TWO students from the Cassava River Primary and Infant School, located in Glengoffe, St Catherine, received the first and second place prizes in a poster competition organised to promote climate change adaptation for children.

The winners were selected on February 29.

The initiative, sponsored by a community-based project, was entitled ‘Adapting to Climate Change: We’re Ready. Are You?’ One additional winner, Bellevue Primary in Portland, was recognised for their work in advocacy on ‘Communities communication and responsibility in climate change adaptation’.

Shania Lawrence, 12, from Cassava River, was the first place winner. She will be awarded US$300 for her poster entry titled ‘Today’s Effect… Tomorrow’s Climate.’

Bradley Evan, 11, also from Cassava River, was the second place winner. He will be awarded US$150 for his poster entry titled ‘Human Destruction’.

Glenroy Henry of Bellevue Primary will be awarded US$75 for his entry ‘Adapting to Climate Change’ in recognition of the role that advocacy plays in adaptation.

As the school with the winners, Cassava River will receive a trophy and US$750 to develop an adaptation unit model for awareness raising among its population and others, and US$400 towards an environmental activity. Also, as the runner-up school, it will also receive US$300 towards an environmental activity and the runner-up trophy.

The competition was open to students in two age cohorts, eight to 13 and 14 to 19, who attend schools in the areas where Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) projects are implemented. These areas include Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, the Portland Bight Area of Clarendon, Woodford and Cascade in rural St Andrew, Portland, and Glengoffe in St Catherine.

The objective of this event was to build the student populations awareness on climate change adaptation. The CBA project uses participatory and inclusive approaches and works with all ages, groups and genders in efforts of building the adaptive capacity of communities to address climate change impacts.