The George Foundation – Borris Vocational School
Our Chosen ChallengeChallenge 1 – Climate Change
Category
Digital Experience
Borris Vocational School, Knocknagundarragh, Borris, Co. Carlow
Teacher
Jacqueline Sheil
Team Members
Adrian Barcoe Aoife Brett Yonas Kenny.
Why as a team did you choose to focus on this challenge?
Our hero is named Curious George and he is a monkey. As a group, we care for the environment deeply. It is a personal interest of ours. We also believe that it is talked about frequently but not many actively involve themselves in the stopping of climate change when it affects animals and their endangerment. How many monkey species are going extinct? 103 (38% of 269 African and Asian monkeys) are endangered. These numbers are very scary to read, and we felt they are not going down. If we have any say or power in this discussion, we are focused.
What do you know now about the challenge that you didn't know before?
We now know just how bad the effects of climate change are changing animals' lives, they did not even cause it and yet they are the ones struggling the most. Yet their situation is remarkably similar to ours in many areas.
What have you learnt about your Hero?
We researched and discovered that our hero, who is a monkey we’ve named Curious George, often loses their homes and habitats. They face significant issues with survival ability because they are social beings that tend to rely on each other and when many pass or get heavily injured, they struggle to continue, if that is not physically or mentally.
If you could improve one thing for your Hero what would that be?
We would fix our hero, George’s habitat. Their home is their main source of survival and sustainability. Monkeys are social beings such as humans and need the space they feel comfortable and safe in. Living in constant fear and stress is not healthy for any creature. Mental Health issues can affect anyone when synthetic causes are created. Many monkeys have proven symptoms of PTSD after certain tragic and traumatic events took place in their lives.
Do you have any ideas for a potential solution? No matter how raw, share them with your Mentors for feedback.
We do not have a solution yet. Possibly an app.
Ask your Mentor anything …. This is a chance to ask your Mentors a direct question relating to your Big Idea.
“What do you do in your day-to-day life to combat climate change?”