, #Oceana and funders #GEF-SGP and our private donors. Thanks to Ms. #AbigailParham Our #Sandwatch coordinator and video narrator. Thanks to the three primary schools, all the Independence Junior College volunteers, all the tour guides on the trips, #VaIentineRosado for some footage and huge shout out to #AvelinoFranco for most of the footage and all the editing! - Please click here to see their amazing video! |
Sandwatch launched at 3 schools in Mauritius for 2020
Sandwatch activities were successfully completed last year in Mauritius by two State Secondary schools – France Boyer de la Giroday Secondary and La Gaullette Secondary. This year Sir Leckraj Teelock Secondary (SLTSSS) at the Belle Mare Public Beach situated in the east and Dr. Regis Chaperon Secondary (DRCSSS) at Flic en Flac in the west are joining the effort. Implemented with the approval of The Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research and with the generous corporate sponsorship of the Currimjee Group and the support of the Ministry of Blue Economy and Mauritius Oceanography Institute, we are sure that 2020 promises to be an excellent year for Sandwatch activities on Mauritius! - Please click here for full details |
Abílio Duarte Secondary School on Cape Verde Conducts Three Sandwatch Field Trips
Over January, February and March, Sandwatchers from Abílio Duarte Secondary School conducted three separate field trips to Quebra Canela Beach in the city of Praia, Cape Verde Islands. The purpose of the trips was to expose 7th & 12th year students to Sandwatch’s M.A.S.T. Methodology of Monitoring the environment, Analyzing results, Share findings and Take Action. - To see more details of our three trips, please click here! |
Cape Verde Islands Sandwatchers Report
We conducted two Sandwatch field trips on May 4 and June 14, both at 11:30 am at the “Praia Pequena”, located in Ribeira Grande de Santo Antão. These visits were attended by a group of students from Suzete Delgado Secondary School, accompanied by teachers, under the guidance of the school's management, in the person of its Director Mr. Jorge Delgado. With these trips we wanted to achieve the following objectives: - Inform about the Sandwatch Program, its origin, objectives, methodology and necessary work equipment. - Justify why we chose “Little Beach” for our beach monitoring pilot without you. - Make known the work or activity developed within the Sandwatch Program. - Report the state of the beach as part of the first observation activity. - Suggest a set of interventions to make the beach more attractive to swimmers, tourists and beach goers. - Please click here to see our homepages and here to see our full report |
UNESCO/CTIC Launches Caribbean Regional School Art Competition
As part of the project being implemented entitled ‘ Strengthening Capacities of Early Warning and Response for Tsunamis and Other Coastal Hazards in the Caribbean’, UNESCO-IOC/CTIC (Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre) has been tasked with implementing a school competition in the 5 participating territories; Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominican Republic, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Best regards, Sadie-Ann Sisnett Project Coordinator, CTIC - Please click here for more details |
New Sandwatch Training Workshop to be Held in Cape Verde Islands
Oct 15-16th, 2019: The UNESCO National Commission of The Cape Verde Islands is pleased to announce that on October 15th-16th at the Hotel Santiago, they will be holding a Sandwatch Training Workshop (theoretical and practical) with teachers from around the region led Sandwatch trainer Dr. Álvaro Cardoso. This will increase the number of teacher with Sandwatch training around the country. Informamos que dia 15 e 16 de Outubro próximos, a Comissão Nacional da Unesco realizará uma Formacão Sandwatch, teórico-prática. O Formador é o Sandwatcher Dr. Álvaro Cardoso que ministrará professores que ainda não tiveram esta formacão. Segue o programa com mais pormenores. - Click here of full details of the workshop |
Sandwatch Launched at Two Schools in Mauritius
July 2019: Sandwatch was first implemented at La Gaulette State Secondary School (LGSSS), as a pilot project, from January to July 2018. LGSSS is located to the west of Mauritius within reach of many sandy beaches. The La Preneuse beach, a white sandy beach, where coastal erosion was widespread, was selected for the pilot project. Sandwatch is also being replicated at the France Boyer de la Giroday State Secondary School, which is situated to the south East of Mauritius. It is a star school attracting the best students from the southern part of Mauritius. It would be implemented at La Cambuse, a popular sandy public beach far from populated villages, from January to June 2019. It is still underdeveloped with no significant impacts of human activities. - Click here for full details! |
Trainer-the-trainers Sandwatch Workshop held in Guyana
