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SEK International School, San José, Costa Rica October 12th – 19th 2008  A group of 14 students from La Grande Boissière Campus of the International School of Geneva and 2 teachers took part in this event along with students and their teachers from schools in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Brazil and the USA. This was a truly enriching, tremendous life long and memorable experience was shared by all involved ‘The Seminar enlightened us beyond our expectations’ was the point of view of our students.
SEK International School hosted the event. Ana Lorena Salas, the Principal and her superb team of tireless, ever accommodating staff are to be profusely thanked and highly commended on all their efforts, organisation, kindness and hospitality. This event was an outstanding achievement. None of us from LGB had ever been to this small country in Central America. It has a population of 4 million; the only country in the world not to have an army; it is an incredible example of developing projects to preserve the enormous variation of its magnificent biodiversity, giving us example after example of how it is developing sustainably.  The students were involved in learning through their participation, experiencing different examples of sustainable development. The host school organised visits and lectures for all to experience in a variety of locations.
Students were hosted by families who catered for them and who also took them to places of special interest before the conference started – to the Poas active volcano, to the Pacific coast to see the way endangered turtles are protected, to a butterfly farm, coffee plantations and other such delights. This kindness was very much appreciated.  The task of all students participating in the conference was to research and give presentations of examples/projects in their own country, or the country in which they live, of sustainable development.
Our students gave 3 presentations - one about sustainable development projects all over Switzerland, another about sustainability in Australia focusing on the Great Barrier Reef and the Murray-Darling Basin, and another on sustainable development projects taking place in and around Vancouver, Canada. They learnt much from the presentations given by the other schools , some of which were to do with the sustainability of green buildings in New York, projects in the Amazon and in Ecuador and of course, Costa Rica. Every example was discussed by the whole group of around 60 students and then strategies for more effective development were suggested to be put in place. Outcomes were agreed upon and students were then able to submit summaries of their findings and conclusions.  Between presentations, debates and research all were lucky to go on trips arranged by SEK I.S. These field trips were excellent as were the learning outcomes. They visited the National Biodiversity Institute (INBio). They walked through tropical rain forest and encountered sloths overhead, caimans, boa constrictors, thousands of butterflies – all species allowed to be free. to roam around.
They were able to handle some species – eg a baby boa, a tarantula, butterflies…. A visit was arranged to EARTH – the College of Agriculture for the Humid Tropical Region, part of the university’s work on recycling and the disposal of sewerage. Another visit was arranged to the main Water Dam and Water Treatment plant. Students were also given a very interesting lecture on water management and sustainable development by a representative of AyA (Instituto Costarricense de Aceductos y Alcantarillados).  Much debate and discussion took place throughout the conference both formally and informally with all participating. Interaction between the students was so very positive.
Students were involved in a hugely memorable and invaluable experience in Costa Rica with the seminar meeting its objectives of equipping its participants from different parts of the world with the means of carrying forward global issues and ideas. The event was heralded by our students to be a tremendous success. Jane McKenzie, Head of Humanities Parsooramen Thondoo, Teacher La Grande Boissière International School of Geneva, 62, route de Chêne, 1208 Geneva |
