In collaboration with the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), the Education Directorate of the Maputo Municipal Council promoted, in the second quarter of 2022, the Natural Sciences Olympiad, focusing on biodiversity and solid waste management for primary school students.

The olympiad consisted of writing essays on local environmental issues, with emphasis on solid waste management in public spaces, protection of wildlife and forests, and water conservation.

The awards ceremony, which was attended by representatives of the Minister of Education and Human Development, the President of the Maputo Municipal Council, BIOFUND, teachers, students, and education partners, took place on 15 September 2022 at Wiriyamu Primary School in the City of Maputo.

On the occasion, Telésfero de Jesus, representative of the Minister of Education and Human Development, highlighted in his speech that the Natural Sciences Olympiad, focused on environmental preservation, represents a milestone in fostering awareness of the impacts of human actions on the planet, as well as the rational and sustainable use of natural resources. “The olympiads in which you are participating are just the beginning of work that you must carry into your lives as an example of environmentally friendly citizens and as mobilisers of others to join this cause that belongs to all of us,” emphasised Jesus.

Following this, the Councillor for Education and Sports of the Maputo Municipal Council, Edmundo Ribeiro, reinforced the message of environmental education by noting that caring for the environment is caring for ourselves, and that in the face of the degradation experienced today, everything we do is still not enough. For this reason, the 2022 edition of the olympiad was conceived as an opportunity not only for students to compete, but above all to reflect on the contribution each person can make to a healthy environment.

For BIOFUND, this is yet another opportunity to draw children’s attention to adopting good environmental practices and transforming them into biodiversity conservation agents. “We are aware that by creating environmental awareness in today’s children, tomorrow we will have a society that in many ways will do more for biodiversity,” said Carolina Hunguana, Coordinator of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Program (PLCM), implemented by BIOFUND.

The Natural Sciences Olympiad with an environmental theme takes place at a time when BIOFUND is in the midst of the campaign celebrating its 10th anniversary, under the slogan “Let’s do more for biodiversity”, which encourages the general public to join the movement to protect natural resources through various activities. BIOFUND has been working in partnership with the Maputo Municipal Council since 2021, a partnership that began during the Inhaca Book and Biodiversity Fair held in November 2021.