PRESS RELEASE - Winners of the International YRE Competition 2022

The finalists of the 2022 Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) International Competition have now been assessed by the International Jury, and the awarded entries have been selected.

This year, the YRE programme received more than 230 entries from 35 countries for the YRE International Competition. The number and high quality of journalistic pieces submitted to the YRE International Competition show the continued motivation and developmentof YRE students across the world.

“It was another record year for submissions to the competition, with countries like Mauritius taking part for the first time and a strong showing across all age groups with increasing levels of creativity and maturity among some of the youngest of participants,” said Nick Nuttall, YRE Jury Member, Strategic Director of Communications at We Don't Have Time and former Director of Communications for UN Environment and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The International Jury has based their assessment on the YRE students’ selected topics , their reflections on how the topic connects to the Sustainable Development Goals and their overall journalistic skills. Therefore, the awarded entries represent some of the top youth environmental journalism in the world today.

Entries selected this year as shortlisted and awarded reflect a deep understanding of local environmental issues from the YRE students. They submitted insightful and interesting projects, depicting both environmental issues and solutions encountered in their local communities.

As Nick Nuttall explained, competition entries addressed “Long standing climate and environmental concerns like ocean pollution and wildlife conservation were showcased in print and video. But also journalistic submissions reflecting recent threats like the growth of devastating forest fires, issues such as climate anxiety and surprises including the often-overlooked pollution risks from the rapid growth in electronic cigarettes.”

As for next year, the Jury hope to see amore systematic approach in international collaboration category to achieve the goal of looking at one issue from different angles and making connections across countries.

This year’s International YRE Jury

This year’s International Jury meeting took place in hybrid form on the 30th of June in Copenhagen. The Jury assessed each shortlisted entry thoroughly, and awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes, as well as Honourable Mentions, based on the technical quality, level of investigation, originality, and dissemination of each submission. The International Jury represents expertise across a wide spectrum of fields and consists of professionals in environmental journalism, corporate social responsibility, and Education for Sustainable Development.

YRE Jury met after two pandemic years in Copenhagen in FEE head office.
From left to right: P.J. Marcellino, Sasha Karajovic, Pramod Kumar Sharma, Adriána Henčeková, Gosia Luszczek, Siiri Mäkelä, Shimon Ginzburg, Nick Nuttall, etc joined virtually.

YRE Jury members:

·     Christopher Slaney - editor

·     Pedro Marcelino - YRE Student (1996), communications strategist, writer, filmmaker (Longyearbyen Consulting & Media)

·     Siiri Mäkelä - UNEP

·     Anne Vela-Wagner – MARS Wrigley Foundation

·     Nick Nuttall – We Don’t Have Time

·     Adriana Hencekova – YRE Alumni from Slovakia

·     Bernard Combes – UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), (not presented at the meeting but participated in the assessment)

·     Mark Terry – Youth Climate Report (not presented at the meeting but participated in the assessment)

·    Sasha Karajovic – President of the Jury

Find detailed information about each Jury Member here.

All entries competing in the YRE International Competition have been awarded 1st place in their respective countries’ National YRE competitions earlier this year. The articles and videos entries are divided into three age groups (11-14, 15-18 and 19-25).

The photos categories are not split in age groups. There is also a special category for International Collaboration.

All entries have been uploaded on the YRE Competition’s Exposure page.

The winners of the competition will receive diplomas and will be published on different international medias, forums, environmental conferences and sessions.

Call for winners

The YRE team is impressed by the quality of the projects, and wishes to congratulate the winners of the 2022 competition!

The winners will be invited to a webinar in early September to celebrate together.

Get ready, information is coming soon!

DISCOVER THE 2022 INTERNATIONAL YRE COMPETITION WINNERS

Article, 11-14 years

1st Place

Title: Bats Haven't Lost Their Sanctuary

Country: Slovakia

2nd Place

Title: Ghost Gear

Country: New Zealand

3rd Place

Title: Urban agriculture for a sustainable city with happy inhabitants

Country: Greece

Honourable Mention

Title: Young people's climate anxiety

Country: Switzerland

Honourable Mention

Title: Fire-Fighting Trees To Stop Major Fires

Country: Portugal

Article, 15-18 years

1st Place

Title: No smoke without fire - electronic cigarettes affect environment and health

Country: Latvia

2nd Place

Title: GREENER PORT-LOUIS FOR A HEALTHIER URBAN HEART

Country: Mauritius

3rd Place

Title: Is there plastic in the Øresund?

