Asaga children learn about Marshall Islands' challenges
The challenges that the Marshall Islands face from climate change have been "a good lesson" for the children of Asaga Primary School, Savai'i.
The school has adopted the Marshall Islands as part of the Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games in-schools programme, run by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.
The Marshall Islands are one of 24 countries participating in the Games, from 7-20 July. And the school programme is a chance to learn about Samoa's Pacific neighbours.
"If it weren’t for the in-school programme we wouldn’t have learned about a different culture and their challenges," said Perosi Viliamu, Asaga Primary School Principal.
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Photo: Asaga Primary School has been learning about the Marshall Islands.
He added: "For most of these children, their entire life was the ocean. The sea has been life for our people and the same goes for the Marshall Islands.”
He said: "[The Marshall Islands are] made up of 29 low-lying coral atolls, and sea-level rising is a threat to all atolls and it’s caused by climate change."
He continued: "The Marshall Islands have five islands; Samoa has more than five islands. And it is something we should be thankful about because the recurring tides and ocean swells make the northern Pacific islands vulnerable to erosion."
The children are currently learning in open Samoan houses close to the coast while new classrooms are being built.
"This is a good lesson for the children; they are able to see the tides rise and on rainy days to see it roughly crashing onto the shores. For them they are able to differentiate the experiences of a highland and atolls," Perosi said.
