Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL) – Rohey L Ceesay, a dynamic Gambian youth activist and advocate for intangible cultural heritage (ICH), is leading efforts to integrate cultural heritage into education for sustainable development (ESD) at the Children First Academy in The Gambia. Ceesay emphasizes the importance of incorporating both tangible and intangible cultural heritage into the education system to safeguard and sustain the country’s heritage.

Intangible cultural heritage, which includes traditions, rituals, and oral histories, enriches ESD by fostering diverse cultural perspectives. “I believe it is important that both our tangible and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) are integrated into our education system for the Gambia’s heritage to be safeguarded and sustained,” says Ceesay.

Despite challenges in integrating sustainability aspects into the curriculum, Ceesay and her team at Children First Academy are developing child-focused ESD programs that start with ICH. Students engage in interactive activities such as dressing up in tribal costumes, rehearsing tribal ceremonies, and singing tribal songs to learn about their national traditions and rituals.

“Education for sustainable development, local indigenous knowledge, intangible cultural heritage…all these terms are largely unknown in the education sector here,” she says. “We face an uphill struggle to sensitive and familiarise education stakeholders to the point where they can meaningfully integrate these ideas into the education system.”

To raise awareness and enhance visibility of cultural heritage education, the Academy plans to showcase its ICH activities during the annual graduation program, inviting local media and the broader community. This initiative highlights how stakeholders can incorporate ESD themes into the curriculum, with the ESD Roadmap serving as a strategic guide.

Ceesay’s advocacy extends beyond The Gambia. She recently spoke at the ESD-Net Learning Webinar, emphasizing the importance of integrating traditional and cultural practices into teaching to foster environmental stewardship and resilience among present and future generations in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. The next webinar, focusing on the Whole School Approach, will take place on Wednesday, 29 May 2024, providing concrete ESD activities in line with the ESD for 2030 Roadmap.