Country: Sweden

Article, 19-25 years

1st Place

Title: Moulouya... Consecutive environmental hazards endanger one of Morocco's most valuable wetlands

Country: Morocco

2nd Place

Title: Climate Change and Religion

Country: Ireland

3rd Place

Title: LESS IS MORE FOR PEACE BAY

Country: Slovakia

Honourable Mention

Title: PLANET WILL CONTINUE TO

Country: India

Single Photo Reportage, 11-25 years

1st Place

Title: Terrifying light

Country: Montenegro

Honourable Mention

Title: The world's a hard place

Country: India

Single Photo Campaign, 11-25 years

Honourable Mention

Title: Our Actions, Our Future

Country: New Zealand

Photo Reportage of 3-5 Photos, 11-25 years

1st Place

Title: Frog Taxi

Country: Slovakia

2nd Place

Title: Past fires warn the future

Country: Portugal

Video, 11-14 years

1st Place

Title: Taking Action with Citizen Science

Country: New Zealand

2nd Place

Title: "FEARLESS" RESCUER

Country: Slovakia

3rd Place

Title: Light pollution

Country: France

3rd Place

Title: Slow down! Don`t exceed the speed of fashion

Country: Latvia

Video, 15-18 years

1st Place

Title: If we don't see it, we don't believe it

Country: Belgium

2nd Place

Title: Digital Pollution

Country: South Korea

2nd Place

Title: 57,4 Millions

Country: France

3rd Place

Title: Footbridges, an (in)sustainable tourism?

Country: Portugal

Honourable Mention

Title: Textile Waste

Country: Malaysia

Video, 19-25 years

1st Place

Title: In the Mediterranean, human beings and technology mobilised against ghost nets

Country: France

2nd Place

Title: Nature Conservation at Risk

Country: Slovakia

Honourable Mention

Title: Web Summit 2021: Startups for sustainability

Country: Portugal

International Collaboration

1st Place

Title: WILDFIRES & CLIMATE CHANGE A fiery summer for Turkey and Greece

Countries: Greece & Turkey

Honourable Mention

Title: Change for The Worse: Forest Fires in Turkey and Frost in Slovenia

Countries: Slovenia & Turkey

Congratulations to all winners of 2022!

About YRE: Founded in 1994, the YRE programme empowers young people to research and report on local environmental issues and promote solutions through investigative reporting, photography, and video journalism, giving them a sense that they can really make a difference in the world


OPPORTUNITY: Looking for Young Reporters for the Environment at the Relay to COP27

The impact of climate change on our planet will be felt most by our youth. To mobilise the voices of youth, on 30th September 2022, The World Relay Ltd , in partnership with the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is launching an extraordinary event - Running Out of Time to cover 7,200 km from Glasgow, Scotland (Host of COP26) to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt (Host of COP27).

From the opening ceremony in COP26 host city Glasgow on September 30th 2022 – where the message will be sealed in the baton - the relay will journey through 18 countries - UK (Scotland, Wales, England), France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, Egypt - arriving to Sharm el-Sheikh on November 6th 2022 in time for COP27 which will take place from 7th-18th November 2022. More about the relay can be found here.

View the route on Google Map.

Therefore, the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is looking for young reporters who are interested in reporting on Running Out of Time (ROoT) which will be the longest non-stop relay ever attempted with runners, cyclists, and sailors working together to pass a baton hand-to-hand containing a powerful climate message from young people to the decision-makers at COP27 and from the COP27. 

Three possibilities to report on Running Out of Time

  1. A YRE student who will support media crew of the relay

Youth over 18 years old will join the media team on the way to the relay to work together with a media team, grow with the experience, and prepare a youth article from the experience that activities at the COP 27 will continue.

Timeline: 5 days (depending on the starting point in Israel or Cyprus) at the end of the relay with the media team following the relay and 5 days at COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh (the first week of COP27). Applications for this task can be submitted from Israel or Cyprus.

