Environmental Protection Agency Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) is engaging secondary school pupils on environmental issues to help spread the message.

EPA-SL over the years established environmental clubs in various secondary schools across the country to reach out to more young people to help them understand environmental issues.

The club is usually comprised of pupils and teachers who are usually engaged by EPA officials during school assemblies to educate them on environmental challenges.

Each year, the EPA-SL will target a certain number of schools across the country to sensitize them to environmental challenges as it helps raises awareness among pupils and teachers.

Inter-school quizzes and debate competitions on issues with potential impact on the environment are often organized to impart the pupils with the requisite knowledge and to inspire them to serve as environmental ambassadors in the future.

These approaches are used to transform the mindset of the students to embark on significant environmental activities such as tree planting, waste disposal management, awareness raising, etc, within their respective schools and communities.

The pupils will also be educated to play greater roles beyond the academic sphere in influencing their peer groups, parents, and communities in promoting best practices thereby achieving a sound and sustainable environment.

Environmental education is not just about learning but comprehending the challenges confronting planet earth and adopting behavioral change. Human inducements such as deforestation, carbon emission, improper waste management, etc. have posed serious health and environmental threats to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 (climate action), 14 (life below water), and 15 (life on land) respectively; however, many efforts have been integrated to mitigate and reduce the footprints of climate change which has been a major concern in Sierra Leone and the wider world.

It is believed that if we nurture the school pupils and learn to protect the environment; understand the impact of our actions and work together, we shall achieve a sustainable environment adequate for the well-being of all Sierra Leoneans.