Berlin, 26 June 2023

Children becoming ambassadors for a green Jamaica and Turkey – environmental education through two new TUI Junior Academies

  • TUI Junior Academy Jamaica develops and implements sustainability curriculum that benefits children across six schools in Jamaica

  • TUI Junior Academy Turkey trains 4,000 students to become Eco Champions and improves environmental education skills of 480 teachers

  • Projects are part of the international TUI Junior Academy programme, which empowers children to become Eco Champions through environmental education

The TUI Care Foundation has launched two new TUI Junior Academies to enable children to become Eco Champions. In many popular tourism destinations around the world, the livelihoods of local people are threatened by the irresponsible development of resort towns and the harmful effects of climate change. For example, in Jamaica this is evidenced by the continued erosion of Negril's beautiful white sandy beaches and in Turkey, by natural biodiversity loss and pollution. By empowering children to become environmental ambassadors in their communities, the TUI Care Foundation wants to help mitigate these negative effects for the future.

The TUI Care Foundation’s Junior Academy Turkey, in partnership with Turkish NGO TURMEPA, covers nine important touristic districts in the provinces of Antalya, Aydın, Muğla and İzmir. With their rich biodiversity, these districts are amongst the focus areas in terms of environmental protection. The project aims to inspire 4,000 secondary school students aged between 12-14 to become eco-champions that make a difference in their cities, and involves 480 teachers that will be trained in environmental education. To convey the importance of sustainable marine tourism and the development of coastal ecosystems, students will also visit important tourism sites in the region.

Through another new TUI Junior Academy, environmental education will also become a new focus area of the curriculum in Jamaican school Sav Inclusive. An integrated approach will see the entire student population benefitting from hands on, age-appropriate, environmental activities. Throughout the project, children will also go on several excursions to nearby beaches and to eco-tourism sites.

Renee Rennalls, Principal of Sav Inclusive explains, “Students need to understand their impact on the earth, starting with their community, and make connections with the wider world and how their footprints impact the earth. Quoting Vince Gowmon: The best education does not happen at a desk, but rather engaged in everyday living, hands on, exploring, in active relationship with life.”

Having partnered with Solar Buzz Jamaica for the project, the school is now also sustainably generating its own energy. A mock-up of the solar energy system will also be created as an educational tool for the students.

The TUI Junior Academy Jamaica follows a successful partnership between the TUI Care Foundation and the Rockhouse Foundation which had a tremendous impact on reducing food insecurity in western Jamaica during the pandemic. Through this initiative, 450 tons of food were distributed over 20-months, benefitting over 1,000 local people every week.

The TUI Junior Academy in Jamaica and Turkey are part of the international TUI Junior Academy programme that empowers children to become Eco Champions through environmental education and enables learning opportunities for young people from disadvantaged communities in holiday destinations such as South Africa, Turkey and the Dominican Republic.

About TUI Care Foundation

Building on the potential of tourism as a force for good, the TUI Care Foundation supports and initiates projects which create new opportunities and contribute to thriving communities in tourism destinations all over the world. Connecting holidaymakers to good causes, it supports education and training opportunities for young people; drives the protection of natural habitats and the marine environment; and helps local communities to thrive sustainably and benefit from tourism. The TUI Care Foundation builds on strong partnerships with local and international organisations to create meaningful and long-lasting impact. The independent charitable organisation was founded by TUI, one of the world's leading tourism businesses, and is based in the Netherlands.

About the Rockhouse Foundation

The Rockhouse Foundation is dedicated to transforming the places where Jamaica’s children learn and supporting the great people who teach them. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised and expended US$8 million. Sav Inclusive, conceptualized and built by the Rockhouse Foundation, has been catering to children with disabilities and typical learning children in a productive, inclusive environment since 2017. The Foundation has also transformed and modernised the following schools in western Jamaica: Moreland Hill Primary and Infant Schools, St. Paul’s Primary School, Little Bay All Age and Infant Schools and Bunch of Stars Early Childhood Institute. In addition, the Rockhouse Foundation has completed the renovation and expansion of the Negril Community Library. All administrative and marketing costs of the foundation are underwritten by Rockhouse Hotel, Skylark Negril Beach Resort, Miss Lily’s and their owners. All donations go directly to the projects and programs. Website here.

About TURMEPA

Turkish Marine Environment Protection Association (TURMEPA) was established on April 8, 1994 under the founding chairmanship of Rahmi M. Koç, together with the Chamber of Shipping, in order to make the protection of our country's coasts and seas a national priority and to leave a livable Turkey embraced by clean seas for future generations. With the decision taken by the Council of Ministers in 2000, it obtained the status of being public benefit association. Well-known by the public, both nationally and internationally, with the projects it has implemented, TURMEPA has become Turkey's leading maritime-oriented non-governmental organization in 29 years. Website here.

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