May 8-10th, 2019: The Sandwatch Foundation in cooperation with The Ministry of Education, Guyana National Center for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) and the Trinidad and Tobago’s Sandwatch Network and UNESCO conducted a train-the-trainers workshop for 30 participants from around the country in Georgetown, Guyana. - Click here for full details! |
Sandwatch Foundation Presents at International Symposium in the UK
April 12-13th, 2019: Sandwatch Co-Director Dr. Gillian Cambers and Michelle Verkooy were invited to give a presentation entitled “The Role of Informal Education in Climate Change Resilience: The Sandwatch Model” (authors: Cambers, G., Diamond, P., Verkooy, M) at the International Symposium on Climate Change and the Role of Education at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, England. The paper explored the role of informal education in enhancing climate change resilience for beach and coastal systems using the multi-stakeholder approach Sandwatch has developed over the last two decades. Specifically it addressed using an action-oriented, volunteer network working to enhance beach environments using a tried and tested pedagogical approach called MAST– Monitoring, Analysing, Sharing, Taking action. - Click here for full details of the conference! |
Sandwatch launched by two schools in Mauritius
January 2019: The France Boyer de la Giroday and the La Gaulette State Secondary Schools on Mauritius have launched Sandwatch Programs. The France Boyer School is located in the southern end of the island and will be adopting La Cambuse Beach for study, while the La Gaulette School on the west coast has adopted La Preneuse Beach. Details on the launch of the programs can be found on the two school’s Sandwatch homepages 1. France Boyer de la Giroday and 2. La Gaulette. We look forward to seeing how their projects evolve over the coming year. |
The First Sandwatch workshop in Madagascar (Majunga, 15-19 October 2018)
Madagascar has never participated in any sandwatch activities. To initiate and promote the UNESCO Sandwatch Programme, a first workshop was organized from 15 to 19 October 2018 at Hotel Roches Rouges, Majunga with the joint collaboration of UNESCO, The Sandwatch Foundation and GIZ. There were 38 participants from Madagascar comprising high officials of concerned Ministries including the Ministry of Education and Environment, Director General of various Institutions and Organisations and representatives of UNESCO and GIZ and 4 high officials from Comoros. The trainer, Mr. Ragoonaden Sachooda was from Mauritius. - Click here to see full details |
Madagascar Sandwatch “Train-the-Trainers” Workshop Majunga, 15 to 19 October 2018
About 40 participants representing the Ministry of National Education from each region of Madagascar and other relevant Ministries are expected. They will be mainly educators and planners who eventually will be involved to promote Sandwatch. A few participants from Comoros are also attending. The workshop will be conducted by a Sandwatch expert, Mr. Sachooda Ragoonaden, from Mauritius. He will be assisted by a facilitator and a representative from the National Commission of UNESCO. We look forward to seeing the report, photos and perhaps videos of the workshop after it completion and coordinating Sandwatch activities with the new teams created. - click here to see full details |
The Seychelles Sandwatchers Adopt 4 New Beaches!
A group of young environmentalists who participated in the Eco-Warriors Sandwatch Training programme over the school holiday period received their certificates in a small ceremony at the Botanical Garden yesterday afternoon. Parents and friends of the Eco-warriors who attended the ceremony had an opportunity to see the various activities the group had been engaged in over the holidays through presentations delivered by the eco-warriors themselves. Among the activities they had partaken in are education, monitoring, analysis and communication of sand and coastal trends on four principal beaches around Mahé island, including Beau Vallon beach, Intendance Beach, Anse Boileau beach and Anse Royale beach. - click to see details and photos of their trip! |
Guyana Sandwatch Schools Team up to celebrate Earth Day 2018
Did you know that 300 million tons of plastic are sold each year and that 90% of that is thrown away? Did you know that a huge percentage of those plastics end up in our landfills, our oceans, our wildlife and our bodies? That is why the theme to mark today’s celebration of Earth Day is “End Plastic Pollution”. Sandwatch is a UNESCO programme that provides a framework for participants, with the help of teachers and local communities, to work together to critically evaluate the problems and conflicts facing their beach environments, and to develop sustainable approaches to address these issues. - click to here to read the full story! |
The latest issue of The Sandwatch is out!
