During the week of 21 October 2024, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) organized a series of educational activities focused on the community, aimed at enhancing environmental awareness and fostering sustainability.
On Monday, 21 October 2024, PIBS visited Bardala Girls’ Secondary School and Kardala Basic School. This visit marked the conclusion of their outreach to six marginalized schools in the Jordan Valley, utilizing their Mobile Educational Unit, the first of its kind in Palestine. During these visits, PIBS engaged students in learning about Palestine’s rich biodiversity and discussed practical strategies for protecting local environments and natural resources.
Additionally, PIBS welcomed two groups for museum visits. The first group consisted of 50 students from the Bachelor’s Program in English Language, Literature, and Communications at Bethlehem University, including students from Mr. Layth Awwad’s Digital Communication course and Ms. Ruba Ayyad’s Advocacy course, who visited on Thursday, 24 October 2024. This visit is part of the service learning both teachers are incorporating into their courses. During their visit, the students explored various facilities, including the Natural History Museum, the Ethnography Exhibit, and the Botanical Garden. They gained valuable insights into key topics such as biodiversity, sustainability, and environmental conservation. The visit concluded with the students helping with olive picking in the fields belonging to the institute.
This was followed by a group of 50 children from the Beit Jala Catholic Sunday School on Friday, 25 October 2024. Both groups enjoyed tours of the PIBS facilities, which include the natural history museum, ethnography museum, and botanical garden.
Moreover, PIBS held its weekly educational activity for children, which focused on the olive tree and its many benefits. The children toured the facilities to observe the olive harvesting process and had the opportunity to participate in separating the olives from the leaves.
Through these diverse activities, PIBS is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and encouraging community involvement in conservation efforts. By doing so, they are paving the way for a more sustainable and eco-conscious future for everyone.
