Virtual school talk explores Melanesia’s climate change issues

We are thrilled to share some insights into our recent virtual school talk at Bollington St John’s Primary School in Chester Diocese, where our Care for Creation Officer, Marie Schlenker, engaged with Year 5 and 6 students on the challenges of coastal hazards faced by island communities in Melanesia.

Marie took the students on a journey to Melanesia, highlighting the unique way of life in this remote region and the fascinating interconnectedness of islanders with their local environment. The talk also shed light on the critical issue of climate change and associated challenges faced by local people, such as sea-level rise, coastal erosion and extreme weather events, which threaten the livelihoods of the local island communities.

MMUK believes in the power of education to inspire empathy and action. Marie’s talk aimed to encourage the students to think critically about global issues and the impact our decisions in the UK have on vulnerable communities in Melanesia. Questions by the students during the Q&A demonstrated that the students were highly engaged with the topic and enthusiastic about bringing about positive change.

Ellen Watson, class teacher of Year 5 and 6 at Bollington St John’s said: “The children thoroughly enjoyed the session- it helped them to see the clear impact of climate change. […] We have also been able to link this learning to work be have been doing on courageous advocacy – for example, writing letters to local MPs/government to ask for support.”