Maryhelen Shuman-Groh
Environmental Health Fair
When I arrived at work on Friday morning I learned that we were participating in a environmental health fair sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment. We took most of the lab equipment and transported it only a few blocks away to the Independence Pavilion where we set up displays on water quality testing.
In true island fashion, we were all setting up at about the time the ‘official program’ said the opening ceremony was to take place. In fact, several exhibitors were still arriving and setting up an hour later when the actual opening began with the singing of the national anthem and speeches by various environmental representatives.
Programs are opened by the singing of the National Anthem
Minister for the Environment
Unfortunately, the event was not well advertised to the schools. The schools take advantage of almost every opportunity they can to get their students out for learning experiences, especially about all things Dominica. The first week I was here, there was a rally and public information event about Leptospirosis that involved multiple area schools. The other organization that I am working with here, IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) runs a floating classroom series that is very popular with educators as well (more on floating classrooms in another post). Point here is that the event was not well attended because it was not publicized. Of the classrooms in attendance, the teachers walked them through the various exhibits and the students asked questions. A group of school boys were particularly interested in our table featuring the various lab devices. My days of being an aquarium educator served me well here in not only explaining the gear but in asking the kids questions about water. For example, they were fascinated by the pH meter and scale. A simple question that made them think about it and confer with each other was – “If 0 is too acid and 14 is too alkaline, at what pH do you think you would want your drinking water to be?” They were also impressed with our little water distiller and the little flow chart we had constructed following the water through the process. Dominican students are very polite. As they were leaving, many stopped to say “Thank you, Teacher, for what you have taught us today.” My friends with the floating classrooms had told me many times about this but it was the first time I received the teacher thank-you and it made me feel absolutely wonderful. I just got a little teary writing about it!
The fair also featured food safety exhibitions including proper storage, reading labels and expirations; food safety for food handlers; a small clinic area taking blood pressures and performing fingers tests for blood sugar and blood cholesterol. High blood pressure and diabetes are both prevalant in the Dominican population and such monitoring is often found a public events.
Environmental Table
Perhaps the coolest thing I saw was the Ministry for the Environment’s portable SOLAR laboratory. I’m just glad I don’t have to lug this thing to sites in Dominica!!!
Portable SOLAR powered laboratory!
One of the larger exhibits was by Solid Waste and featured the smart bin. I have yet to see one anywhere else in Dominica. I told my friends that we needed to use their exhibit to deposit our trash since there were no other containers provided. One of them asked me to inquire why I hadn’t seen any other ‘smart bins’ – she told me the question would garner more response from a ‘visitor’ than from an islander. I was very polite when I deposited my trash and made the inquiry. I was told they were just implementing the program.
The "Smart Bin" - as far as I can tell, the only one on Dominica so far.