GHANA: Encourage young people to become environmental watchdogs
Field of Studies: Environmental Studies, Education, Youth Work
Language: English
Number of Participants: 3
Scheduled time of the internship: 3 months between July and September 2013
The Embracing Hidden Talents Network (EHTN) works in two main locations in Ghana: the Weija Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, and the Ahanta West District in the Western Region. People in both regions live mostly from fishing, farming, stone quarrying and tourism. Educational levels among the villagers are generally low and the average income is less than two US dollars a day. Recently, teenage pregnancies, prostitution, HIV/AIDS, airborne diseases and environmental pollution have been on the rise. The communities have little health or educational facilities.
In order to combat some of these challenges, EHTN offers workshops to create awareness about human rights and environmental issues. It aims to empower communities through educational support and health care services. The organisation also promotes education for females and anti- child labour strategies and produces television documentaries to encourage intercultural relationships and good moral practices.
The GLEN-participants will get involved in the environmental section of EHTN. As a first step before arriving in Ghana, interns will research the benefits of waste management and its effects on small communities in order to better analyse the situation once they are on site. They will then hold workshops in schools based on their findings. The goal of these workshops is to motivate young people to become environmental watchdogs along their beaches and to separate and reuse waste. A local intern might join the GLEN-participants. The interns will also teach children about the possible spread of diseases. If successful, this pilot project will be extended to other communities.
Interns require an environmental studies background or experience in environmental awareness research or campaigning. Experience in social work or journalism with a focus on environmental awareness projects is also welcome.
The scheduled time for the internship is 3 months between July and September 2013. Training and seminars prior to the internship will be held in English.
The team of GLEN-participants will be formed by a Slovenian participant, a French participant and a German/Swiss participant.
Proposed by: Ebenezer Parditey (CEO, Embracing Hidden Talents Network)
Number of the internship: 5000300611
