Operating with respect to the environment has always been the modus operandi of TransJam Highway. Therefore, in addition to our own environmentally conscious objectives and initiatives, TransJam Group continues to sponsor the IOJ’s Earth Day competition in support of the view that all living things have an intrinsic value, and each plays a unique role in the construct of life.
International Earth Day is observed on April 22nd each year, and here in Jamaica this competition is the avenue used to engage, stir awareness, and educate ourselves about issues relating to our planet earth.
The 22nd Staging of The Natural History Museum of Jamaica’s (NHMJ) and the Institute of Jamaica’s (IOJ) annual Earth Day Awards Ceremony was held at the Hope Zoo Preservation Foundation on April 22, 2024, under the theme “Planet vs Plastic”.
The event’s guest speaker, Ms. Samantha Channer, Sustainability Coordinator, Esirom Foundation gave an informative presentation. She emphasized on the importance of creating a safe and eco-friendly environment not just for us but for the future generation. Ms. Channer also explained the effect of the use of plastics on the environment and the number of years it would take to break down just one plastic material into micro-plastic and even then, it still remains in the environment. She implored persons to support the single use plastic bag ban and create an eco-friendlier way to make a living.
In total sixty-five (65) students from schools all over the country submitted seventy-eight (78) entries across the four (4) categories of the competition. The competition drew the participation of youths from various secondary and high schools. Using Creative Arts, our young people showcased the uniqueness of Jamaica’s endangered and endemic species, while encouraging the preservation of the species and their habitats.