At the Eparchial Summer Camp “The Influencer of God” at the Spiritual Center of St. John Paul II in Antalovtsi, Khrystyna Leshko, a primary school teacher and volunteer of the IRCEF and the Ecological Commission of MGCE, hosted an eco-educational event for children titled “Clean Environment – Clean Conscience.” The class aimed to teach the younger generation how to reduce household waste by following the three main principles of the ZERO WASTE ecological movement: REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE.
The concept of “zero waste” was introduced in a round-table format using a lapbook “Towards ZERO WASTE”, which was created and provided by the Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies. During the session, participants discussed transitioning from harmful daily habits to responsible and conscious actions to improve their environment. They also learned practical steps to reduce waste immediately.
The teacher shared compelling facts to illustrate the global pollution problem, explaining how waste harms all living organisms and reduces biodiversity. One particularly impactful fact was that humans produce enough plastic bags to wrap around the Earth seven times in just one hour.
Through engaging activities and discussions, the children reached several important conclusions that they will carry into adulthood:
- By changing their habits, they can personally contribute to saving our planet.
- Sorting waste is not only crucial but also enjoyable.
- It is better to avoid disposable items and reuse what we already have.
The event was held in 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).
Informational Service of the IRCEF and the Ecological Commission of the MGCE
