On September 28, “Green Consumer Day”, the winners of the national school competition Niko Ketskhoveli Awards were announced. The final CENN event was held in a semi online format at Rooms Hotel.
The participating schools have carried out social and environmental activities throughout the year in their communities.
In recent years, the UN Sustainable Development Goals have been the focus.
Semi-finals were held online with 150 schools participating.
The CENN Executive Director Nana Janashia told us that the Niko Ketskhoveli school award has been organized for seven years, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, and the Parliament of Georgia, and with financial assistance from Austrian Development Cooperation.
“We’ve worked with over 1000 schools during this period.” As per tradition, this year’s involvement of schools was high.
“The main goal of the contest is promoting a sense solidarity and tolerance toward nature among youth. This year, the main topic was UN’s SDGs. 150 of the most successful schools out of 400 were chosen at the first stage. Then, 31 schools were selected as finalists. Three winners were selected today from the 31 schools. This is not just a one-day event: these schools have been working on various activities to protect the environment all year long, improving the situation in their region. These young generations are bringing progress and development to regions in Georgia. SDGs include not only protecting the environment but also other important directions such as quality education. protecting minorities’ rights, economic improvement. overcoming poverty.
Teachers are also recognized, as the sustainability and success of the project depends heavily on them. These youth can also take part in internships, and many of the schoolchildren who participate in the Niko Kekskhoveli Award go on to work for CENN or are recommended by us to other agencies. This makes us proud,” she said.
The final stage of the contest saw the participating schools present the changes they had made in the past year, whether in large towns or small mountainous villages, to respond to global challenges.
The jury, which consisted of representatives from governmental, research and international organizations, selected three winners out of the 31 participating schools.
This year, two schools shared the third award for the first ever time due to the same number of points.
The winners are:
First Award: Gvimriani Public School (Kakheti region)
Second Award: Kitskhi public school (Imereti Region);
Third Award: 9th public school (Rustavi), and 2nd public school (Sachkhere region, Imereti).
The following prizes were awarded to the winners:
First place winner: GEL 8000 for the eco club of the school
Second place winner – GEL 6000 for the eco club of the school
Third place winners: GEL 4000 each for the eco-clubs of the schools
The excitement of the schoolchildren who participated in the event, despite the fact that it was hybrid due to COVID regulations and they joined online via Zoom, was wonderful to see. It gave hope that these progressive-minded youth would continue to work together to create a more European and “greener”, future for Georgia.
Iuri Nozadze was the opening speaker. Other speakers included Lali Kalandadze who is the head of the General Education Management and Development Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Education and Science, Thomas Muhlmann the Austrian Ambassador to Georgia, Sabine Machl the UN Resident Coordinator for Georgia, and Mikheil Sokohadze the FAO local office representative.
The jury members also gave advice and recommendations to the contestants to help them achieve greater success in the future.
The competition partners also announced the eco-clubs they selected and awarded them with special prizes.
The eco-clubs selected by FAO were: Letsitskhvaie Public Schools, and Badiauri Public Schools. Both schools will receive projectors and the eco-club members of Letsitskhvaie Public School will receive smartphones.
The Ministry of Education and Science has nominated 10 eco-clubs for the finalist category: Tbilisi Public Schools #51, Ikalto Public Schools, Dzveli Anaga Public Schools, Rustavi Public schools #9, Abkhazia Public schools #10, Rukhi Public school, Kitskhi Public school, Ninotsminda Public schools #1, Sachkhere Public schools #2, and Gvimriani Public.
The top three schools in the second round of the competition – Tbilisi 51 School (Tbilisi 51 School), Ikalto School and Dzveli Anaga School – will receive vouchers for computer technology, while the other seven nominees will get vouchers for books.
Karlo Amirgulashvili – a long-time jury member – announced that the nominated Ninotsminda Public School was the one chosen by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. Esail Igitain was chosen as the eco-speaker. He is the leader of Ninotsminda’s #1 public team. His prize is to be the Minister of Environmental Protection for one day.
The National Forest Agency nominated Dzveli Anaga School. Its eco-club was awarded a Microscope to be used in the eco-club’s laboratory.
The Environmental Education Center awarded the Green Award to Nana Verulashvili. She is a teacher at the Tbilisi Public School 51.
The center has also revealed that its favorite eco-speaker is Shota Zviadadze. He is the leader of Kitskhi Public School. He will take part in a two month program at the center.
Tbilisi Zoo also awarded educational materials on biodiversity to the following schools: Chakvinji Public Schools, Gumbati Public Schools, Kharagauli 2 Public Schools, Koreti Publics School, Otobaia 1 public school, Kekhijvari Publics School, and Lapanaantkari Publics School.
Eco clubs from Ninotsminda Public School and Lapanaantkari Public Schools will also be offered a tour of the zoo.
The CENN thanked its distinguished partners for their support at the end of the award ceremony: Austrian Development Cooperation, Natia Iordanishvili (Deputy Head of National Forestry Agency), Irma Bóchorishvili (Head of Research and Education Department Tbilisi Zoo), Tamar Aladasvhili (Director of Environmental Education and Information Center), Marine Mosulishvili – Professor at Iliauni State University, Tamta Grigolia
CENN has been organizing the Niko Ketskhoveli school awards since 2015, with financial support from Austrian Development Cooperation.
Niko Ketskhoveli, a distinguished Georgian botanist and writer, was also a public figure. He was one of those who founded the Botanical School of Georgia. He was also a Doctor of Biological Sciences and Professor. CENN wanted to inspire and motivate future generations through his work. They were successful in their goal.
The Ketskhoveli Awards Unite Us!” was the slogan used at the 2021 award ceremony. This slogan also describes the overall principle of the contest.
The preparations for the Niko Ketskhoveli Award 2022 have already begun, with the main theme “Green Economy,” but the contest is still open to new participants who have innovative ideas about this important issue.
By Ana Dumbadze
Read More @ georgiatoday.ge