Eco-Active Youth Tour educates students

By Michron Robinson

The Ashley Lashley Foundation is continuing earnestly in its bid to educate the primary school population about healthy lifestyles and eco-consciousness.

On Tuesday, the organisation headed by social, climate change and youth activist Ashley Lashley ventured to the Sharon Primary School in St. Thomas with the roll out of the second session of their Eco-Active Youth tour.

Using the morning to engage with the students, Lashley quizzed them on various climate and healthy living topics, including What does climate change mean?  Some who dared to rise to the challenge provided sensible and informed responses.

Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology officer Brandon Spooner answering a question by this student.

The highlights during the morning included experiments carried out by the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology officer Brandon Spooner, who provided live examples of how “clouds” and “tornadoes” are created. The kids enjoyed that thoroughly, but what they also loved was the get fit aspect by fitness expert Spinny who took them through various paces in moving their bodies. No one shied away from getting into the push up positions or even squatting to the uptempo Bajan tunes.

Spinny had the attention of these students.

While speaking to Barbados TODAY Lashley said that she was encouraged by this second school tour. “Our team is very excited to have the 2023 edition of the Eco Active Youth campaign underway. We have welcomed some new partners on board and expanded to include 30 schools, which is an increase from the 20 schools in last year’s pilot,” she said.

The founder of the initiative also explained that she’s excited about the new partnerships seen this year. “We have brought the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology onboard, to give a practical demonstration of different weather patterns we observe, and we have taken this same approach in highlighting the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Our team has worked very hard to bring this year’s campaign to life and we are all looking forward to interacting with all the kids and teaching them how they can adopt healthier and more sustainable lifestyles.”

In December, there will be a Grand Finale event where all 30 schools that have participated throughout the programme will be celebrated.

(MR)