On July 30, 2008 took place the first school certifications of the year. Celebrated at the Governor’s building and presided by the governor of Santiago, Álvaro Erazo. The regional authority valued the voluntary work done by the children and made a call for other schools to join this noble initiative that cares and preserves the environment.
 

In addition to the governor, the following people assisted: Conaf (National Forest Agency) regional director Maria Teresa Latorre, CONAMA regional regional agency Cabinet Chief Hortensia Cereceda, Water Authority general director Héctor González, and KDM’s General Manager Fernando León Steffens.

Six of the sixteen schools certified on this date were part of the KDM-CONAF agreement. These are now part of the other one hundred and four other certified schools that are included in the National System on Environmental Certification for Educational Organizations (SNCAE). On this occasion, the schools came from the municipalities of Colina, Las Condes, El Bosque, Estación Central, La Reina, Quilicura, Conchalí and Providencia.

At the ceremony, the students not only stand out for their commitment to the environment but offered us artistic presentations as well. The Japón School Orchestra of Estación Central performed a beautiful piece and the pre-school children of the Sol Naciente School, Conchalí, delighted the audience reciting emotive poetry.

With the diplomas given the schools can now apply for an Environmental Protection Fund (FPA) and obtain financing for environmental initiatives. The certifications were endorsed by the Regional Committee on Environmental Certification, made up of CONAMA-RM, SEREMI Metropolitana of Education, CONAF-RMS, and Water Authority Metropolitan Region. In addition, the students receive info-educative material and teaching support. More over, they also get the Environmental Education Magazine and teaching guides for diverse environmental subjects such as energy efficiency, water, and waste among other.

To achieve the certification the schools had to pass several stages. The first was to voluntarily apply for the program and form an environmental committee – made up of teachers, school executives, students, and parents-. In reality, their teamwork and perseverance are responsible for achieving this certification. 

The SNCAE is a project sponsored by CONAMA-RM (National Association for the Environment) since 2003. Its purpose is to contribute to the improvement of education quality, promote the teaching of sustainable development, and help with the student’s cultural changes encouraging environmentally responsible conducts.