iEARN UK Collaboration Centre

We are 2 year 9 students at Dunraven School: Serian and Jamie. We run the Eco-Ravens at our school which is a group of 10 students who campaign to raise awareness around the environment. We also had the opportunity to address environmental issues on behalf of the UK at the Youth G8 summit in Kobe, Japan this year. This was a once in a lifetime experience and we feel that we learnt a lot. It definitely gave us many ideas for use in our school. There were 21 countries at the Youth G8, from all around the world, and we had to give a presentation about the UK’s actions. I, Serian, was also lucky enough to be chosen as one of twelve speakers to create the message that we would pass on to the G8 members. I also met with the minister for the environment in Britain while there and I told him what the youth of today wants done about the environment!  The Eco-Ravens is currently made up of two Year 7 students, 3 Year 8s, 3 Year 9s (including us), one Year 10, one Year 11 and two Year 12s. Together we have chosen 3 targets that we hope to establish in our school as well as other side projects that are easy to deal with. 1) Recycling and scrap paper bins in all classrooms. 2) The increase of fair trade, free range and organic produce. 3) The reduction of electricity wastage.  We already have recycling bins in some classrooms and have spoken to the Senior Leadership Team about having more of them. We are also keen to raise awareness of the correct usage of recycling bins through assemblies and posters. We are currently giving assemblies in school, and we have a display in lower school foyer. We have spoken with the Director of Finance and Catering -MsMetcalfe- and we are keen to introduce fair trade coffee into the staffroom and are currently exploring the possibilities. We have also addressed the electricity wastage in a staff meeting and are continually addressing students through word of mouth.We hope that this will make a difference to the amount of electricity the school wastes.  The environment is our passion, and thanks to our visit to Japan, and the hard work of the Eco-Ravens, we are beginning to see real differences in attitudes towards the environment from both teachers and students at school.   

It’s Serian only today because there was just no time to do it together.

First we had the closing ceremony with a few people reading out our final message. Then a lot of photos! And exchanging of emails. And goodbyes. And more photos. Then Jamie and I gave out some of the presents we brought to the leaders and supporters.

Then we went to a parade only because it’s tipping it down with rain therer was no parade-we were only inside. More photos. And Jamie is a minister for the Republic of Youth! ButI don’t know much about it so I’ll leave that to him.

Finally I went (with some of the other delegates) to neet our environmental ministers. Which meant a lot of rehearsing. 3 Japanese students read out the message and the Climate Champions did the same. Then we spoke briefly before going out to the scant press. We spoke -very briefly- for a documentary before returning to thehotel!

Jamie: Today we were able to get up slightly earlier. When we go to the art centre we went to the main hall and listened to the climate champians presentations about the earths climate. We then went to a presentaion called heat pump about tempreture. We had lunch and after did a workshop called Art Mile.

Serian:  Art Mile was fine-I’m not exactly artistic so drew a very basic apple tree. Very basic. We then had lunch-with strawberries. After lunch we had a discussion, which of the Group messages to take to the G8. 12 of us (3 from a group) sat n the stage and debated. Me being one of them. It was fun, we argued- I mean debated- a lot.

We also overran a lot. A whole lot. Then we had the Gala Dinner and everyone dressed up! Was expecting more Nationl costume but most girls just wore dresses. Lots of photos.

And now extrememly tired so going to bed.

Jamie: Well yesturday we got to have a nice lie in. And made our way to Kobe art centre! There we met the other countries and my room mates! We also set up our posters. The South Africans came with HUGE boxes that wouldn’t fit in the taxi! For their poster Unfortunatly we are dirctly opposite them! …

 Serian:… We then praticed the rehearsal repeatedly. Naturally Jamie “let” me carry the flag. But if I fall down (or up) the stairs-he’ll take it so the USA people don’t get squashed. The people are all ery dedicated. In the opening ceremony, we walk (with flag), hold flag and the put flag back and walk off.  Data now tested-works fine.

Presentation tomorrow! 

Jamie: We had to wake up at 6.30 today! And had breakfast in the top resturant on the top floor! After we had our way back to the Kobe art centre were we did the opening ceremony. And Princess Takamado gave a speech. We then heard 6 countries presentations: Australia; Bangladesh; Indonesia; Nepal; Mongolia and Kenya.

Serian: After lunch, we then did our presentaton after Brazil, Japan and China. It all went smoothly-practicing last night really helped. We then had a workshop about the environment where I got to know some of the girs a bit better.

Finally we had supper. Very nice. And now we’re going to bed as we’ve an early start tomorrow!

We’re about to leave for Japan-just a few days left before departure and it’s all very …well, exciting definitely but also really hectic and mad.

Presentation is being practiced again and again, almost ready to go.

Packing still needs to be done. Eek!

But I can’t wait! : )

Watch out for updates from our delegates at the G8 Youth Summit in Japan