Zimbabwe: British Council Takes On Environmental Concerns

By Nevson Mpofu British Council working in partnership with Thames Festival Trust have joined hands with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Zimbabwe to take a closer look at the environment issues. This comes with launch of Rivers of the World which took place in Harare on 4 March at a local hotel. Ronald Davies said Rivers of the World Program is a global art and education program delivered by Thames Festival Trust in partnership with British Council and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. In a speech read by Chief Director Mr T Shumba on behalf of Permanent Secretary in the Zimbabwe Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mrs Thumisang Thabela who could not make it , Mr Shumba said the partnership enables young people to explore and celebrate their local environment . Secondly, it is important, young people learn about their culture and engage with global issues. ‘’This is a vehicle for Sustainable Development. It entails transformational education, addressing learning content and outcomes, pedagogy and the learning environment. The project integrates content such as climate change, poverty and sustainable development into curriculum. It also creates interactive learner centered teaching.’’ ‘’This is a platform for young people to benefit from what they explore and celebrate their local environment, learn about cultures and engage with local issues.’’ ‘’Young people get provided with fantastic opportunities as learners to work with talented professional artists. This makes them create beautiful river inspired art-works for public display in London and other cities around the World via physical and digital exhibitions.’’ He further said the artworks which will be seen by many people around were created through an extended workshop process. These were contextualized by trips to Munyati River and other environmental studies British Council in partnership with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education delivered the 1^st phase of the Rivers of the World Project between March and May 2021. Six schools were involved. These are Rimuka 1 and 2 high schools, Jameson High School, Sanyati Baptist High, Kwekwe High School and Munyati High. The project offered local school opportunities to partner with 6 United Kingdom schools in Liverpool. High quality digital artworks were produced and displayed as part of the Totally Thames Festival in London in September 2021. British Council had a global platform to support COP26 with variety of different programs and projects, from Arts and Culture, Education and English Language. Rivers of the World is a vehicle for Sustainable Development. It entails transformational education, addressing learning content and outcomes, pedagogy and conducive learning environment. The project integrates content such as climate change into the curriculum. It creates interactive and learner centered teaching. Rivers of the World supports self-directed learning, participation and collaboration, problem –orientation, inter-disciplinary and linking of formal and in-formal learning.