January 2018:This issue marks the 19th issue of The Sandwatcher and as usual is chocked full of great articles and amazing photos from Sandwatch teams in 14 countries world wide! Including, Azores, Australia, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Bahamas, Guyana, Indonesia, Madeira(Portugal), Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago… and much more! As always we would enjoy hearing any feedback or suggestions you may have about the newest edition, your projects or Sandwatch in general. The Sandwatch Foundation: Gillian, Paul, Dave & Michelle. - Click here to read the full issue online 2017 - Sandwatch: Most Significant Change Stories
Dear Friends, The Sandwatch program was created just over 16 years ago, and during that time the program has touched schools and community groups all around the world. With that kind of outreach, we want to know more about our Sandwatch groups and how Sandwatch is affecting them. Using the "Most Significant Change" methodology we are reaching out and asking groups to describe the most significant change brought about by Sandwatch and why it is important to them. After gathering and compiling some of these Most Significant Change Stories we are excited to share them with you on our website. The stories are inspiring! To read these and other stories from Bahamas, Cape Verde Islands, Cuba, Kiribati, Madeira and St. Vincent & the Grenadines click here. Here you can also read about the "Most Significant Change" methodology. Most importantly we want to hear YOUR Sandwatch story. Gillian, Paul, Dave and Michelle. The Sandwatch Foundation www.sandwatchfoundation.org |
Sandwatch Guyana: Tutorial High & Stella Marris Primary schools conduct their first Sandwatch field trips
On Oct 6th, 2017 Grades 5, 6 and 10 students from Tutorial High School and Stella Marris Primary School conducted their first Sandwatch field trips at the western end of Kingston Beach in downtown Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. They conducted a series of measurements, observations and tests of water quality at several areas of the beach and have recorded their results, so as to build up a profile of their coastal environment over the coming months and perhaps years. - Please go to their homepages to read their full reports Tutorial High School - Stella Marris Primary |
Sandwatch Mexico: schools ratify agreement and appoint first ambassador
Guardarenas Mexico confirm their commitment to continue Sandwatch with four schools in 2017-2018
June 2017: Guardarenas Mexico agreed with the Directors of four schools, Juan Rulfo, Benjamín Bloom, Calmecac y Conalep in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, to continue Sandwatch during the 2018-2018 school year. The group are also holding talks with other municipalities to further expand Sandwatch. Read their press release and see their homepage for full details and photos on all their Sandwatch activities
Guardarenas Mexico confirm their commitment to continue Sandwatch with four schools in 2017-2018
June 2017: Guardarenas Mexico agreed with the Directors of four schools, Juan Rulfo, Benjamín Bloom, Calmecac y Conalep in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, to continue Sandwatch during the 2018-2018 school year. The group are also holding talks with other municipalities to further expand Sandwatch. Read their press release and see their homepage for full details and photos on all their Sandwatch activities
The Latest from the Madeira Island Sandwatchers , Portugal
This June, our school, the Escola Básica do 2º e 3º Ciclos do Caniço and our main partner, the
Four Views Oasis Hotel, promoted another environmental education action in the Reis Magos beach (Wise Man Beach). Once again, our long-time partners since the patronage of the beach cooperated. We still had
the collaboration of several institutions, such as Parents Association, the City Council of Santa
Cruz, the Parish Council, the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation and the Caniço
Pharmacy. -Please click here to see our complete details and our gallery of photos
This June, our school, the Escola Básica do 2º e 3º Ciclos do Caniço and our main partner, the
Four Views Oasis Hotel, promoted another environmental education action in the Reis Magos beach (Wise Man Beach). Once again, our long-time partners since the patronage of the beach cooperated. We still had
the collaboration of several institutions, such as Parents Association, the City Council of Santa
Cruz, the Parish Council, the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation and the Caniço
Pharmacy. -Please click here to see our complete details and our gallery of photos
Madeira Island Sandwatchers , Portugal
Celebrate World Environment Day, 5th of June, 2017
After the great success that was last year’s celebration of the World Environment Day, our school the “Escola Básica do 2º e 3º Ciclos do Caniço” teamed again with Galo Resort Hotels and organized a cleaning activity in a coastal zone, the “Ponta D'Oliveira” and in the sea, in the Nature Reserve of “Garajau”.
- Please click here to see all our amazing photos!!!
Celebrate World Environment Day, 5th of June, 2017
After the great success that was last year’s celebration of the World Environment Day, our school the “Escola Básica do 2º e 3º Ciclos do Caniço” teamed again with Galo Resort Hotels and organized a cleaning activity in a coastal zone, the “Ponta D'Oliveira” and in the sea, in the Nature Reserve of “Garajau”.
- Please click here to see all our amazing photos!!!
June, 2017
Greetings from Cameroon, West Africa
My name is Apene Derek, and I am Cameroonian Master’s student studying climate change and biodiversity at the University of Dschang.
