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On Wednesday 13th February, Wellington College hosted its first Sustainability Day. Ana Romero, Head of Sustainability, choreographed a remarkable event, which brought together influencers and enthusiasts, students and staff – from Wellington and the wider community – to explore issues relating to the post-Paris Climate (COP 21) agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. As Ana wrote in her email to members of the College prior to the day: “To achieve these goals, we need to understand them, look at actions we can all take and realise that we are all in this together”.
Throughout the day in Waterloo Hall, there was an exhibition of local, national and international organisations, from the Whale and Dolphin Society, to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, to Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. On South Front, there was a show of sustainable vehicles, including a Tesla and a Bumblebee Van; one exhibitor delighted students with oatmeal smoothies powered by peddle power.
It was heartening to see members of the Wellington Community alongside students, staff and residents from the local community all working together to achieve Ana’s aim for the day: to emphasise the importance of “team work, critical thinking, inclusivity and collaboration”.
Leonie McKenzie, a science teacher accompanying a group of students from Collingwood College commented: “Our objective for the day was to gather ideas, take them back to our school, deliver an assembly, and get people thinking about how we can make a difference”.
A visiting teacher from Tomlinscote School, Rachel Bennett, said: “Our students have come back buzzing for change. They are planning an Enrichment Day for our Year 7 cohort on sustainability and this has given them some great material to work with. They now feel even more confident about delivering the day for our younger students”.
Guests of Honour included the Nicaraguan Ambassador for the UK, Her Excellency Mrs Guisell Morales-Echaverry and Tara Golshan, Executive Director of Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots Programme. Her Excellency spoke passionately about Nicaragua’s ‘green revolution’ and about how her country has become more vocal on the international stage.
Her concluding message was a powerful one: “Think Global. Act Local. Everything counts.”
