ATP ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM RECEIVES ENERGY GLOBE AWARD IN PRAGUE
AZG Armenian Daily
26/05/2009
Environment
Armenia Tree Project (ATP) was selected as a National Winner of the
Energy Globe Award for Sustainability during a public ceremony on April
13, 2009 in Prague. The winning program, "Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree:
Advancing the Next Generation of Armenia’s Environmental Stewards,"
is based on ATP’s environmental education curriculum. An international
jury chose 76 national winners for environmental and energy efficiency
projects from 111 countries.
ATP’s backyard nursery micro-enterprise program received an Energy
Globe Award last year at the European Parliament in Brussels. The
backyard nursery program is mitigating poverty-driven deforestation
by creating micro-enterprise tree nurseries in the Getik River Valley
of northern Armenia, which are owned by hundreds of families who have
doubled their annual income by participating in this ATP program.
"The ‘Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree’ teacher’s manual is based on a
combination of experiential learning, practical experience, theory,
and research. Delivery methods include open-air classes, internet-based
learning, and interactive lessons that raise environmental awareness
and foster respect for and understanding of sustainable resource use,"
stated ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian.
"The curriculum introduces teachers to the conceptual framework of
environmental education through modules that encourage students to
link art and science, build analytical skills through observation,
and understand the links between environmental conservation and
Armenia’s cultural heritage," added Masarjian.
The Energy Globe Awards were held at the opening of the meeting of
the European Environment Ministers, which was convened by the Czech
Republic as head of the European Union Presidency. "We are happy
about this recognition through the European Policy," said founder
Wolfgang Neumann of Austria in a press release from the Energy Globe
Foundation. "We find it really important that the world sees how many
really good projects and ideas there already are."
The gala event was attended by top European environmental leaders,
including EU Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas,
European Council President Mirek Topolanek, and Environment Council
of Ministers President Martin Bursik. "Projects from 111 countries
were submitted. The spectrum is big: from innovative wind power
for ocean-going ships to solar energy system for hospitals in the
troubled area of Myanmar to the first computer-recycling project of
South America," noted the Energy Globe press release.
"ATP is honored to again be selected as the National Winner
from Armenia of the prestigious Energy Globe Awards. This award
acknowledges not only the tremendous efforts taken by ATP in the
field of environmental education, but it is really a testament to the
unwavering support of our donors, whose investment in our programs
allows us to address the critical environmental challenges facing
Armenia. We dedicate this award to all of our supporters," stated
Masarjian after the award was accepted by the ATP leadership.
ATP’s award-winning "Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree" curriculum
is available in Armenian and English at the following link:
Since 1994, Armenia Tree
Project has planted and restored more than 3,000,000 trees and created
hundreds of jobs for impoverished Armenians in tree-regeneration
programs. The organization’s three tiered initiatives are tree
planting, community development to reduce poverty and promote
self-sufficiency, and environmental education to protect Armenia’s
precious natural resources.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress