About Us
The Eco-School Program is an environmental education framework and rewards program promoting learning for a waste-free and sustainable Burundi. Eco-Schools is a school-based sustainable education framework that operates in over 60 countries around the world, developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) based in Denmark. It is a democratic and participatory curriculum-linked program that provides an excellent opportunity for students to experience active citizenship in their schools. Schools and the wider community benefit from this program. Already hugely popular globally, with over 51,000 eco-schools in 67 countries, participants find great encouragement in knowing that their local efforts are reciprocated around the world. 19 million students now attend an eco-school and more than 1.4 million teachers work there.
In Burundi, the Eco-school program began in 2019 and is implemented through the Education program of IPSDI-Burundi, a national charitable organization founded in 2011 and registered by the Ministry of the Interior under No. 503 /801 with the aim of promoting social well-being and combating the causes of poverty. In 2019, IPSDI-Burundi partnered with the Environmental Education Fund (FEE) with the aim of implementing the Eco-Schools program in Burundi. Next, IPSDI-Burundi took the time to diligently read and explore relevant program resources (e.g.: brochures, books, plan, etc.) of the eco-schools and rights, interventions and components from the program. After that, a selection of 4 pilot schools was made. Four (4) schools in western Burundi are initially involved in the Eco-school program: “Kamakara, Kagwema, Mukungu and Muzinda”. The chosen themes are: “waste and school grounds”.
In order to convince all teachers that the Eco-school program is a real framework designed to provide confidence, resilience and perseverance which are the foundations for increased motivation and improved academic performance of students in their school life Subsequently, the program adopted: Participatory approach involving students, teachers and the local community.
The program follows a seven-step methodology to help schools maximize their environmental achievements:
1. Form an Eco-committee;
2. Carry out an environmental review;
3. Develop an action plan;
4. Monitoring and evaluation;
5. Link with the curriculum;
6. Inform and Involve;
7. Produce an Eco-code.