My interest in Sandwatch is to see how it can be used to combat climate change in coastal areas of Cameroon and equally to use this approach as a tool to foster my doctorate degree after my masters’ graduation. Our Sandwatch Team is made up of university students studying various environmental disciplines. Sandwatch will be a great privilege for my team and I to start this activity in Cameroon which will be of great importance to our communities around our national territory and we look forward to working with partners like The Sandwatch Foundation and UNESCO.
- Click here for more on Sandwatch: Cameroon
Greetings from Cameroon, West Africa
My name is Apene Derek, and I am Cameroonian Master’s student studying climate change and biodiversity at the University of Dschang.
My interest in Sandwatch is to see how it can be used to combat climate change in coastal areas of Cameroon and equally to use this approach as a tool to foster my doctorate degree after my masters’ graduation. Our Sandwatch Team is made up of university students studying various environmental disciplines. Sandwatch will be a great privilege for my team and I to start this activity in Cameroon which will be of great importance to our communities around our national territory and we look forward to working with partners like The Sandwatch Foundation and UNESCO.
- Click here for more on Sandwatch: Cameroon
Sandwatch partners with Positive Planet
The Sandwatch Foundation is pleased to announce a partnership with Positive Planet (www.positiveplanet.ca) a Canadian environmental group. In particular, Sandwatch will be submitting regular articles to Positive Planet detailing positive environmental stories from our teams around the world. So if your Sandwatch team currently has a positive message it would like to share with the world, please let us know and we will assist you getting the word out. [email protected]
The Sandwatch Foundation is pleased to announce a partnership with Positive Planet (www.positiveplanet.ca) a Canadian environmental group. In particular, Sandwatch will be submitting regular articles to Positive Planet detailing positive environmental stories from our teams around the world. So if your Sandwatch team currently has a positive message it would like to share with the world, please let us know and we will assist you getting the word out. [email protected]
Sandwatch at the TIFF
April 2017: Sandwatch Co-Director Paul Diamond was very honoured to be asked by the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (@ocictweets) to take part in an environmental Q&A session with local students after the viewing of the documentary film "Plastic China" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
April 2017: Sandwatch Co-Director Paul Diamond was very honoured to be asked by the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (@ocictweets) to take part in an environmental Q&A session with local students after the viewing of the documentary film "Plastic China" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
2016-17 Issue of The Sandwatcher is out!
This issue marks the 15th anniversary of Sandwatch and as usual is choked full of great articles and amazing photos from Sandwatch teams in 21 countries world wide! Including, Azores, Australia, Belize, Cape Verde, Colombia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Madeira(Portugal), Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, Senegal, Trinidad & Tobago, the US Virgin Islands… and much more!
In addition, we are in the process of totally redesigning our website (www.sandwatchfoundation.org) and have increased our presence on social media with a new Twitter account, Facebook forums, a dedicated YouTube video channel and of course our online database!
As always we would enjoy hearing any feedback or suggestions you may have about the latest edition, your projects or Sandwatch in general. - click here to d/l the full issue (1.7 mb pdf)
The Sandwatch Foundation,
Gillian, Paul, Dave & Michelle.
This issue marks the 15th anniversary of Sandwatch and as usual is choked full of great articles and amazing photos from Sandwatch teams in 21 countries world wide! Including, Azores, Australia, Belize, Cape Verde, Colombia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Madeira(Portugal), Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, Senegal, Trinidad & Tobago, the US Virgin Islands… and much more!
In addition, we are in the process of totally redesigning our website (www.sandwatchfoundation.org) and have increased our presence on social media with a new Twitter account, Facebook forums, a dedicated YouTube video channel and of course our online database!
As always we would enjoy hearing any feedback or suggestions you may have about the latest edition, your projects or Sandwatch in general. - click here to d/l the full issue (1.7 mb pdf)
The Sandwatch Foundation,
Gillian, Paul, Dave & Michelle.
Sandwatch Program at the San Pedro Mixtepec Clean Beaches Project, Oaxaca, México
Oaxaca, Mexico joined Sandwatch in February 2016, starting its activities in Bacocho and Coral Beach located in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec, Oaxaca. This Program is included as part of the Work Program of the Clean Beaches Committee linked to the Certification of Bacocho Beach according to the national standard NMX-AA-120-SCFI. - Click here for full details
Oaxaca, Mexico joined Sandwatch in February 2016, starting its activities in Bacocho and Coral Beach located in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec, Oaxaca. This Program is included as part of the Work Program of the Clean Beaches Committee linked to the Certification of Bacocho Beach according to the national standard NMX-AA-120-SCFI. - Click here for full details
Sandwatch Celebrates 15 Years!
