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NATC trains schools and communities on Rural Energy Alternative Project

Mar 31, 2017, 11:16 AM | Article By: Abdoulie Nyockeh

Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NATC) with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) recently organised a two-day training-of-trainers workshop for schools on the theme: “Rural Energy Alternative Project.”

The workshop was held at the Njawara Agricultural Training Centre in the North Bank Region.

It targeted the school management committees and students of Alkali Kunda, Kerr Jarga and Kerr Ndongo Lower Basic schools.

The Global Environment Facility Small Grant project helped with the establishment of three hectares of woodlot in Upper Baddibou and Jokadou, including the production of improved cooking stoves. 

Salieu Samba of NATC and the GEF contact person underscored the importance the agency and GEF attached to gender equality, women’s empowerment and promotion of renewable energy technologies.

He noted that the objective of the project is to improve food and livelihoods, security of women in vulnerable communities, to enhance and contribute to sustainable development, reversing environmental degradation, and improve health through provision of renewable energy devices.

The training workshop centred on gender equity, gender mainstreaming, preparation of a tree nursery, permanent seedlings beds, agro-forestry management, nursery preparation and management, benefits of woodlot, importance of climate-resilient sustainable agriculture, use of improved cooking stoves, and the causes and effects of climate change.

Musa Manneh, the school management committee member of Alkali Kunda, thanked the Njawara Agricultural Training Centre and GEF for providing them woodlots, and building the capacity of students and committee members on effective management and conservation of the environment.

He assured all of their full support in the propagation of trees to restore the lost forest cover.