Advancing gender equality in the context of climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century. The issue of climate change and sustainability has and will continue to have severe and lasting impacts on our environment, economic and social development; those who are amongst the most vulnerable and marginalized experience the deepest impacts. Reports have shown that women and girls are increasingly being recognized as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on natural resources which climate change threatens the most.

At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action. It’s in view of this that the 2022 International Women’s Day celebration was focused on recognizing the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation and response, to build a more sustainable future for all.
As part of her activities to commemorate 2022 International Women’s Day, TGED FOUNDATION organized a school program at Mary Immaculate Grammar School Ado-Ekiti, in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA). The aim of the program was educate and empower the girl child on;

• Linkage between Gender Equality and Climate change;
• Gender Equality and Disaster Risk Reduction and;
• Gender Equality for Sustainable Tomorrow and;
• Waste to Wealth (upcycling)

The highlight of the program featured a presentation by Oluwaseyi Ebenezer, the founder of TGEDFoundation on the linkage between gender equality and climate change. This was immediately followed by a presentation by Mrs Aladetimehin, a representative from NEMA, on gender equality and disaster risk reduction and lastly, a presentation by Mrs Olatunbosun Oyinade, the Chairperson of International Women’s Lawyers (FIDA), on gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.
The program also featured a waste to wealth training session, where the girls were taught how to turn waste nylon into beautiful flowers that could be used for decorating their classrooms, homes and offices. The activity was centered on safeguarding the environment as indiscriminate waste disposal constitutes one of the greatest challenges facing our society today and to also enlighten them that not all waste should be trashed, as some of them could be reused for other purposes. At the end of the training, the students themselves were able to produce beautiful rose flowers from our everyday waste nylon.
In her remarks, the principal of the school, Mrs Funmilayo Oluwasanmi appreciated the organizers for bringing such a lucrative training to the school, as this has given the students the opportunity to learn and become creative themselves. She also noted that their school is always open and would welcome such innovative training in the feature.

For further reading

https://newshereandthere.com/iwd-ngo-trains-students-how-to-convert-waste-to-wealth-in-ekiti/

https://topwritersmagazine.wordpress.com/2022/03/10/international-womens-day-foundation-trains-students-on-waste-to-wealth/

https://solidmedia974482948.wordpress.com/2022/03/10/iwd-ngo-trains-students-on-waste-to-wealth/

https://tribuneonlineng.com/ekiti-students-receive-training-on-how-to-convert-waste-to-wealth/