How we engaged over 700 young eco-heroes through a story about plastic, old T-shirts, and big ideas.
Ecology isn’t the most appealing topic for children and youth. Eco-messages aren’t trending, you rarely see TikToks about composting, and few will share a story about recycling PET bottles. Yet, with the right approach, a clear message, and the right dose of motivation, anything can change. The Environmental Protection Fund year after year proves that educating younger generations about protecting the planet doesn’t have to be boring.
The Fund’s prize contest was created by a simple but ambitious idea: to encourage primary and secondary school students to become agents of change in their communities. And we succeeded! The first year the focus was on waste; students explored it, sorted it, and came up with creative ways to reuse it. Next year, the focus shifted to a less familiar topic: textiles, fast fashion, and the question — what happens to trendy clothes once the trend fades? The most recent edition focused on the issue of single-use plastics and their impact not only on the environment but also on human health.
Every year, more and more schools, classes and mentors participate in the contest, and the results speak for themselves! Students write stories, film videos, draw and build models, all with one clear message: caring for the environment isn’t boring — it’s a challenge worth taking on. This year, more than 700 students participated. Behind every project there was effort, creativity, and a genuine desire to make a difference. The message is clear: when young people get involved, ecology becomes seriously cool.