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.
