Promoting Environmental Sustainability through Climate Action: La Gracia Divina School, Lagos, Nigeria

La Gracia Divina School stands out as the only primary school that participated in Ashoka’s Climate Clubs. Located in a community with limited environmental education, the school recognized the need to inspire early awareness of climate issues. In response, it launched its Climate Club on July 13th, 2024, aiming to promote sustainability and empower students to become changemakers. The club started with two teachers and nineteen students, driven by the mission to address local environmental challenges through creative solutions.  

The Climate Club focuses on practical education by combining hands-on projects with modern technology. Students use school-provided iPads to access educational YouTube videos, helping them explore climate topics and innovative recycling techniques. The club’s activities include awareness campaigns during school assemblies, where students share insights about climate issues and lead discussions. They also recycle plastic waste to create learning tools, such as abacuses for nursery students and wheels for toy cars, showcasing resourcefulness and environmental responsibility.  

Since its inception, the club has transformed students' attitudes toward the environment. Reports from parents highlight how students have become vocal advocates for sustainability at home, correcting family members about improper waste disposal and encouraging recycling. The students’ engagement has not only reduced littering within the school but also sparked a culture of environmental accountability in their households.  

Projects like the recycled abacuses have demonstrated the students’ ability to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to real-life challenges. These activities have also helped measure the club’s success by tracking project completion, increased student participation, and parental feedback. Teachers continue to assess progress by observing the students’ growing curiosity and leadership in sustainability efforts.  

One inspiring case is a student who, after attending the Ashoka Festival, returned highly motivated to lead awareness campaigns and share her experiences with peers. Her passion for climate action has influenced others, fueling their interest in environmental issues and igniting conversations about careers in the sustainability sector. Stories like hers reflect the club’s ability to nurture environmental champions.  

Despite its success, the Climate Club faces challenges such as balancing activities with the academic calendar and simplifying complex climate concepts for younger students. To address these, teachers have introduced interactive learning activities, including art-based exercises where students paint trees before discussions. The school has also supported the club with resources like printouts and access to technology, enabling impactful learning experiences.  

Looking ahead, La Gracia Divine School’s Climate Club plans to expand its reach by engaging neighboring schools through student-led awareness campaigns. It also aims to retain graduating members as mentors, fostering long-term commitment to sustainability within the community. With additional funding, the club envisions scaling its efforts to build a network of young changemakers equipped to lead environmental action and inspire lasting change. 

In conclusion, the Ashoka Climate Clubs' success stories highlight the positive effects of youth-led climate action in local communities and schools. These educational institutions have demonstrated the potential of empowering youth to drive change by including critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork into their curricula. 

Students have shown that environmental sustainability is not only a concept but a movement in action by promoting recycling, cutting waste, and coming up with creative solutions using materials that are readily available in the area. These programs not only address urgent environmental problems but also stimulate more extensive social change, giving young people the means to create a more just and sustainable future. 

While the program has made remarkable strides, more must be done. To scale these initiatives and increase their impact, sustained investment, access to resources, and collaboration with community stakeholders are necessary. The Ashoka Climate Clubs will continue to inspire action, hope, and inspiration with sustained support, enabling even more young changemakers to take the lead in the fight for climate resilience.