Reports

The 2021 Annual Report was published by CHEC in November 2022. It provides details on CHEC activities in 2021 including the successful implementation of a number of projects and the attending of a number of key events including the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

The 2020 Annual Report was published by CHEC in July 2021. It covers all that CHEC was involved in throughout the year that the world was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In the year that CHEC successfully managed mangroves projects, felt the impacts of the pandemic in our bees and pollinators project and became a virtual organisation, there is certainly a lot to catch up on.

2019 was a busy year for CHEC. Our focus was narrowed with climate change being at the fore. It was decided that CHEC would produce a journal “Human Ecology 30: Mangroves” in time for the 2020 CHOGM in Kigali, Rwanda, which has now been completed. It will be available for the postponed CHOGM in 2021, if COVID-19 allows. CHEC also applied for a special grant from the Commonwealth Secretariat to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the London Declaration. The bees and pollinators project in Uganda has continued and from 21-23 May CHEC attended the CEC Conference in Grenada on “Students: Our Common Wealth: A focus for student success”. In time for this meeting, CHEC published Human Ecology Journal 29 “Rediscovering Nature – Education for Social Understanding of sustainability”. On 19 November 2019, at the Royal Over-Seas League, CHEC held the 2nd Zena Daysh Lecture “Our Changing Climate: Do we need a shift in the way we learn?” and celebrated its 50 year history.

In 2018, Mark Robinson became CHEC’s latest Chairman. It was also a year that saw London host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in which CHEC attended multiple events and the inaugural Zena Daysh lecture where Sir Mark Tully provided a keynote speech. There were also huge steps forward for the Bee and Pollinators Project as well as the complete revamp of the CHEC website as well as the usual publications of our Human Ecology Journal, CHEC Points and many article websites.

2017 was spent on planning for the next year’s CHOGM. This was done by attending various meetings in London, which formed part of the build up to the Summit. That said, some worthwhile events, relevant to CHEC, took place in the wider Commonwealth such as the Annual Conference of the Council for Education in the Commonwealth (CEC) held at the University of Namibia in Windhoek and the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting held in Kampala, Uganda. As the Commonwealth Secretariat encourages accredited organisations such as CHEC to get involved and indulge in networking and partnership, events such as these can be of great importance to small organisations and we benefit from that.

In 2016 CHEC took major steps to improve the effectiveness of its promotion of human ecology and sustainable development in the
Commonwealth and beyond. CHEC is proud of having been able to support a project in Tamil Nadu, India. The Nadukuppam Community Training Centre, being built with the guidance of Pitchandikulam Bioresource Centre, will teach local communities
about indigenous forest planting programmes, organic farming and vegetable gardening, as well as women’s self-help group income generation and environment education programmes. CHEC’s support for the project has been possible due to a grant provided by Heath Trust…

In 2015 CHEC took major steps to improve the effectiveness of its advocacy and practical action for human ecology and sustainable development in the Commonwealth and beyond. The updated Articles of Association were formally approved at an Extraordinary General meeting (EGM) in March 2015. This will guide the Governing Board in securing CHEC’s present and future interests.

In 2014 CHEC took major steps to improve the effectiveness of its advocacy for human ecology and sustainable development in the Commonwealth and beyond. The Commonwealth Foundation’s Transition Grant allowed CHEC to develop a public presence on social media and through the development of its website. Another critical step came with the development of updated Articles of Association, which will guide the Governing Board in securing CHEC’s present and future interests.

CHEC’s busy year in 2013 was not helped by the upheaval caused by suddenly having to move office again in January. However, the move to Putney Bridge has proved to be successful with good transport links and modern accommodation (more details are given later in this report).

The areas of work important to CHEC in the context of human ecology are advocacy especially through international and Commonwealth meetings around areas of great concern such as climate change, food and water security, and the role of gender. These are international issues where CHEC believes human ecological thinking and education can help towards sustainability.

The year started sadly with the death of CHEC’s Founder Patron, Zena Daysh CNZM who died on 23rd March 2011 after a short illness. The many tributes from around the world emphasised this loss. Her funeral and memorial event in London were very well attended and demonstrated how much Zena is missed.

The year under review has been a busy one for CHEC and it has continued to strengthen its role in many areas of development.

2009 has been a busy one for CHEC and it has continued to strengthen its role in many areas of development. All of CHEC‟s work is, of course, dependent on its global membership and supporters and to its hard-working office staff, volunteers, Executive Committee and Governing Board members. CHEC continues to owe an enormous debt to all and to the professional and socially-minded volunteers in both Britain and the Commonwealth for their dedication and advice.

CHEC has continued to strive to achieve its educational development objectives, seeking new partners and opportunities, while maintaining long-standing relationships with both official and civil society Commonwealth bodies and with international agencies. Most important among the latter is the United Nations, where CHEC has had consultative status with ECOSOC since 1974. Our Governing Board member, Narelle Townsend, represents CHEC in New York and continues to play a prominent role in UN NGO activities, particularly those relating to UN Habitat and the Commission on Sustainable Development.

During 2007, CHEC continued to strengthen its role in many areas of development. Particularly close work took place between CHEC Uganda, CHEC Nigeria, CHECSIL (CHEC Sierra Leone), CHEC Sri Lanka and CHEC India throughout the year’s activities. CHEC Nigeria continued to promote its “training of trainers” programme for local government officers to help build their capacity to incorporate sustainable development and integrated planning in their activities