Macpherson C. Marbiah writes/0777250370-0886442881
As the world continues to battle the effect of Climate Change, the Orange Digital Center (ODC) network across Africa and the middle East is empowering young minds between the ages of 10-13 years, to become part of the solution.
In Liberia, the ODC, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and OpenSource Team Liberia, brought together about 84 young kids from the E.J. Hunter Memorial School, to learn about climate change and explore how technology and creativity can help protect the planet.
The event also aims to educate and encourage the young people about the collective action concerning climate change, and as well empowered them through technological skills, by becoming advocate for people-center solution that would prioritize the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
A high-level Liberian delegation headed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is currently in Amazonia, Brazil at the ongoing Conference of the Parties (COP) 30th, presenting the country’s case to the rest of the world highlighting the need for agroecology and climate financing.
At the event which was held over the weekend in Monrovia, Orange Digital Center Manger, Zayzay Mulbah said through the SuperCoders Conference of the Parties (COP) 30 workshop, participants were able to used Scratch programming to create animations, games, and digital stories that highlight environmental challenges and inspire action.
According to him, the program aims to build digital skills, spark creativity, and nurture a new generation of environmentally conscious digital creators.
“Together, we are inspiring young leaners to use technology as a force for climate action, and a more sustainable future, lets code for the planet,” he said.
UNDP Programme Coordinator, Abraham T. Tumbey told the young kids that it was observed long-time ago that things were no longer the same on the earth, as a result, some experts gathered to brainstormed on the way forward in preserving the planet from climate change.
He said there was a huge debate after rivers drying up, and high temperature in some places, as such, the experts along with world leaders gathered to discussed the changes that were taking place on the earth.
“This little exercise will provide you with a clear understanding and look at issues of concern, when it comes to climate change, and how it can put people and communities at the center of everything concerning the change that we are experiencing and as well yearning for,” he said.
He said in preserving the earth and its inhabitants from destruction or climate change, there is a need for everyone to protect and grow more trees, because it helps to keep the atmosphere clean from air pollution.
He said in order to keep the atmosphere and the surrounding safe and clean, people should stop cutting-down trees, because by doing so, they will be exposing the earth to more danger or bad-gases from air pollution.
He said Countries around the world, led by the United Nations Environmental Programme are currently in Brazil discussing ways on how they can work together to reduce green-house gases.
“Climate change means that we will not have lots of food because our farm will not produce well if the soil is extremely hot. Most of the farm will get destroy. The climate has been changing, the has been lots of storm, sea erosion, flooding, the temperature continue to increase,” he said.
Tumbey underscored the importance of ensuring that national demands at the international forum are people-centric; hold polluters accountable and as well support a genuine climate change, rather than providing a burdensome development loan as usual.
The students, mostly from E.J. Hunter Memorial School, located in the Lakpazee Community were filled with excitements, as authorities from the institution commended Orange Liberia and UNDP, for enlightened the minds of the young people on the effect of climate change, and look forward to future engagements.
It can be recalled that Liberia recently validated and submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.O, a move that has recommitted the country’s ambition towards the Paris Agreement, thereby setting the right direction for its climate agenda.
The day-long inactive session with the young student’s also center around the effect that climate change has on the environment, and the need to keep their surrounding clean and green.
It also helps to enlightened their minds about the danger that climate change poses to the environment, and everyone should work together collectively to help preserved the planet from destruction. Macpherson C. Marbiah writes/0777250370-0886442881