Polar Pairs

Aims

Living Earth is an environmental education and development organisation working in Africa, Asia, Latin America and most recently Alaska.

Together with teachers from Aberdeenshire schools Living Earth has developed the 'Polar Pairs' School Exchange programme for schools on the North Slope (Barrow High School, Kiita Learning Community, Meade River School Atqasuk, Hopson Middle School, Tiqigak School and Ipalook Elementary) and in Aberdeenshire (Banff Academy, Alford Academy, Banchory Academy, Grantown Grammar and Torry Academy), to promote shared learning between teachers, students and the wider community in both regions.

Although Aberdeenshire and The North Slope of Alaska are poles apart, they share a number of similar issues and challenges, namely rurality, the importance of traditional local culture, the impact of the development of the oil industry in the regions, and the various social environmental and economic issues that arise from that.

The Polar Pairs programme aims to facilitate an exchange of ideas and realities to promote effective education for the local communities, encouraging the development of confidence and self-esteem amongst the young people and promoting cultural understanding and awareness of and in both regions