By Aminata Kuyateh
GreenUp Gambia on Wednesday launched TUI Junior Academy, a two-year climate education initiative targeting 30 schools across The Gambia. The launch was held at Alliance Française in Kanifing.
Implemented by GreenUp Gambia in partnership with the TUI Care Foundation in the Netherlands, the project—under the theme “Empower to Act: Equipping the Next Generation of Climate Leaders”—will run for 24 months and directly reach more than 7,500 students across all six regions.
The academy will provide students with climate-change education, practical environmental activities and opportunities to take action in their schools and communities. It will also train teachers in climate change and environmental education and provide participating schools with funding for activities such as waste management, recycling and school-based environmental projects.
Speaking at the launch, GreenUp Gambia Executive Director Kemo Fatty said young people should not be seen only as leaders of tomorrow, arguing that they are already experiencing the effects of environmental degradation affecting the country’s rivers, forests and coastline.
He called for stronger climate education, particularly a shift from general discussions about environmental issues to a clearer understanding of carbon emissions and the causes of climate change.
Fatty noted that while The Gambia and Africa contribute relatively little to global carbon emissions, they remain exposed to the effects of climate change. He urged young people to protect the country’s biodiversity, develop sustainable relationships with nature and take an active role in climate action.
Daniel Taylor, Principal Education Officer at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, said climate change is already affecting The Gambia and requires action from both young and old. He said the initiative supports the Ministry’s efforts to build an environmentally conscious and resilient society.
He called for environmental education, tree planting, school gardening, waste management, recycling and climate-awareness activities to be strengthened in schools.
He also said the Ministry is committed to working with environmental organisations to deepen the integration of climate education into the school curriculum and expand youth participation in environmental initiatives.
A representative from the National Environment Agency urged young people to take ownership of environmental protection, particularly in areas such as waste management, tree planting and climate action.
She said the National Environment Agency is moving from simply planting trees to “growing trees” by giving communities and schools ownership of trees to encourage their survival. She noted that about 140,000 trees have been planted since 2016.
Arabiatou Jallow said the project will also engage at least 200 women through community dialogues and climate-awareness activities, extending its focus beyond schools to households and communities.
Organisers said lessons from the two-year programme will be used to support longer-term efforts to integrate environmental education and climate action into The Gambia’s school curriculum.