Stars and STEM Stories
GLOBE Nepal: YLACES Instruments Ignite Peer Collaboration and Transform Learning in GLOBE Programs Across Nepal
ECCA (Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness) has been implementing the GLOBE Program in Nepal since 2000. The organization actively prepares youth for participation in GLOBE and continuously supports them in training educators and students on GLOBE protocols in schools. In 2024, ECCA received a $1,500 grant from YLACES (Youth Learning as Citizen Environmental Scientists) for scientific instruments to be used in the training of educators and college students on GLOBE protocols. The YLACES-supported tools have been integral in fostering vibrant collaboration and enriching the learning experiences of participants in GLOBE programs.
During November 2024 and January 2025, college students working with
ECCA trained educators and school students in GLOBE protocols in seven
schools in Jhapa district and four schools in Dhankuta district. These
college students, who had participated in GLOBE in the past, trained
participants in peer groups on one of three GLOBE protocols: Pedosphere, Atmosphere, and Hydrosphere.
Afterwards, peer groups shared their new knowledge across groups in a
form of collaborative learning. Additionally, ECCA distributed mobile
macro lenses to three new schools and replaced damaged lenses in
existing GLOBE schools for the GLOBE
Mosquito Habitat Mapper Protocol. This year around 100 students
and 22 educators benefited from the training programs. The peer
learning generated three GLOBE trainers and 28 youth learners.
Making learning and sharing opportunities available for youth is more effective in reaching schools in both urban and rural areas than directly teaching educators. These platforms also provide insights into the perspectives of GLOBE alumni and create opportunities for alumni engagement within the local context. This approach aids in the development of GLOBE trainers and mentor trainers, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Learn more about GLOBE Nepal.
Story and photos courtesy of Yogendra Chitrakar, executive director, ECCA, and country coordinator for GLOBE Nepal.