The top scorers of the Value Education Olympiad (VEO) 2021 received their prizes, this afternoon, during an official ceremony organised by the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change in Port Louis.
VEO 2021 is a joint initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Faith for Earth Council, Govardhan Eco Village, and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Participants were grouped into two categories, namely, 11 to 14 years old and 15 to 17 years old.
Winners received a laptop, while first runners-up were remitted a tablet and second runners-up a bicycle. They were as follows:
Participants aged 11 to 14 years old: Ms Taleivi Venetheethan (1st), Ms Drashya Maharaja (2nd) and Ms Rashmit Rathi (3rd).
Participants aged 15 to 17 years old: Ms Riddi Moneeram (1st), Ms Yashwini Shibduth (2nd) and Ms Hania Warsalee (3rd).
The Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Kavydass Ramano, and other personalities were present at the prize giving ceremony.
In his address, Minister Ramano highlighted that humanity was facing several global challenges caused by past unplanned actions which had damaged the environment. “On top of that,” he emphasised, “the COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down, killing millions, while the impacts of climate change show a worsening trend all over the planet.”
The Minister underscored that environmental risks and hazards affected young people, who had to live with the deterioration of the environment bequeathed by previous generations. “However,” he pointed out, “every citizen can contribute to restore the environment and help fight climate change by adopting a new way of life based on the sustainable use of resources and the protection of the ecosystem.” He added that they could also promote environment protection for the benefit of the younger generation.
Moreover, the Environment Minister expressed satisfaction that VEO 2021 promoted environmental stewardship by instilling values in younger generations in order to pass on the legacy of a world with preserved ecological integrity. He commended the winners and urged them to encourage those around them to follow their footsteps so as to contribute to a cleaner, greener and more sustainable country.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Mauritius.
