World Environment Education Day 2024
Written by Christelle Truter
“In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught” – Babe Dioum
Shangoni Management Services is an environmental, health and safety consulting company specialising in providing solutions for management systems, legal compliance, risk management and technical health, safety, and environmental management challenges. It is no wonder then, that we are passionate about educating all ages, communities, and companies on environmental issues, educating individuals and groups to engage in problem-solving, improving the environment, and leaving an environment which is not harmful to our communities – a legacy, and promoting sustainability.
In 2023, we celebrated Arbor Week by donating some trees to a school in Soshanguve to be planted at their newly built classes for the grade 4s. To live out our value of Stewardship, we educated the children on what the purpose of planting trees is, and how they should take care of the trees and the environment. Each class was given a specific tree that they would take care of, and help grow into a tree that their children can still enjoy one day. Take a look at our 2023 Arbor Day initiative here: https://shangoni.co.za/celebrating-arbor-week-2023/
Shangoni addresses the three pillars of sustainability, Environmental, Social and Economic, when we spend time with our communities. These terms can be very intimidating and overwhelming, but if we can simplify a few actions you can partake in, either as an individual or a company, it will include the suggestions supplied by UN Environmental Programme:
- Invest in alternative energy sources
- Dress cooler or warmer (instead of relying on cooling or heating systems), and
- Rather use natural light.
Let us be reminded on this day, 26 January 2024, World Environmental Education Day that if you (or your company) commit yourself to Environmental Education, it can only be successful if the leader is also open to learning.
Value the communities around you, respect their epistemology and enable them to feel heard. In the end, we have one planet to serve us all and by working together, we can ensure a safe and healthy environment for future generations.
“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
