POVOAfrika Climate Change Survey 2015 - Summary
In the first quarter of 2015 POVO Afrika Trust conducted a country wide survey in tertiary and higher level institutions around Zimbabwe with the objective of finding out, “what students knew about Climate change”. The organisation had permission from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education to conduct the survey and we received a very good response from the institutions and their students. The survey was conducted in all the major cities; Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare, Masvingo and Mutare. The institutions included; Lupane State University (LSU), National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Midlands State University (MSU), Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), Belvedere Teachers College, Harare Polytechnic, Mutare Polytechnic and Marymount Teachers College. We randomly selected 1000 students from a wide variety of faculties and for their participation in our survey, students were given copies of the 2014 POVO Journals, the women’s and the main edition, as well as the 2014 compilation CD Speak Sing Vol1. The results of the survey will be published in the inaugural POVO Green Edition to be released in the first quarter of 2016.
During the survey, it was evident that students studying agriculture, geography, environment and other related fields were familiar with climate change as it is part of their curriculum. Others with knowledge of current affairs were also familiar with climate change, but the rest had no idea. But all students were in agreement that the climate in Zimbabwe had changed, it was getting warmer, the seasons were becoming unpredictable and they did not know
the causes.
It is important that students who are the future of the country have full knowledge on Climate change and all other aspects of Sustainable Development, especially the teachers who will be working with our future generations. Human activity around the world is negatively affecting our planet and Zimbabwean’s should be educated on what is really happening and start to make changes towards reducing our carbon footprint and living sustainably. Climate Change is now considered a major threat to the planet and is high on the UN’s agenda. POVO Afrika Trust intends on doing its part by going into communities, schools, universities and colleges around Zimbabwe and educating the people on Sustainable Development, awareness, mitigation and adaption strategies to counter Climate Change and Global Warming, as our future is dependent on us making the change.
