By Tarcizio Mondwe
University of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society (UNIMAWES) is working with 11 schools in Zomba District, comprising six secondary and five primary schools, as part of their Zomba Schools Environmental Movement (ZSEM) program, which aims to advance the protection of the environment and wildlife.
UNIMAWES President, Robert Kamwendo, said the program’s main objective is to inform, promote, and motivate pupils to take responsibility for ecological concerns and embrace eco-sustainable habits.
“Using engaging sessions, our group educates learners and raises awareness on issues such as unsafe waste disposal, habitat preservation, animal protection, global warming, and the vital role of young people in safeguarding nature. At the secondary level, we also provide guidance on job opportunities in ecology-related fields,” Kamwendo stated.
Kamwendo also highlighted that early outreach efforts uncovered a notable lack of awareness about global warming in both primary and secondary learners.
“We have observed that many students lack adequate knowledge about global warming. Our goal is to help them gain a deeper understanding of their ecosystem,” he said.
“While ongoing effects of climate change underscore the importance of environmental education, limited funding remains a challenge. Nevertheless, ZSEM stays committed to raising conservation awareness in schools and bridging the information gap for learners,” Kamwendo stressed.
Reflecting on the program, environmental specialist Mathews Malata commended the student-led initiative for emphasizing environmental equity and its capacity to strengthen awareness of nature guardianship.
“This represents an admirable peer-to-peer outreach approach, where younger and older schoolchildren witness their contemporaries acting decisively on environmental equity. It motivates them to participate, champion the global warming drive, and deepen learners’ grasp of ecosystem oversight and global warming,” Malata remarked.
Malata additionally stressed the program’s importance in boosting young voices within decision-making processes, considering that youth constitute the largest segment of Malawi’s population.
“Youth make up the majority of our nation’s residents, allowing these energetic programs ensure that young perspectives are listened to, valued, and taken into account in policy making, even at district level. Moreover, it’s an outstanding method for young individuals to assemble together and demand responsibility from authorities,” he elaborated.
Through leading eco-education, ZSEM is cultivating tomorrow’s protectors of nature and generating united efforts to safeguard Zomba’s natural surroundings. Some of the schools the program is working with include Cobbe Barracks CDSS, Zomba Prison Primary, Chikowi Primary, Zomba Urban Secondary, Likangala Secondary, and Zomba Catholic Secondary.