Our Dos Manos Schools Programme explores the issue of plastic in the marine environment and the effect this has on our marine life and ourselves. It is offered to local schools with the aim of reaching and engaging as many students, teachers and parents as possible with marine conservation, ultimately helping to shape an environmentally caring and proactive local population and future generation.
The programme is offered in English, Spanish and Catalán, and comes in two versions: one standard version for students aged 15 - 18 years, and a Junior version for students between 10 - 14 years.
During the programme we look at the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems, the connectivity between human behaviour and the marine environment, and our responsibility for it.
It is a hands-on programme during which the students do a local excursion and conduct a Dos Manos beach clean up. They undertake a citizen science survey, analyse their results and discuss solutions to local problems.
The programme raises awareness and promotes reflection on how we can replace or re-use plastic to limit its demand in our everyday life, as well as how we can prevent plastic from ending up in the environment. It inspires and empowers students to find innovative solutions to common problems caused by plastic pollution.
"What I liked the most about the programme is that it´s giving young people the opportunity to help, encouraging them to create new projects and giving them hope, helping them to believe in their ideas and to know that they are possible." - a 15-year old student from Pius XII, after the last section of the Dos Manos School Programme.