A Fair to promote ecological awareness

The St. Pedro Poveda Socio-Cultural Training Centre (CEFOSOP), in La Vega in the Dominican Republic, organised their First Ecological and Environmental Fair from 22 to 24 May. The slogan was “Caring for our common home with love”.

Objective of the fair

The Fair was organised together with the schools in the area and collaborating institutions, and its aim was to encourage ecological awareness by means of a critical and reflective approach. To this end, a series of activities were designed for students, parents, teachers and community leaders on the care and preservation of natural resources.

The coordinators of CEFOSOP's Ecology and Environment Programme launched this initiative because of “a growing culture of disregard and neglect of nature, the environment and life in general.”

The activities at the Fair included thematic conferences, workshops, drawings, paintings, photographs of the natural environment, creative writing, songs, poetry, acrostics, recycling, puppet shows, dances, student exchanges and tree planting.

Opening ceremony

At the opening ceremony, Rev. Ramón Abreu inaugurated and blessed the Fair. Ángela García, coordinator of the Ecology and Environment Programme, said a few words of welcome. She emphasised “the importance of all social sectors joining the great crusade of awareness and action towards a culture of care for our common home.” Biviana Brito, the project director, then addressed a few words of motivation to all those present.

Josefina Espaillat, Coordinator of the Shared Investments of the REDDOM Foundation, spoke about the values related to the care of the environment and the resources that nature offers us. She pointed out that this day, 22 May, has been celebrated since 2000 as International Biodiversity Day at the request of the UN.

On the second day, several workshops were held to encourage student and teacher exchanges among the schools. In the afternoon there was an artistic display at the CEFOSOP.

Numerous activities

The morning of the third day of the Fair was dedicated to the planting of trees in the schools and their communities. In the afternoon, certificates of participation were awarded to the schools and to the staff who had helped to make the activity a success.

The Fair included an exhibition with creative displays, recycling and other items intended to encourage care, recycling and renewal of the things that we take from nature for our use.

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TA Translation Team.