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THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has embraced environmental competitions as one of the strategies under the “Catch Them Young Programme”.  Competitions have greatly stimulated interest and motivation among both school children and teachers. The competitions that EMA run are open to all schools in Zimbabwe and the competitions are structured in a way that complements the educational system in the country. The competition that the Agency are as follows:

– Schools debate competition
– Schools projects competition
– Tavatose/Sisonke Art exhibition competition

Schools debate competition
Environmental schools debates have been adopted by Environmental Management Agency (EMA) as an avenue to cascade environmental information. EMA has recognised the importance of stakeholder participation in promoting environmental stewardship and management. The youth particularly school pupils are an indispensable avenue through which environmental information can be cascaded to every part of the country. In recognition of the crucial role school children play in environmental management and protection, EMA launched environmental school debates in 2010. The schools debates offer an opportunity for the youngsters to make contributions that influence sustainable. The future of this country lies in sustainable utilisation of our natural resources.

Who Participates?
Every secondary and high school is free to participate in the schools’ debate competition. These competitions start at district level. Winners at district level will then enter provincial competition level.

How Can Schools Enter The Competition?
Any school willing to enter the debate competition should approach nearest EMA offices at district and provincial level and register to participate.

Schools Projects Competition
The Agency runs an annual environmental projects competition under the banner “YOUR ENVIRONMENT YOUR FUTURE — PROTECT IT”. The competition is open to pupils in primary and secondary schools and it requires the pupils to identify at least two environmental conservation projects within their immediate environment which they undertake as a club or school. The competition started in 2012.

The 2015 National winner was Plumtree High school, Matabeleland South Province and the first runner up was Zuvarabuda Primary school, Nyanga, Manicaland with a waste management project again. All projects entered for the competition should meet the following parameters:

– Sustainability
– Environment orientation.
– Relevance to the School or Community
– Self- initiated by the School

Conditions of the Competition
– The competition is open to all schools
– Pupils’ participation should be voluntary in any given project.

– The competition will be run from January to December every year.
– Only schools registered for the competition are eligible for participation.
– All participating schools should register their projects by the by the 31st of March every year.
– While there is no limit to the number of projects can undertake only 2 projects will be judged for competition in any one given year.
– A project cannot be entered consecutively for more than 2 years.

Projects Assessment and Judging
The judging of the projects is done at District, Provincial and National levels. Winning schools at each level will be awarded with a prize for their efforts.

Tavatose /Sisonke Visual Art Exhibition
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in partnership with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe [NGZ] is running Tavatose/Sisonke Schools Visual Art Exhibition competition. The competition started in 2015 and the inception theme was “Going..going..gone Vanishing Wetlands” and the 2016 theme is “ Waste no Waste – Waste is Treasure”. The competition covers pre-schools, primary and secondary schools on an identified topical environmental issue, which they have to express through visual art drawings. Pupils are expected to develop their art work that clearly depicts the theme and will exhibit at provincial and the final at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. School pupils are expected to develop works of art in their respective districts and submit the final product at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe provincial office. All works must have the following information clearly labelled at the back: Name of Artist, School, Province, Teacher, Phone number and email address.

What Are The Benefits Of Participating Into EMA Schools Competition?

The benefits are numerous and include some of the following:
– Prestigious prizes for participating schools and outstanding pupils.
– An opportunity for pupils to research more on environmental issues and broaden knowledge on environmental issues.
– A platform for schools to mingle and share information.
– Environment is a cross cutting issue on all disciplines hence knowledge on it will enable understanding of other disciplines.
– An understanding of environmental issues enhances sustainable development.

School be part of the EMA’s environmental competitions and also have functional environmental clubs

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