Anti-Plastic Heroes: Environmental Education Campaign
Series of educational workshops and fun activities for 200 middle school students in Yerevan.
Էջի հայերեն տարբերակը՝ այստեղ
The Problem
One of the most pervasive challenges that nearly every nation in the world is being forced to reckon with today is the rapid encroachment of non-biodegradable waste. Our planet is overpopulated and drowning in garbage, and there has never been a more urgent moment to seek out sustainable, scalable, and profitable solutions to this crisis than now. And the greatest untapped well for this type of innovation is the most popular form of trash of all: plastic.
Many people believe the current generation of children will solve the growing problems of plastic pollution and global warming. But how do we talk to kids about these global problems? How can we make them realize that somebody else’s waste into another’s wealth? That’s the challenge we have accepted to tackle by combining action with education.
Our Solution
People, Prosperity, Profit: that’s the embodiment of Circular Economy, who rise as the most achievable approach to disconnect material growth from the extensive use of our planet’s resources.
First time in Armenia, in May 2019 we will bring together 200 students from 5 public and private schools in Yerevan (#33 School after M. Nalbandyan, #67 School after Y. Charents, Aregnazan, Ayb, Shirakatsi) in a series of educational activities promoting the principles of circular design. Our goals are to:
Raise awareness and understanding of the problems caused by plastic misuse
Encourage and support others to become “Green Heroes”
Empower Kids and young people to believe they can make significant change, even at an individual level
One week of workshops throughout 5 schools of the city will take place through various playful exercises, followed shortly afterwards by a live outdoor activity that will seal their interest through a set of collaborative activities and games, supporting our mission in fighting plastic pollution in Armenia. Students will engage in Sorting HDPE plastic bottles and caps (color segmentation) and in a Quest Game, based on quiz and riddle solving!
Outcomes & Impact
If we look at the immediate results on an individual level, students will learn the principles of:
DESIGN THINKING: Focusing on the first 3 stages of the Design Thinking School: Empathise, Define the problem, and Ideate.
SYSTEM THINKING: Understanding how component parts of everyday concerns can best be understood in the context of relationships with each other and with other systems, rather than being discussed in isolation.
Looking at changes in the students’ behavior over the medium to long term, we can expect this project to:
Have ultimately the kids raise awareness to younger kids on the basis of our module… generations – loop!!
Grow an army of educated and conscious kids => teach resilience, respect, critical thinking and initiative-mindedness to kids.
Contribute to the development of Eco-citizenship mindset.
Contribute to the development of Yerevan as a resilient green City.
Organizers
Proper Plastic is Armenia's first sustainable design lab that innovatively addresses plastic pollution and waste management by converting waste plastic materials into commercially viable products and increasing environmental awareness through a series of educational activities.
Revolve Consulting LLC is a pioneer co-development and consulting firm in Armenia committed to facilitate the transition towards circular-economy focused business models and creating alternative possibilities for sustainable growth to its collaborators. By helping the latter in creating positive business value while reducing cost from extensive resources use, Revolve is taking the challenge of refraining negative footprints for our future generations.
Global Shapers Yerevan Hub is part of the Global Shapers Community and was established in 2012. Born out of the World Economic Forum, the Global Shapers Community is a network of inspiring young people under the age of 30 working together to address local, regional and global challenges.
