Program
Environmental Education and Sustainable Development
the program
Objective
Educate, empower and involve communities in the sustainable development of the island.
Key Actions
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Environmental education (talks, clean-up campaigns, visits to protected areas).
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Valuing natural and cultural resources (e.g. dunes, batuque, cachupa).
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Mobilising resources and sustainable economic alternatives for vulnerable groups.
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Promoting the ‘djunta mó’ concept - community collaboration for the common good.
Information
The aim of the Education and Sustainable Development programme is to inform, train and prepare communities in a joint effort to promote the sustainable development of the island.
It is subdivided into two main areas of activity. The first involves environmental education and awareness-raising activities, with talks and reflective meetings on the current reality of natural resources, such as sand dunes, endemic and endangered species, and cultural resources, such as batuque, tabanca and cachupa. It also promotes visits to protected areas in order to maximise their tourist potential, and campaigns to collect rubbish from different natural habitats such as sea beaches, streams, valleys and hills.
The second area of activity is the mobilisation of resources to empower the local population through conservation and the promotion of sustainable economic alternatives for communities. Prioritising disadvantaged groups such as children, women, unemployed young people, farmers, shepherds, fishmongers, fishermen and other professional classes.
We believe that change starts with knowledge and action.
The Environmental Education and Sustainable Development Programme inspires and mobilises young people and adults to protect the environment, encouraging sustainable practices and promoting the well-being of local communities.
We do this through talks, visits to Protected Areas, awareness campaigns and direct actions such as beach clean-ups and reforestation. We created the Environmental Education Centre, a space where learning about nature and sustainability becomes an engaging and transformative experience.
But it's not just theory! With initiatives such as the ‘Environmentally Friendly Zone’ competition, we challenge communities to become real agents of change, organising community and beach clean-ups, promoting environmental education and involving the population in night-time patrols.
And because we believe that sustainability also means opportunities, we create sustainable economic alternatives, such as the Homestay initiative, where tourists can live an authentic experience in Maio, staying with local families and getting to know the island's culture up close.
Each person makes a difference. Together, we are building a more sustainable Maio full of life, respecting nature and the local culture!
Frequently Asked Questions
The programme carries out various activities with local communities, promoting environmental awareness in a direct and participatory way. These activities include themed talks, visits to protected areas, beach and community clean-up campaigns, screenings of educational videos and environmental competitions.
This reinforces ecological awareness and the active involvement of the population in protecting the environment.
Awareness-raising and clean-up campaigns have a positive impact on the island, making environmental problems more accessible to the population through simple language and everyday examples. As well as raising awareness of the effects on health and the economy, these actions encourage active community participation in preserving the environment.
The programme involves the population in environmental conservation by providing free visits to protected areas, covering transport and food to ensure everyone's participation. During these visits, environmental issues are addressed in an accessible way. In addition, the active participation of residents in actions such as beach clean-ups and patrols to protect sea turtles is encouraged, promoting a collective commitment to the preservation of the island.
The competition encourages locals to protect the island's environment and culture through five themes (green spaces, sea turtles, Maio World Biosphere Reserve, rubbish and protected areas), where each locality carries out activities to score points. The prizes are goods that are useful to the community, as defined in the entry form, or to environmental and social causes. In the third edition, there were benefits such as greater knowledge about the territory, local improvements with the prizes and economic impact by generating income for residents involved in the logistics (cooks and drivers of the competition).
The Homestay programme offers an authentic cultural exchange experience, allowing visitors to live with local families on the island of Maio. As well as immersion in customs and traditions, it provides learning Cape Verdean Creole, home-cooked meals, support from the hosts and a safe and welcoming environment. Interaction with the community strengthens social ties and values local culture, while boosting the economy and promoting environmental conservation by ensuring that host families adopt sustainable practices.
The programme has improved the quality of life in the communities by formalising businesses, introducing electronic invoicing and training residents in tourism management, reception, specialised cooking, horticulture and foreign languages. It also supports housing improvements by funding construction and renovations, such as guest bathrooms and replacing unsafe roofs. It also mobilises more than one and a half million Cape Verde escudos every year, strengthening the local economy, especially during the sea turtle nesting and protection season.