The deadline for applications is 15 August.

YRE students at the COP 24, Katowice.

2. YRE reporters from the relay in different countries – coordinated by NOs in each country

A group of youth from countries that are part of the Running Out of Time to follow the relay in each of the countries, report on interesting activities, post a social media post share it with the YRE international social media, interview people and participants, present a story about climate change or environmental activities aligned to the route of the relay.

Applicants can be part of the media crew for one day during the relay going through their country.

Applications for this task can be submitted from countries that are on the journey route. Each of the reporters will be assigned their task during the relay happening it a particular country.

Applications should be submitted to each National Operator by 15 August 2022.

COP 23, in Bonn, covered by YRE students.

3. Three YRE students to report from COP27

We are looking for students who can report on different climate change-related themes by attending sessions and conducting interviews, but who are also able to actively participate in or run workshops and panel debates.

Among participants, we are also looking for a person who can prepare a longer documentary film or an article about the whole RoOT initiative.  

Applicants should be from Israel, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, or Turkey. The deadline for applications is 15 August.  

The final articles, photos, and videos from COP27 must be sent to Gosia (gosia@fee.global) at the latest five days after your last day at the conference (November 25). Please send the videos through WeTransfer.  

YRE students at the COP 24, in Katowice.

Expected tasks as a Young Reporter for the Environment

The selected YRE students are expected to report on specific topics related to different aspects of Climate Change by attending events, meetings, and sessions and conducting interviews with delegates, participants and speakers.

Students can choose to make either articles or short videos that will be published on YRE’s Exposure page.

They are also asked to make daily posts on YRE International’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and to represent the YRE programme internationally. 

Requirements of applicants

  • Age between 18-25

  • The person needs to have a valid passport – in the case of Ad 1. And Ad.3) 

  • For Ad. 2 there can be 2-4 applications per country from the country that event is happening submitted to each National Operator. Contact details to the YRE National Operators can be found here National Offices — Young Reporters for the Environment (yre.global)  

  • Interested in themes related to ESD, sustainable development and climate change  

  • Has been involved in the YRE programme 

  • Ad 1 and Ad. 3) Can travel alone to Sharm El-Shaikh on the required dates or travel within the country on the route of the relay      

  • Experienced in producing articles and short films.  

  • Excellent English skills (both spoken and written) 

What is covered

  • Travel and visa costs (Ad. 1 and Ad 3)  

  • Accommodation and meals in Egypt etc. (7-18 November, but exact dates for students will be confirmed as we are planning to involve a student for a maximum of 1 week including travel) or in case of a student traveling with the media team in countries of the relay. (Ad 1 and Ad 3) 

  • Travel insurance (Ad 1 and Ad 3) 

How to apply

To apply as a Young Reporter for this conference, please send the following to the YRE coordinator Gosia Luszczek (gosia@fee.global) no later than 15 August 2022: 

Ad 2) Applications should be submitted to the National Operators in your country.

List of the National Operators can be found here: National Offices — Young Reporters for the Environment (yre.global). The deadline for applications is also 15 August 2022.  

  1. Brief letter of motivation (max. ½ page in A4) 

  2. CV (max. 2 pages in A4) 

  3. Sample of work previously produced – articles or videos related to the theme of Education for Sustainable Development, SDGs, Environment, etc.  

  4. Applications need to be submitted under the specific task and please select the one you are applying to (“Media team at the Relay”, or “Reporter at the Relay in the country XX” or “YRE at COP27”).  

YRE Wins 1st Place in E-Environment Category for #YREstayshome Challenge – WSIS 2022

Last Tuesday, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) was awarded 1st place in the E-Environment Category as part of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) for the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programme’s #YREstayshome challenge.

The #YREstayshome challenge was run in 2020 during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, being recognized as a winner in the E-Environment Category is a source of great pride for FEE and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programme as well.


The #YREstayshome’s Contribution to WSIS Action Point

The award delivered by the WSIS demonstrates the #YREstayshome challenge’s contribution to WSIS’s action points and recognises FEE as an actor in the implementation of WSIS strategy.

