FAO Geneva hosted a visit of twenty-two students from the International School of Geneva (ISG) who took part in the FAO’s Essay and Drawing Competition held in February-March 2019.  The Competition was one the events that FAO Geneva organized to mark the International Day of Forests (IDF) 2019, under the theme “Forests and Education” with the two international schools in Geneva (ISG and Institut International de Lancy).  

Sixty-two entries were received from the two participating schools. Among those were the inspiring stories, letters, artworks, comics and a rap song “life on land”. Winners were announced at the FAO’s high-level panel discussion “Forests and the Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs” on 21 March. Five students from ISG were among the nine winners (7 girls and 2 boys).  Lucas of ISG won the first place in the essay competition with his story Jack’s Tree, spreading the love around the world through tree planting activities and showcasing the healing power of trees and the happiness they bring to people.

Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Director of FAO Geneva had an interactive discussion with the students, accompanying head teacher and parents of the wining students.  She briefed them on FAO’s mandate and goals on eradicating hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition  (SDG2 on hunger); eliminating poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all, with increased food production, enhanced rural development and sustainable livelihoods (SDG 1 on poverty and SDG5 on gender equality); and sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations (SDGs 13, 14 and 15).  Ms Rodrigues-Birkett also highlighted the essential role that forests play in improving food and nutrition security, reducing poverty and combatting climate change and disasters and building resilience for the attainment of the SDGs.

Teacher and parents expressed their appreciation to FAO for engaging the students in the FAO’s IDF commemorative events. They also informed that students benefited enormously from this engagement and requested FAO to continue this excellent collaboration.

After the interactive engagement and award presentation to students, Ms. Wirya Khim, Natural Resources Officer of FAO Geneva organized a short tour for students in the Palais des Nations and continued the lively discussion with students, teacher and parents on sustainable natural resources management, food and nutrition security in the context of climate change and disaster risk reduction.