In May 2009 the Belorussian Academy for Teacher Training launched a new week-long training programme that features the Earth Charter. The effort is undertaken under the leadership of Professor Sofia Savelava who is also co-founder of Newline NGO, a new Earth Charter affiliate in Belarus. Marina Bakhnova, from the EC International Secretariat in Costa Rica, participated in the launch where she presented the Earth Charter educational philosophy and discussed its use as a tool for Education for Sustainable Development. In addition to this presentation, Ms. Bakhnova visited the small village of Zditovo where the Earth Charter is being actively taught and implemented in the school’s curricula. For more information on Bakhnova’s trip to Belorussia please follow this link.