Eco Camp: Youths Take Centre Stage To Tackle Climate Change
By Tracy Ohovwore
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), in collaboration with The Young Environmentalist Network (TYEN), hosted a three-day camp exercise from December 4th to 6th, 2024, in Benin City, Edo State, to mark “The Youth Environmental Assembly.”
To address the challenges that have plagued the environment, ecosystem, and biodiversity, youths participated in extensive workshops and discussions on the need to create a cleaner and greener environment.
The participants artistically created indoor games and recreated disposable but eco-friendly materials such as waste bins with materials generated from pet bottles, cartons, cardboard, and other waste materials to reinstate the importance of recycling and the creativity of waste materials.
Participants used the four elements—water, Earth, Fire, and Air —to create more bonds, assign activities and duties, and emphasize the importance of each element, not forgetting its value to the environment.
One of the participants who spoke with Newsnowng, Vanessa Osayomore Aghafekogha, a final-year student of the Faculty of Law, shared her experience so far at the training.
“It has been fun and educative. I have learned so much, and it has been creative. It has evoked a sense of creativity in me that we have achieved things that we never believed we’d be able to achieve within a short period.” She said.
Another participant, Ogbeide David, a volunteer at HOMEF, said he had learned a lot from the creativity of creating values out of waste materials during the workshop activities with other participants at the event.
“I also learned about GMOs and understood my role to nature and how best I can protect my environment.” He added.
In an interview with Ukpono Bassey, the coordinator of The Young Environmentalist Network (TYEN), he revealed that his passion for environmental issues had driven him to express himself more in this area.
“I have constantly been exposed to environmental issues, but meeting others, you see a different level of consciousness. My work with youths and volunteers at HOMEF exposed the idea that birthed the Eco-Festival and Camp.”
“The idea of having an Eco-Festival was to promote a cleaner environment among the youths who are the next generation to take over the barton of caring for the environment. Today, we see youths who are enthusiastic about protecting the environment. As a think tank and environmental advocacy organization, HOMEF has always encouraged the youth and the younger generation to speak for the environment.
“We are grateful to our parent body, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), for not giving up on the environment. And we look forward to a more engaging session at the next festival.”
The participants presented and performed artistic works, and they educated the audience on the need to protect the environment.
The festival was filled with fun games, music, dance, and cash prizes. Guests were entertained and had lots of fun.
