Partnership between Hospital Jean Bitar and state school stimulates environmental awareness in youth
Project promotes selective collection, workshops, and lectures focused on sustainability
The Little Guardians Gincana Project began a new phase this May, with an educational action involving students from the Barão do Rio Branco State School. The initiative is from Hospital Jean Bitar (HJB), in partnership with the State Department of Education.
According to the school principal, Elizabeth Nogueira, the gincana will contribute significantly and benefit the students. “We always open up space when we come across this type of project, which benefits the student community, especially since we are in the year of COP 30. All of this is very good, as students will start to develop the habit of caring for and preserving the environment. It’s a great learning experience,” said the educational manager.
To this end, the HJB Sustainability Committee has established a partnership with the educational institution, defined a partner cooperative for waste collection at the school, adapted the location for recyclable storage, and presented the project to the participating students.
“Starting in 2024, all our schools will have a mandatory Environmental Education curricular component for all levels of education, an unprecedented initiative in Brazil. The new partnership between HJB and the Barão do Rio Branco State School is a very positive opportunity for expanding Environmental Education actions at the school, with the development of feasible projects that align with the reality of the state unit and the needs of the environment, all tied to a solid and current teaching-learning process. Education is fundamental in the awareness process and should be at the forefront of climate and environmental discussions,” said Mauro Tavares, Environmental Education coordinator at Seduc-PA.
Commitment - The proposal reinforces HJB's commitment to Environmental Education, uniting hospital, school, and community for a greener and more sustainable future. The activities involve students from 5th to 9th grade, focusing on the correct separation of waste, reuse of materials, and appreciation of recycling cooperatives.
The project is now in its second phase, which began on May 1 and will run until June 15, during which educational lectures on the correct segregation of recyclables and collection of recyclable waste by the school’s students are being held.
“The initiative enhances what is already in the school’s pedagogical plan and brings students closer to environmental practice in a playful and collaborative way,” highlighted Valdecir Viana, a member of the HJB Sustainability Committee.
The project will continue with environmental actions at the school until early July, when the results of the gincana with the participating classes will be announced, along with awards for Honorable Mentions of participation to the participating school.
HJB is already developing other sustainable actions, such as internal and external lectures, hydroponic garden, sensory garden, proper waste disposal, use of squeezes instead of disposable cups, and donation of recyclables to local cooperatives. The hospital has also received certifications such as the Green Kitchen seal, the Gold Seal from the Blue Guardian project, and the international I-REC certificate, which certifies the use of renewable energy.
HJB - Hospital Jean Bitar is part of the public health network of the Government of Pará and is managed by INDSH, in partnership with Sespa.
HJB provides medium and high complexity assistance in outpatient and hospital care for transgender users, and in medical and surgical clinics for patients with metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases. The unit is located at Rua Cônego Jerônimo Pimentel, No. 543, in the Umarizal neighborhood, in Belém.
*With information from Marcelo Zeno/ Ascom HJB
