The Montenegrin Electricity Distribution System presented awards to educational institutions as part of the “Energy Underlined in Green” competition. This is a project that CEDIS is implementing for the second consecutive year in cooperation with the Institute for Education.
CEDIS Executive Director, Vladimir Čađenović, said the company wanted this project to provide schools and the community as a whole with the impetus to pursue their efforts to raise students’, teachers’ and the public’s awareness of the importance of the environment. The impressive number of schools that took part this year with their projects shows that they have succeeded.
“Just as we encourage schools to strive to become better and more creative each year, they also inspire us to persevere in our joint efforts to protect our planet and create a better place for us all to live. Every individual is an important link on the path towards a safer and cleaner place to live. Nature has already given Montenegro everything, and it is up to us to preserve it as the greatest treasure that makes us unique in the world,” said Čađenović.
First place in the competition went to the project “I Choose to Compost”, prepared by the “Bambi” Public Preschool Institution from Tivat. Director Jelena Perunović Samardžić said they had been fostering environmental awareness among the youngest children for many years.
“This award will give us additional encouragement to continue along the same path in implementing and carrying out the projects we have planned with our youngest children,” said Perunović Samardžić.
Second place went to the “School Nursery” project submitted by the “Štampar Makarije” Primary School in Podgorica.
“The award-winning project aims to raise awareness among all our students about environmental protection. Numerous afforestation activities are planned, not only in the schoolyard but also in the wider community, using seedlings that will be grown in our school nursery,” said Marija Lazarević, Assistant Principal of the “Štampar Makarije” Primary School.
Third place went to the “Eco Classroom – Outdoor Classroom” project by the “Pavle Rovinski” Primary School in Podgorica. The school’s principal, Dijana Laković, recalled that the institution received an international “Eco-Schools” certificate in 2016.
“We thank CEDIS and the Institute for Education for supporting environmental activities in educational institutions in the best possible way. We are pleased that the jury recognised the importance of the eco classroom for our school,” said Laković.
The “Eco Classroom” project coordinator is Nataša Bulatović.
“The project is important because our school is overcrowded and we do not have enough space, so this classroom will be very useful for holding extracurricular activities,” said Bulatović.
In addition to these three awards, the expert jury recognised three more projects.
The “Radoje Čizmović” Primary School in Nikšić received recognition for its “Eco Corner for Cooperation” project. The school’s principal, Milena Danilović, recalled that the institution had been committed to environmental protection for a long time, and that its teachers and children deserved recognition.
“The award is the crowning achievement of our work. The project is important to us because we will build an outdoor eco classroom that will enhance our schoolyard,” said Danilović.
The “21. maj” Primary School in Podgorica also received recognition for its “Botanical Park” project.
“As part of this project, we will equip and prepare the schoolyard to become a small oasis in our community, where children will be able to spend their free time,” said Jasmin Šabotić, a biology teacher.
An award also went to the project submitted by the “Ivo Visin” Primary School in Kotor. The principal of the institution, Petra Ćetković, said they had already started work on a project that would be highly significant.
“It involves improving an area that is currently unused. We will plant a garden whose produce will be used by the kindergarten located near the school. In this way, we will provide a meal for the children attending the extended-day programme,” said Ćetković.
The prize fund amounted to EUR 15,000, and jury member Saša Karajović said it had been difficult to choose the best projects.
“Small differences determined which projects would receive awards. The awards went to those with the greatest participation by children and students, as well as support from the local community. We are pleased that, in addition to the five projects initially expected, we were able to secure funding for a sixth project. We thank CEDIS, as a socially responsible company, for recognising the importance of environmental education for the youngest, because the planet is in their hands,” said Karajović.
