Horowhenua Schools invited to Enviroschools workshop

Horizons Regional Council is inviting Horowhenua schools interested in implementing sustainable practices to attend an information workshop on 21 June in Levin.
 

Horizons environmental educator and Enviroschools regional coordinator Sarah Williams is pleased to be in a position to hold the workshop thanks to Horowhenua District Council increasing its funding available for the nationally recognised Enviroschools programme.
 
“Horowhenua District Council allocated $4,000 for Enviroschools as part of its 2018-28 Long-term Plan, however has recently agreed to provide up to $8,000 of funding through their Annual Plan process. This is fantastic as it will enable up to eight schools to join the Enviroschools programme.
 
“We have been looking to Horowhenua District Council to provide funding for a facilitator within the district for the last few years. We’re really pleased they could come on board as schools in the area are becoming interested in the programme, and how they can become more sustainable schools.”
 
Mrs Williams says Enviroschools is a holistic framework for community engagement in sustainability action. The programme engages in a range of sustainability actions such as zero waste, kai/food production, biodiversity and biosecurity, and water health and conservation. 
 
“It is a behaviour change programme which aims to give students a sense of place and purpose in their community. Each Enviroschool is unique so facilitator support is integral to the programme.
 
“Facilitators work with each Enviroschool to provide them with the necessary advice and motivation they need to support their students in creating change. It’s a really supportive process and we’re encouraging any schools who are interested in hearing more to attend the workshop to learn about the opportunity available,” explains Mrs Williams.
 
Horowhenua District Council’s environmental engineer Ryan Hughes says it’s great to be able to connect with the Enviroschools programme through the Waste Minimisation Fund.
 
“The Waste Minimisation programme is already funding the Zero Waste Education programme for all schools in the district, providing zero waste workshops throughout the year, and helping schools set up worm farms and composting systems so to support at least eight schools start the journey to becoming sustainable is wonderful.”
 
Mr Hughes says it’s great to be able to branch out beyond zero waste into a wider sustainable living aspect, which Enviroschools encapsulates.
 
“Horowhenua District Council is proud to be one of the few Councils that supports both these education programme initiatives.”
 
The information workshop will be held on Wednesday 12 June from 4.30-6pm at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10 Bath Street Levin, in the Rimu and Tōtara rooms. Please RSVP to educator@horizons.govt.nz by Monday 10 June.
 
The Enviroschools programme was introduced to our region in 2001, and we now have 57 Enviroschools (36 schools and 21 ECE centres).