The Director of the ERuDeF Institute of Biodiversity and Non-profit Studies in Buea, SW Cameroon announces to the general public that the ERuDeF Institute has recently instituted its Annual Environmental Education Awards in order to build the capacity and knowledge of Cameroonian youths and students in biodiversity and environmental management. The Annual Environmental Education Awards will seek to improve the understanding of the Cameroonian public especially the youths on the importance and the economic value of the environment and its contribution to nation building. Through this process, the next generation of Cameroonian environmental leaders will be built.

The maiden edition for 2015, known as the “2015 ERuDeF Institute International Environmental Days Award”, will be dedicated to the students of Cameroonian highschools. The International Environmental Days (EIIED) Award seeks to broaden the knowledge of Cameroonians on the value of such days and what they contribute to our wellbeing. The award will help remind the Cameroonian policy makers and politicians on the necessity of preserving the environment and ensuring that it is sustainably managed for the wellbeing of today and forthcoming generations.

The 2015 International Environmental Days Award target students of Cameroonian highschools (lower and Upper Sixth forms) and highschool graduates who have not been admitted into any university.

The participating candidates should list all the International Environmental Days that exist in the world, state their relevance, state the ones Cameroon is a signatory, say when they are celebrated and describe how they are important to the sustainable development of Cameroon.

Secondly, candidates should also list five critically endangered species of biodiversity as defined by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that exist in Cameroon and describe their locations in Cameroon as well as stating why they are important to these locations and the people who live there.

The contesting students should show proof of their current enrolment in Cameroonian highschools and or that they are currently not attending any school of higher education in Cameroon.

Five prizes will be awarded to the first five best contestants. In case of many competitive draws, a tombola will be drawn to select the best five. The first three will carry a cash prize of fifty, thirty and twenty thousands respectively. The last two winners will receive consolidatory prizes of two cartons of books and pens.

All the write-ups should be put into sealed envelops marked “ERuDeF Institute 2015 International Environmental Days Awards” and send to POBox 189 Buea, SW Cameroon and/or deposit at the ERuDeF Institute campus at Mile 18, Muea Road, Buea, SW Cameroon. The contest runs from 1st to 31st July 2015.

A panel of jurist consisting of Media and Legal experts, officials of the ERuDeF Institute, University and Ministry of Secondary Education, will meet on Friday, 7 August, 2015 to open and select the winners. The Winners will receive the prizes on Saturday, 22 August 2015 during the celebration of the ERuDeF Day in Buea, SW Cameroon.