Video clips: High School Knowledge Competition on Climate Change and Mangroves

As one of the project’s environmental awareness raising activities, the high school competition was jointly organized by the GIZ project together with the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Forest Protection Sub-department to raise awareness of climate change and the importance of mangrove forests. People from the whole province have been able to learn more about these important topics by watching the competition that has been broadcasted weekly on Soc Trang TV1.

On Saturday, 3rd of November 2012, two teams of five students each from two high schools in Vinh Chau district, Nguyễn Khuyến High school and Lai Hòa Junior High & High school, competed in a knowledge competition about climate change and mangroves. The event was jointly organized by the GIZ project together with the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Forest Protection Sub-department. 

Following the 1st competition on 03.11.2012 , the next four teams of five students each from four High Schools competed in the knowledge competition on climate change and mangroves in Tran De and Cu Lao Dung districts on Saturday and Sunday, 10th and 11th of November 2012. (Link to more photos and descriptions).
 

First round - Lai Hoa vs. Nguyen Khuyen high schools (Vinh Chau, 03.11.2012)




First round - Lich Hoi Thuong (Tran De) vs. Vinh Hai (Vinh Chau) high schools (10.11.2012)




First round - Doan Van To vs. An Thanh 3 high schools (Cu Lao Dung, 11.11.2012)




Final round - Nguyen Khuyen, Doan Van To and Vinh Hai high schools (Soc Trang, 03.12.2012)

Following the first round with three competitions in Vinh Chau, Tran De and Cu Lao Dung in November, the Final of the competition was held at the Peoples’ Cultural Centre in Soc Trang on Sunday 2nd December. The three Round 1 winning teams to make it to the Final were THPT Nguyễn Khuyến (Vĩnh Châu Town), THPT Vĩnh Hải (Vĩnh Châu Town) and THPT Đoàn Văn Tố (Cù Lao Dung District). (Link to more photos and descriptions)

Can Gio Study Tour for participants (07-09.12.2012)

A tour to the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve was organized from 7th to 9th December 2012 to reward all participants of the previously conducted High school Knowledge Competition on Climate Change and Mangroves. All of the students in the six high school teams, who devoted their time and effort to participate in the knowledge competition, and their supervising teachers were invited to join the tour. Members of the judging panel and some of the organisers accompanied the students on the tour. 

The Can Gio Biosphere Reserve is located in Can Gio district in the coastal zone of Ho Chi Minh City and inherits an impressive mangrove forest ecosystem. Can Gio Biosphere Reserve has a high biodiversity with more than 200 species of fauna and  52 species of flora and has been recognized as biosphere reserve by the UNESCO in 2000. It has become one of the most extensive sites of rehabilitated mangroves in the world and serves as the “green lung” of Ho Chi Minh City. The tour aimed at teaching the students more about the many valuable ecological functions of the mangrove forest and providing a rewarding fun-adventure at the same time.

And the tour was spectacular. New friendships were formed among the students from the different High schools and the itinerary was action-packed, with a speedboat ride and visiting the monkeys and crocodiles, a treasure hunt via an obstacle course, kayaking, karaoke and games around a fire. 

Information about the Biosphere Reserve and mangroves was presented, and respects were paid at a special memorial in the forest. Camaraderie prevailed in the bus, and it was with some sadness that the teams bid each other farewell at the end of the trip. The tour to Can Gio brought together students from different schools to enjoy the values of the Biosphere in an entertaining way and to form new friendships. The tour is something that will be in the thoughts of the students for a long time, and as such, will also be a reminder of the competition and its messages. (Source: GIZ CZM ST)