Application Deadline: August 14, 2020
Applications are open for the SEAMEO-Japan Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Award 2020. They are inviting schools in Southeast Asia to submit information about their programme/project/activity related to the theme “Addressing Plastic Problems for Transforming Communities.”
The objectives of the SEAMEO-Japan ESD Award are:
1. To raise awareness of ESD in schools and communities across Southeast Asia;
2. To promote ESD best practices in schools and communities across Southeast Asia;
3. To share and exchange knowledge and best practices on ESD in schools across Southeast Asia and Japan;
4. To encourage networking among schools and communities which implement ESD practices in Southeast Asian countries and Japan; and
5. To support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of United Nations.
Theme for 2020: “Addressing Plastic Problems for Transforming Communities”
Plastic pollution is one of the most serious threats to our environments, creating toxic exposure in every phase of its life cycle. The scale of problems created by plastic cups, bottles and containers is growing along with our population. Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.
Currently 13 million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year. An estimated accumulation of 12 billion tons by the year 2050 lead to break outlook for all life, damaging the human health, the environment and the global economy . Millions of animals are killed by plastic every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. It has been reported that China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam generate more ocean plastic waste than the rest of the world combined.
To reduce and prevent the plastic waste from harming our environment and life, the 2020 SEAMEO-Japan ESD Award selects the theme “Addressing Plastic Problems for Transforming Communities”.
Prizes
• 1st Prize Winner
USD $1,500
A study tour to Japan (The organizer will sponsor the travel expenses for four to six persons, which includes round-trip airfares, accommodation for three nights, domestic transportation in Japan, interpreter, and visa fees).
• 2nd Prize Winner: USD $1,000
• 3rd Prize Winner: USD $500
• A Special Prize from the SEAMEO Secretariat for the best programme carried out in small schools of less than 250 students: USD $1,000.
• All winning schools will receive a Plaque of Recognition and Certificate of Appreciation for teachers and students involved in planning and implementing the school’s programme.
• A representative from the winning schools will be sponsored to participate at the award presentation ceremony which will be held at the SEAMEO High Officials Meeting in Bangkok in November 2020.
• All shortlisted schools will receive Certificate of Recognition for the school. The coordinators of shortlisted schools (Maximum of 2 persons) will receive the Certificate of Appreciation.
• All participating schools that have submitted entries relevant to the theme will be recognised (name, project name and country) on the SEAMEO website and receive the Certificate of Participation.
Eligibility
• Open to all public and private kindergarten/elementary/secondary/vocational and technical schools in 11 Southeast Asian countries – namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam
• They are invited to submit information about programme/project/initiative that are related to the theme of this year’s competition.
Criteria
Under the theme of “Addressing Plastic Problems for Transforming Communities,” the school entry should cover the following criteria:
• The entry should be relevant to the theme, and provide details of school initiative/programme/innovation related to plastic waste management practices or others which the school has tackled the problems of plastics as a whole in school and community.
• The entry should demonstrate how the school’s initiative/programme transform the community and provide impactful evidence in reducing the plastic usage and/or improving the plastic waste management system as well as clean the ecosystem of the community.
• The entry should demonstrate the community engagement with multisectoral partners that create mutual beneficial partnerships, deepen student learning experiences, support student growth, and sustain the society.
• The school should clearly demonstrate the integration of the school initiative/programme in all schools’ aspects such as school policy, management plan, curriculum, teaching and learning practices, co-curricular and student activities, partnership efforts, community participation, and so on.
Application
• Schools can submit information about the school’s programme/project/activity related to the theme “Addressing Plastic Problems for Transforming Communities”
• Information about the programme should not be over nine (9) pages of A4 in total. The information should be written in Times New Roma/Calibri font, 11-12 point size. (A half-to-one page A4 sheet size about the project overview should be included.)
• Information about the programme and the photo captions must be in English. The teaching and learning materials can be in local languages, however a brief translation in English should be provided.
• All submissions should include related photos. A maximum of five (5) photographs with captions written in English can be attached in the Submission Form.
• All submissions can be attached with a maximum of five (5) supporting documents (Optional).
Schools can submit the completed Submission Form of 2020 SEAMEO-Japan ESD Award and a maximum of 5 supporting documents/materials to the following SEAMEO Secretariat’s email: seameojapan.award@seameo.org.
For more information, visit SEAMEO-Japan ESD Award.