The Sandwatch programme started in 2001 with a training workshop in St. Lucia and now we have passed the 15-year milestone.
And what a 15-years it has been! With so many Sandwatch groups all over the world using and improving the Sandwatch methodology of Monitoring, Analysis, Sharing information and Taking action (M.A.S.T) to conserve our beach and coastal environments and to use them wisely.
With so many achievements by Sandwatch groups it is difficult to single out individual successes. But here are a few …… Continue
The Sandwatch programme started in 2001 with a training workshop in St. Lucia and now we have passed the 15-year milestone.
And what a 15-years it has been! With so many Sandwatch groups all over the world using and improving the Sandwatch methodology of Monitoring, Analysis, Sharing information and Taking action (M.A.S.T) to conserve our beach and coastal environments and to use them wisely.
With so many achievements by Sandwatch groups it is difficult to single out individual successes. But here are a few …… Continue
Madeira Island Sandwatchers , Portugal Celebrate World Environment Day
Jan 2017: To celebrate the World Environment Day, Galo Resort Hotels, in its environmental management program, organized a cleaning activity in a coastal zone, the “Ponta D'Oliveira” and in the sea, in the Natural Reserve of “Garajau”.
With the participation of the Natural Park of Madeira and the hotel’s employees and guests, students from the eighth grade and teachers from “Escola Básica do 2º e 3º Ciclos do Caniço” cleaned the area of Ponta D’Oliveira and collected around 100Kg of waste. -Click here for more!
Jan 2017: To celebrate the World Environment Day, Galo Resort Hotels, in its environmental management program, organized a cleaning activity in a coastal zone, the “Ponta D'Oliveira” and in the sea, in the Natural Reserve of “Garajau”.
With the participation of the Natural Park of Madeira and the hotel’s employees and guests, students from the eighth grade and teachers from “Escola Básica do 2º e 3º Ciclos do Caniço” cleaned the area of Ponta D’Oliveira and collected around 100Kg of waste. -Click here for more!
Dominican Republic Sandwatchers attend UNESCO Environmental Conference in Dakar, Senegal
Nov 21-23rd, 2016: Teachers, directors and coordinators of UNESCO partner schools in 12 countries attended a training session to become coaches with the intention of training others in each of their countries. Trained teachers will help their local Ministry of Education achieve results in the continuing push to integrate climate change themes and projects within the official curricula of each country. Topics such as: Teacher training, creating a sustainable school, budgeting and dealing with waste and the evaluation of the particular needs of each school in order to prepare an action plan for work teams were discussed. The meeting was held in Dakar, Senegal at the UNESCO Building. Teachers and coordinators from Greece, Brazil, Namibia, Japan, Oman, Denmark, Lebanon, Germany, Indonesia, France, Senegal and the Dominican Republic attended.
República Dominicana Sandwatchers asiste a Conferencia Ambiental en Dakar, Senegal
Maestros, directores y coordinadores de las escuelas asociadas a la Unesco de 12 países reciben un entrenamiento para convertirlos en entrenadores con la intención de hacer lo mismo en cada uno de sus países, entrenar maestros para llegar a cada una de las escuelas, logrando resultados para que las autoridades del Ministerio de Educación continúen integrando los temas y proyectos del cambio climático dentro del currículo oficial de cada país. Se han tocado temas como: El perfil del maestro, como es una escuela sostenible, como sacar presupuesto del mismo problema(basura), evaluación de las necesidades particulares de cada escuela para preparar el plan de acción del equipo de trabajo. Esta reunión se celebra en Dakar, Senegal en el edificio Unesco de Dakar, vinieron maestros y coordinadores de: Grecia, Brazil, Namibia, Japón, Omán, Dinamarca, Líbano, Alemania, Indonesia, Francia, Senegal y República Dominicana. Este congreso es desde el 21 al 23 de noviembre. La oficina central de la Unesco lleva la cobertura del evento.
