Environmental measures to improve children's health - Health and ...

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Youth participation7Country: RussiaProject: Interactive environmental educationand action programmeOrganisation: Green Light Youth Organisation,VladivostokRepresentative: Irina Fedorenko,Evgeniya SobolevaEmail: phedorenko@hotmail.comMobilising youth to keepnature in mindYoung people in Russia do not always know enough aboutthe importance of the natural environment for their healthand well-being. The problem for the organisers of thisproject was that those in authority who do know aboutthese issues are not always ready or have the capacity toshare the information.The Green Light Youth Organisation in Vladivostokembarked on an interactive environmental educationprogramme 18 months after Irina Fedorenko returned toRussia inspired by her visit to the World Youth Congressin Canada in August 2008, where she gained the support of"Be the change" (BTC) fund and Peace Child International.With her friend Evgeniya Soboleva and with help from thecity youth department, the project brought together sevenschools and three universities in an impressive series ofactivities that draw on the expertise of university professors,environmental organisations and local government officials.Between March and June 2009, 12 student trainers from theNGO "Trainers Union" completed courses on "The naturalenvironment as a way of thinking". They then went into fourschools and talked to more than 500 children. This prompteda whole range of activities.For example, with the help of the Students Council of FarEastern University and Vladivostok city administration,200 students took part in rubbish clearing projects in a park,a forest, mountain area and at a waterfall. Once the sites wereclear, the young people shared information with interestedonlookers and installed waste bins.School children hold up their drawings about recycling in aprogramme organised by the Green Light Youth Organisationin Vladivostok, Russia.In the Far Eastern State Technical University, a paper recyclingsystem was set up. On the campus, student brigadeswho work on the Russian railways in the summer, knownas "provodnik", also helped with project activities.They constructed bird houses in trees around the universitybuildings to remind students of the disappearance of species.On 6 June 2009, a festival of photos and videos called"Look… Environment by youth" was held in Vladivostok StateUniversity of Economy and Service where young peopleshared their reflections on environmental problems andpossible solutions. A total of 82 certificates were awardedto the most active participants in project activities and eightletters of appreciation were given to experts who hadprovided advice to the project.An estimated 2,000 young people have taken part in theseenvironmental measures of the project in the Far Easternregion of Russia. Irina Fedorenko believes that each hasgained some "real life" knowledge of nature, its relationshipto our health, and the importance of small, individual actions.One thousand 12-17 year-olds have received training onsustainable development including: choosing healthier food;keeping the environment clean; and healthier lifestyles forthemselves and their families.12 CEHAPE Awards, March 2010
Schools8Country: TajikistanProject: Green schoolsOrganisation: Youth of the 21st CenturyRepresentative: Umidjon UlugovEmail: umed.ulugov@youth21.tjStudent environmentalmanagementcomes to the classroomConditions in schools in Tajikistan are not always as good asthey should be. Classrooms are often untidy and cold inwinter. But the Youth of the 21st Century organisation in18 schools in Dushanbe has changed all that in a project thatis fully self-sustaining. Little wonder it has won the politicalsupport of Tajik‘s education and environment ministries.Activities are organised with the support of Green Patrol,a youth movement with 16,000 members operating in70 schools. The project began by introducing an interactive,computer-based manual. The main themes in this "textbook"are the environment, healthy living, leadership and voluntaryactivity. In a collaborative process, it was decided that schoolsin the project would be rated allowing them to competeagainst each other.The students work individually on the contents and activitiesoutlined in the book. They then organise activities, such asclean-ups of classrooms and outdoor spaces, low-cost schoolheating, free distribution of boiled water, and the creationof posters to inform and decorate the classroom walls.The project has achieved a substantial reduction in diarrhoealdisease and although other health benefits have not beenformally measured, parents have thanked the project teamfor what they perceive as a reduction in cases of flu.The students are proud of their achievements and ofbecoming managers of their own environment. By sellingplastic and waste paper to local recycling companies, manyschools have created a fund to cover their costs. On average,each school has earned the equivalent of US$1,200.During 2010, another 100 schools are expected to join theproject. In addition, the interactive textbook will be featuredin a Ministry of Education report on informal education.School children have the chance to learn school andenvironmental management skills from the"interactive book" used in the Green Schools project inTajikistan.Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, WHO European Region13
Page 4 and 5: Environmental measuresto improvechi
Page 6 and 7: Water & Sanitation1Country: Lithuan
Page 8 and 9: Air Quality3Country: BelgiumProject
Page 10 and 11: Mobility5Country: AustriaProject: '
Page 14 and 15: The award judgesHere is a brief int
Page 16 and 17: HEAL in actionProtecting children i
Page 18 and 19: WECF in actionProtecting children t
Page 20: Helping children‘s health in Euro

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