There are many barriers to accessing climate education, including inadequate information in schools, a shortage of teachers with knowledge about environmental issues and a lack of young, innovative environmental champions. Alongside this, the challenges of household poverty, gender, disability, abuse and long distances to school make things even more difficult.

Children and young people can play a pivotal role in conserving nature and wildlife when they are empowered to become ambassadors for a healthy and sustainable environment. So the TUI Care Foundation has partnered with the Dutch National Committee for UNICEF, to support environmental education in schools within the framework of the Clean Green Zimbabwe programme. As part of the initiative, the TUI Junior Academy will contribute to the Clean Green Schools programme that will develop training tools and train teachers in environmental education topics, whilst equipping students with the skills and knowledge to address climate change. The programme aims to reach at least 81,000 children and 2640 teachers in 240 schools over a period of three years.

Environmental education will be delivered in schools through a competency-based curriculum that includes topics such as waste management and recycling, water management, forestation, and reducing pollution. The programme aims to establish and strengthen School Environment Clubs which promote environmental leadership and climate resilience learning and action. As part of the curriculum, the clubs will enable students to learn about and collaborate on how to address climate and environmental risks in their schools and communities.

The children also have the opportunity to go on planned excursions to rural areas of national interest. These nature-based experiences raise awareness and motivate the children to be environmental stewards and act as change agents in the climate issues that affect them and their communities. Environmental stewardship, climate resilient communities and protected environments also boosts the tourism industry and help to preserve tourist areas.