The E-Environment Category is part of the 7th WSIS’s action point “Information and Communications Technology (ICT) applications: benefits in all aspects of life.” The #YREstayshome challenge also meets the 4th WSIS’s action point of “Capacity building.”


Implementing the SDGs through FEE and the YRE Programme

The WSIS is fully committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to be selected as a champion and winner, a project must meet one or more of the SDGs. The #YREstayshome challenge was implemented through the YRE programme and thereby contributes to Goal 4: Quality Education. This goal aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

Indeed, the #YREstayshome challenge engaged students in countries around the world and while the world has begun to slowly recover from the pandemic, students are still experiencing the impacts of Covid-19. Activities such as the #YREstayshome challenge remain relevant for young people wanting to use their voice to raise awareness of environmental issues in their local communities, despite the other challenges that may exist.

Many thanks to the students, teachers, and global community that have supported FEE and the YRE programme, especially over the past two years!

#YREstayshome won an international prize!

A few weeks ago, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has been recognized as a WSIS Prizes 2022 Champion in the eEnvironment category for the #yrestayshome challenge.

And now it is official! The initiative won the prize yesterday during the WSIS ceremony in Geneva!

Gosia Luszczeck (left), International Young Reporters for the Environment Director receiving the WSIS 2022 Prize for #YREstayshome challenge, in Geneva (Switzerland).

The #YREstayshome challenge

The idea of the challenge has born at the very beginning of the pandemic in 2020. In front of the multiplication of lockdown across the world, the main stake was to keep students active in reporting about environmental problems.

The objective was to prove that everybody can still be an ambassador of the environment and influence his/her community while being at home.

Every week, ideas were shared on how people can still be involved in the YRE programme and gain new skills, raise awareness, and investigate environmental issues from home.

Gosia Luszczeck, International Young Reporters for the Environment Director with the #YREstayshome poster, in Geneva (Switzerland).

About yesterday’s WSIS ceremony

We are proud to announce that the #yrestayshome challenge won the WSIS prize in the e-environment category!

What does it mean?

It does mean that this challenge, made for keeping students active during pandemic represents success stories in the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines and SDGs

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a United Nations (UN) summit that started its very first phase in 2003. It recognizes and highlight the importance of technology and communications in sustainable development.

The WSIS Actions Lines, also known as the Geneva Plan of Action, established in 2003, identify 18 areas of actions in which several stakeholders like organizations, governments but also civil society can work to achieve and develop the great potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for development.

Therefore, we are proud that the YRE programme won in the e-environment, as it recognizes once again the role of the programme in development.

All the winners of the WSIS Prizes 2022, in Geneva (Switzerland).

The #YREstayshome challenge poster.

Thank you all for supporting us !

YRE Competition: Vote for your favourite work

This year, we have received 234 submissions from 35 countries! They are all impressive and creative works from young people.  

After meticulous pre-selection by a professional team from FEE Head Office, we are now sending out these shortlisted entries for the International Jury to decide the winners for different groups. 

Simply by clicking the “Enjoy” button in the upper right corner and share it with your friends. You have five votes at most for each entry! Enjoy the beautiful works, find your favourite, and help them to be recognized for their wonderful and committed work! 

Portugal, 2020, Photo Campaign

The winners of the YRE International Competition 2022 will be selected by the Jury and announced at the beginning of July 2022.  So stay tuned!

Good luck to all and congratulations to the shortlisted stories!  

Discover shortlisted entries here:

ARTICLES 11-14 YEARS 

ARTICLES 15-18 YEARS

ARTICLES 19-25 YEARS 

Single Photo reportage 

Single Photo Campaign  

Photo reportage consisting of 3-5 photos 

VIDEO 11-14 YEARS 

VIDEO 15-18 YEARS 

VIDEO 19-25 YEARS 

International Collaboration

 

Entries are presented in random order.

Congratulations to all!

Newest report: Achieving Global Practices in Education For Sustainable Development

The Foundation for Environmental Education’s (FEE) strategy, GAIA 20:30, outlines climate, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution as three critical issues facing our planet today.

