We took a more eco-friendly approach to decorating the Christmas trees this year by using natural materials. Oksana Kremin, an expert from the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF), arranged an environmental workshop for young nature enthusiasts focusing on making Christmas tree decorations out of cones to promote this environmentally conscious responsibility.
The event began with an informative lecture on the importance of protecting the environment. Following that, participants were given all of the supplies they needed, including fresh cones, paints, brushes, glue, threads, glitter, and other natural embellishments. Mrs. Oksana assisted the youngsters in picking the appropriate cones and demonstrated several methods for transforming them into one-of-a-kind decorations. She provided many decorating suggestions to encourage creativity.
The workshop’s participants were thrilled, each attempting to make a one-of-a-kind piece of ornament that embodied their unique thoughts and ideas. Throughout the creative process, the children actively participated in talks about environmental issues and the value of using natural materials. After finishing their masterpieces, the children discussed their feelings. They wished to continue caring for nature—each handcrafted decoration was created as a one-of-a-kind expression of its creator’s ingenuity and individuality. This environmental event perfectly integrated creativity with eco-consciousness, serving as a pleasant reminder of our responsibility to respect and protect our most valuable asset—nature. As these handcrafted decorations adorn the Christmas tree, they serve as powerful reminders of our joint obligation to maintain the beauty of our world.
The event was held within the framework of cooperation between the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) headed by Olexander Bokotey) and the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU Bundesverband, NABU International), project coordinators Ivan Tymofeiev (NABU), and Nataliya Kulya (IRCEF).
Oksana Kremin,
Head of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection at PADIUN and IERS expert
