The Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) won the global Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) Award for 2024. Competing against entries from 46 countries, OSC’s Young Geckos secured the top spot in the 11-14-year-old article grouping, marking a significant achievement in the International schools category. This victory is a testament to OSC’s dedication to environmental education, a journey that began more than 20 years ago under the leadership of Ian Lockwood and developed in 2020 with the implementation of the Eco-Schools accreditation guided by David Poulus, who founded OSC’s Eco-Schools committee.
The YRE program, an initiative of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), is a global platform that empowers young people to investigate, research, and share solutions to environmental challenges. OSC’s participation in this program underscores the school’s broader commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The Young Geckos comprising – Dylan, Flynn, Milana, Benjy, Ben, Kyan and Jasper, impressed the international judges with their article, which highlighted their innovative efforts in tackling local environmental issues, particularly through recycling and waste management.
OSC’s journey towards environmental leadership also includes achieving the Eco-Schools Green Flag, a recognition that involves a rigorous seven-step process and an environmental audit every two years. This commitment to sustainability has led to significant advancements, including reducing the school’s carbon footprint and recycling organic matter into compost for the gardens.
David Poulus said, “The highlight of the Young Reporters program, for me, is to see how happy everyone is once we begin working. We all feel great when we’re out there cleaning up. We get that deeper sense of reward, like we’re achieving something special, and it just makes you feel good”.