In line with this, FEE, in partnership with the Mars Wrigley Foundation, has been running the Litter Less Campaign since 2011. Implemented through the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) and Eco-Schools programmes, the Litter Less Campaign offers a transformative educational approach to issues of litter and waste in schools and communities.

 

“Taking action to address unsustainable levels of consumption, pollution, and waste (SDG 12) is arguably the most urgent of the three, as reversal of both climate change (SDG 13) and biodiversity loss (SDGs 14 & 15) depend upon it.” - (Executive Summary, Achieving Global Best Practices in Education for Sustainable Development)

 

The newly published report “Achieving Global Best Practices in Education for Sustainable Development” evaluates the Litter Less Campaign through the lens of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), highlighting best practices that support education, address the issues of litter and waste and promote sustainable development. It explores how activities implemented as part of the Litter Less Campaign contribute to achieving SDGs 12 through 15 by engaging students, educators and the wider community through the ‘bottom-up’ methodologies that define the YRE and Eco-Schools programmes.

To discover best practices in ESD through the Litter Less Campaign, read the full report here.

YRE just joined #UnescoGreenCitizens!

We are very proud to announce that the Young Reporters for the Environment programme has been chosen to be featured on the UNESCO Green Citizens platform! The platform promotes a selection of change agents and innovative projects with a big impact and solutions that can be easily replicated.

You can find YRE’s page here! The website is available in French and in English so feel free to share it far and wide!

Individuals can support and/or join YRE, which will help increase our reach and strengthen environmental education around the world!

To be selected for the platform, we presented key achivements of the programme, and of course, we showed your journalistic pieces submitted to the YRE competition. These photos are also available on the UNESCO Green Citizens platform, so if you want to have a look, it is right here.

2 YRE students will cover the Collision Conference in Toronto from 20th to 23rd of June 2022!

Liam Brintnell and Aian Binlayo from Canada have received media passes to cover the Collision Conference between June 20th and 23rd 2022!

More than 140 countries and 33,000 attendees will participate in one of the world’s biggest tech conferences.

This event gathers attendees from all over the world related to a large diversity of tech fields. YRE’s role will be to interview speakers, engage audiences through social media, and create a final story about this amazing event!

100 speakers will join the Collision Conference, and among them you can find:

  • Andrew MacAfee, Principal Research Scientist, MIT

  • Brad Garlinghouse, CEO, Ripple

  • Catherine Powell, Global Head of Hosting, Airbnb

  • Danielle Belton, Editor-in-chief, HuffPost

  • Kelly Burton, PhD, Executive Director, Black Innovation Alliance

  • Jimmy Wales, Founder, Wikipedia

Discover all the speakers here.

The Aim of the Collision Conference

During the conference, experts and learners will share their latest ideas, products or tools that’ll bring them to the next level. It shapes a great community of people and companies that create an unforgettable experience.

This is an occasion to meet and listen to entrepreneurs, politicians, top athletes…

Also, more than 1,200 journalists will cover the event, so this is a great opportunity for our 2 YRE students to get inspired and meet people to build their own network!

Who Are Our YRE Students?

 

“I'm a 20-year-old Sport Business undergrad student with a passion for digital media and interviewing. I will have my first opportunity to work with YRE in 2022 at the Collision Conference in Toronto. I've hosted and run digital media projects such as podcasts and web shows before, as well as helped prepare the Iris Griffith Nature Reserves for opening in the Sunshine Coast, BC. I'm unbelievably excited to connect these two passions.”

Liam Brintnell

Aian Binlayo

Aian Binlayo is an award-winning, corporate sustainability and environmental communications professional with a proven track record in helping organizations plan and execute their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy. From Fortune 500 to family-owned businesses, he has worked with companies across industries on their sustainability reporting, stakeholder engagement, and corporate social responsibility programs. Aian is a graduate from Harvard University, where he majored in Environmental Science and Public Policy.

Use this time with experts to talk with them about sustainable solutions in this field as well as their current actions to reduce carbon footprint in the industry! Everyone must have ideas for fighting against the climate change, we are therefore looking forward your stories from the Collision Conference 2022!

