GoodWe expands EcoSmart kids programme to boost environmental education in Victoria
Left: John Wright (Marketing Manager, GoodWe Australia), right: Dr. Dean Miller (Great Barrier Reef Legacy)
GoodWe, an Australian solar brand, has announced an expansion of its educational initiative, EcoSmart Kids. Launched last year, the programme will expand in 2024 to target more schools across Victoria, including regional and metropolitan areas.
The expansion includes new educational modules in collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Legacy, focusing on conservation efforts for the Great Barrier Reef.
The "EcoSmart Kids" programme is designed to educate primary students in grades two to six about climate change, renewable energy, and environmental conservation. Developed by GoodWe Australia and reviewed by education professionals, the curriculum is delivered through interactive animated workshops from the GoodWe smart innovation vehicle, a custom-built roadshow truck.
An addition to this year's program is a module on the Great Barrier Reef Legacy’s Forever Reef project. This project functions as a bio-bank facility, which conserves over 415 species of hard coral with the aid of solar energy systems, including a GoodWe energy storage system. The module aims to teach students about the application of renewable energy in environmental conservation.
Dean Williamson, Country Manager of GoodWe Australia and New Zealand, commented on the program's development:
"We are excited to bring back EcoSmart Kids in 2024, bigger and better than ever. The 2023 programme was a resounding success and we received positive feedback from teachers, children and parents alike.
“This year we are reaching over twice the amount of schools and covering regional as well as metropolitan Victoria to ensure we give as many children as possible the chance to participate. We are very grateful to our collaborators who help us provide a real-world example of how climate change affects essential ecosystems such as the barrier reef."
Dr. Dean Miller, Managing Director of Great Barrier Reef Legacy, also shared his views on the importance of educational collaborations:
"Education is an important part of our work at Great Barrier Reef Legacy, aiming to preserve coral reefs around the world. We have worked with schools and local groups to help inform younger generations in the importance of these ecosystems, and even our Forever Reef facility is accessible to the public at the Cairns Aquarium.
We are thrilled to be part of GoodWe's EcoSmart Kids programme, delivering messages about climate change, environmental conservation, and the role of renewable energy."
