Back in 1975, there was already concern about the environmental degradation caused by the exponential economic growth of some countries and the consequent increase in exploitation of natural resources all over the planet. At the Belgrade Meeting in former Yugoslavia, the UN established January 26th as the World Environmental Education Day. The purpose of this commemorative date is to foster a greater awareness of the need to protect the environment through education.
Two of the affiliates of the Fraternity – International Humanitarian Federation (FIHF) develop a work of formal education for children and adolescents, through schools recognized by the MEC (Ministry of Education in Brazil). This is the case of the Light-Community New Earth, located in the rural mountains of Teresópolis (RJ), where the school Escola Viva Parque Tibetano is based; and of the Casa Luz da Colina, in the city of Carmo da Cachoeira (MG), which manages the school Escola Parque Tibetano.
Both schools have Environmental Education as one of the foundations of their pedagogical work, based on the understanding that humans and the other kingdoms of nature are part of the same planetary organism. This is present in the curriculum for all of the classes, from kindergarten to the 9th grade, besides being a source of inspiration for the teaching of different subjects.
Considering the historical moment in which we live, the climate crisis can no longer be denied or hidden, as the signs are present on all continents, in all seasons of the year. The reflection on the environment has become an extremely important issue, not only in the school environment, but in all areas of society.
For this reason, forming citizens of a planet in crisis means forming conscious beings who can act positively, collaborating in whatever is possible to reverse this critical situation, striving for a stable future for the next generations. The schools Escola Paque Tibetano work to this end, and all 25 members of the Fraternity – Humanitarian Federation (FIHF) are united in this purpose.
