SPNL and New Lebanon College (NLC) signed an agreement to implement School with no walls (SNOW) program across the school. Mazen Malaeb, NLC educational consultant, emphasized the program›s significance and expressed a commitment to incorporating it into the school curriculum. All teachers attended a presentation by the SPNL team, followed by a productive discussion and the signing of the MOU for NLC Hima Green School. A curriculum coordinator for the SNOW program was appointed to oversee its implementation.
SNOW is an environmental educational program developed and implemented by SPNL, targeting children between 7 and 12 years old, using interactive and fun-based techniques.
Education: The Seed of a Green Future
There is no doubt that the world we know today is vastly different from the one we grew up in. Although our children appear highly intelligent, they face numerous dangers in a world filled with wars and conflicts, an internet rife with threats, inappropriate content, viruses, hacking, and identity theft, and a reality tainted by drugs, crime, and many other risks. Globalization has entered every home and community, reshaping values and traditions passed down from our ancestors without seeking permission. Indeed, we are living in an era of decline, fragmentation, and deterioration. That is why we must take action rather than retreat. Let us break down barriers and declare: Yes, we can!
This is where the vision and mission of Modern Lebanese Secondary School (NLC) come in—to build a creative, engaged generation equipped with leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. To achieve this vision, we have embedded it within all educational processes through specific objectives, programs, and diverse activities. We firmly believe in the motto: “Through education, we build and rise.” Education is the spark that ignites awareness and guides behavior toward sustainability. It is not just a traditional learning process but a journey toward cultivating a generation that understands the value of the environment and contributes to its protection.
At our school, environmental education holds a special place. It has been integrated into the educational curriculum to instill environmental awareness and values of respect and appreciation for nature in children, while equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect and preserve the environment. This is achieved through the “School With No Walls” (SNOW) program, designed and implemented by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL). This innovative educational model moves beyond traditional classrooms, allowing learning to take place in varied natural settings.
To ensure the success of this initiative, environmental education has been incorporated into our curriculum for students in the first and second cycles. Key steps include:
- Teacher training to enable educators to implement project objectives related to biodiversity, wildlife, climate change, waste management, and more.
- Raising awareness among students and the broader community about the importance of preserving natural resources and preventing their depletion.
- Promoting sustainable development by encouraging eco-friendly lifestyles that consider the needs of both present and future generations.
- Mitigating climate change by reducing carbon emissions and adopting sustainable practices.
Through effective collaboration with organizations, we have launched several meaningful activities, including this project with SPNL. We believe that when we equip parents, students, and teachers with the necessary knowledge and practical skills, we can transform an entire society for the better.
Finally, keeping our children safe requires the collective effort of an entire community. I call on families, schools, organizations, institutions, municipalities, and civil and religious leaders to take responsibility and work together to halt the rapid decline in education and environmental awareness. Let us redirect our compass toward the right path, for our children and our environment are a sacred trust—and history will not be forgiving.
Mazen Malaaeb, Educational Consultant at Modern Lebanese Secondary School (NLC)
We hope you enjoy reading the Magazine
Al-Hima-Magazine-Issue-No.-4
