Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council to host expo
THE Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council (JCCYC), along with other youth environmental groups, are targeting young people from high schools, community groups and colleges across Jamaica for their second signature event: ‘Youth Climate Action Expo’ on March 16.
According to director of the JCCYC, Eleanor Terrelonge, the event, which will be held at Campion College’s auditorium, will focus this year on the recently introduced ban on single-use plastics and styrofoam, and encourage young people to use environmentally friendly alternatives.
“Our larger mandate is educating people about climate change and its effects, and a big part of that is the role that plastic pollution plays in making these effects worse,” Terrelonge is quoted as saying in a release.
The event, which is being held under the theme ‘Staying above the Tide: Jamaica after the plastic ban’, is aiming to attract people between the ages of 15-35 and is especially targeting high school students.
“We saw how much the high school students enjoyed the expo, and how much they were able to learn from hands-on activities. So we want to continue this so that young people can become invested in the mitigation against the effects of climate change and be the fountain of information for their peers and their families,” Terrelonge said.
The day’s activities will include tree-planting and upcycling exercises, panel discussions, as well as fun competitions and a scavenger hunt, geared towards providing informative activities for patrons.
The event will also feature booths from more than 20 organisations in the public and private sector, which will highlight different aspects of climate change.
According to Terrelonge, displays from the various organisations will give young people the opportunity to directly interact with brands and companies, to learn more about climate resilience activities and how they can be a part of them.
“We are working hard to make the event even better than last year, but we still need assistance to fund the expo. We hope corporate Jamaica will come on board for an initiative that will reach hundreds of young persons and spread the message about climate change and its effect on our lives, in every way, daily,” added Terrelonge.
