By TONY BRANDON PHIRI
There was no better way to end the year 2023 for Schools and Colleges Permaculture (SCOPE) Zimbabwe than to get recognition for its transformative work in the country.
SCOPE Zimbabwe scooped the prestigious UNESCO-Japan Education for Sustainable Development Award in 2023 in recognition of the exceptional work it is doing in integrating land use design approach which considers schools as self-contained ecosystems that are addressed holistically.
SCOPE’s approach has augmented school land productivity, transforming degraded and ornamental spaces into productive food gardens that meet local needs.
in a letter to Scope, the award jury remarked:
“This Prize rewards exceptional projects and programmes in the field of education for sustainable development. Prize laureates receive an award of US $50,000 each and are invited to join the ESD for 2030 Global Network to foster long-term collaboration with UNESCO.
“The international jury for the Prize recommended your project for its ‘holistic approach, involving individuals, schools, and communities in concrete agro-ecological practices for food sovereignty and security.
“The jury also commended project techniques such as ‘seed conservation, crop diversity, mulching, rainwater harvesting, and school planting’ for revitalising school grounds into thriving, self-sustaining agricultural environments.”
SCOPE Zimbabwe is a vibrant and practical environmental education programme and sustainable lifestyles learning hub working closely with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
It was launched in 1994 and gave birth to SCOPE Malawi, Zambia, Kenya and Uganda. SCOPE’s origins are in assisting schools to redesign and rationalize land use for sustainable resource use.