Nov 21-23rd, 2016: Teachers, directors and coordinators of UNESCO partner schools in 12 countries attended a training session to become coaches with the intention of training others in each of their countries. Trained teachers will help their local Ministry of Education achieve results in the continuing push to integrate climate change themes and projects within the official curricula of each country. Topics such as: Teacher training, creating a sustainable school, budgeting and dealing with waste and the evaluation of the particular needs of each school in order to prepare an action plan for work teams were discussed. The meeting was held in Dakar, Senegal at the UNESCO Building. Teachers and coordinators from Greece, Brazil, Namibia, Japan, Oman, Denmark, Lebanon, Germany, Indonesia, France, Senegal and the Dominican Republic attended.
República Dominicana Sandwatchers asiste a Conferencia Ambiental en Dakar, Senegal
Maestros, directores y coordinadores de las escuelas asociadas a la Unesco de 12 países reciben un entrenamiento para convertirlos en entrenadores con la intención de hacer lo mismo en cada uno de sus países, entrenar maestros para llegar a cada una de las escuelas, logrando resultados para que las autoridades del Ministerio de Educación continúen integrando los temas y proyectos del cambio climático dentro del currículo oficial de cada país. Se han tocado temas como: El perfil del maestro, como es una escuela sostenible, como sacar presupuesto del mismo problema(basura), evaluación de las necesidades particulares de cada escuela para preparar el plan de acción del equipo de trabajo. Esta reunión se celebra en Dakar, Senegal en el edificio Unesco de Dakar, vinieron maestros y coordinadores de: Grecia, Brazil, Namibia, Japón, Omán, Dinamarca, Líbano, Alemania, Indonesia, Francia, Senegal y República Dominicana. Este congreso es desde el 21 al 23 de noviembre. La oficina central de la Unesco lleva la cobertura del evento.
Guyana, Sandwatch Workshop, Oct 17-19th, 2016
For three days The Sandwatch Foundation with the generous support of the Guyana Ministry of Education and UNESCO were pleased to hold a training workshop for more than 30 primary and high school teachers from around the country in the capital, Georgetown. Full details and amazing photos of this workshop and a trip to the world famous Kaieteur Water Falls can be found HERE You can also watch two short videos from the Guyana Workshop below or on the Sandwatch channel on YouTube HERE. |
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Restoring the reefs in San Andres, Colombia, after Hurricane Matthew
18 October 2016 A group of divers composed of staff from the Coralina Corporation, diving schools on the island, private enterprises and the NGO “Help 2 Oceans” were present in the northern area of the island called 'Little Reef' responding to damage caused by the effects of Hurricane Matthew by replanting coral fragments. To read more, click here. |
“Desertification Watch: Learning to Combat Desertification” starts in Mongolia
March 2016 This new programme adopted the Sandwatch methodology, M.A.S.T., which stands for Measure, Analyse, Share and Take action. To find out more, click here. |
A Sandwatch Field Trip in The Dominican Republic
Feb 10, 2016 COLLEGE SAN JOSE OBRERO, The group of second year students of San Jose Obrero High School went for their 2nd field trip to the beach of Juan Dolio, which we have adopted for the practice of the educational project "Sandwatch" proposed by the Associated Schools UNESCO of the Dominican Republic. - Please click here to see our report, photo gallery and a short video |
Sandwatch begins in The Azores
June 2015: 104 students and 15 staff members from the EBI Francisco Ferreira Drummond School took part in a Sandwatch monitoring activity involving observations and preparation of sketch maps at Baía da Vila, Baía das Mós (also known as Baía da Mina), Baía da Salga, and 2 spots in Porto Judeu. This was followed by a beach clean-up. See article and presentation on the activity or click here to go to our homepage |
Sandwatch featured in Slovakian textbook
Sandwatch was recently featured in an environmental textbook from the Technical University in Zvolen, in Slovakia. The title translates to Environmental Education in Context and Chapter 18 talks about Sandwatch being an emerging global dimension of environmental education. - Please click here for details |
Kiribati integrates Sandwatch concepts into School Curriculum
The Curriculum Development Resource Center (CRDC), a part of the Kiribati Ministry of Education, shared their progress with integrating Sandwatch concepts into the Kiribati School Curriculum during a Sandwatch Training Workshop in December 2015, supported by The Secretariate of the Pacific Community and the European Union funded "Environmentally Sustainable Aggregates for Tarawa Project" - Please click here for full details |
Kiribati holds Sandwatch training workshop December 8-10th, 2015
The first Sandwatch training workshop in Kiribati was held in 2010. This 2015 Sandwatch training involved 25 people, of which 16 were teachers, mostly new to Sandwatch. Other participants came from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), Ministry of Education and the Curriculum Development and Resource Centre (CDRC), Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). - Please click here for full details |