YRE Litter Less Campaign x World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet)

One of the goals of the Litter Less Campaign is to raise awareness of litter and waste. We aim to run this campaign as a global activity open to as many communities around the globe as possible. UNESCO ASPnet and the World Organisation of the Scouts Movement has joined to enlarge the effect of the campaign, to increase the knowledge and improve the positive behaviour change of youth and communities.

About UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet)

The UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) links educational institutions across the world around a common goal: to develop the foundations of peace in the minds of children and young people.

Since its origins in 1953, ASPnet has developed into a unique network of schools connecting more than 11,500 educational institutions in 182 countries. They promote the ideals and values enshrined in the Constitution of UNESCO and the Charter of the United Nations, including fundamental rights and human dignity, gender equality, social progress, freedom, justice and democracy, respect for diversity and international solidarity.

ASPnet focuses on three Thematic Action Areas: global citizenship and a culture of peace and non-violence, sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, and inter-cultural learning and the appreciation of cultural diversity and heritage.

With its thematic action areas, the network aims to make an important contribution to transforming education systems and to reaching Target 7 of Sustainable Development Goal 4 - Education 2030 by fostering safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments.

ABOut the World Organisation of Scout Movement (WOSM)

Scouting is the world’s leading educational youth movement, engaging millions of young people to be active citizens and create positive change in their communities. The World Scout Movement is made up of more than 57 million Scouts connected together through a membership network of 172 National Scout Organizations.

The WOSM has been created to promote the unity of the Scout movement over the world and reinforce the sense of global community through an international scout network. It supports the development of the scouting movement which contributes to the education of youth through values of solidarity, cooperation, and inclusivity.

The YRE programme shares the values and objectives of the two networks and looking forward to a fruitful with them during the Litter Less Campaign Phase V.

Litter Less Campaign - Spain - Phase IV

PRESS RELEASE: Litter Less Campaign Phase V

 

Litter Less Campaign 

The longest-running school campaign on litter continues.

Over 3.6 million students from more than 6000 schools across the world have participated in the Litter Less Campaign for the past 11 years. Over the years, the campaign has given students, teachers, parents, and local communities the key to better understanding and addressing the issue of litter and waste. 

The Litter Less Campaign, which was launched in 2011, has just entered its fifth phase and will be implemented in 7 Eco-Schools and 4 YRE countries until 2025. The campaign is a joint initiative between the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and the Mars Wrigley Foundation, which educates children and youth on the issue of litter and gives them the opportunity to engage their local communities in awareness-raising activities.  The newest phase of the Litter Less Campaign will also be implemented in partnership with UNESCO ASPnet and the World Organisation of Scouts Movement (WOSM). 

Through the Eco-Schools and Young Reporters for the Environment programmes, students will carry out litter action plans and media campaigns that aim to address specific litter and waste issues. These issues will be carefully selected by the schools together with their National Operators in order to achieve the biggest and most relevant impact in their local communities. 

“The environmental code of conduct has been drawn up and reformed. The LLC has served to put more care and respect for the environment on the lips of our educational community. The development and implementation of the project was a big strength: advertising, collaboration in the campaign of local companies, promotion of sustainable local commerce.”, an Eco-School teacher from CEIP Tierra de Pinares (Spain). 

Litter Less Campaign - Scotland - Phase IV

A campaign with a new approach  

Unlike previous years, Phase V of the Litter Less Campaign is taking a new approach to litter and waste.  This new phase will focus on tackling gender inequalities, engaging new partners, building the capacities of stakeholders to take action on litter and waste, and monitoring and evaluation of progress by gathering data from schools through an online platform. Experience from teachers implementing the LLC provides valuable insight into the campaign’s effects on students learning.  

“YRE and Eco-Schools have afforded the pupils more opportunities to engage in outdoor activities. They have been essential in opening pupils’ eyes and minds to issues regarding the environment in their area. They have empowered young people to take action and recognize that they can be part of the solution.” -Teacher from St. Mary’s CBGS school (Northern Ireland). 

Litter Less Campaign - Kenya - Phase III

Monitoring and evaluation of the campaign conducted over the past four years demonstrated positive impact on students’ knowledge, attitude, and opinion leadership with respect to littering and waste management. The data shows that students who participate in the campaign know more about waste management, conserve more resources, and are less likely to litter compared with students who do not participate in the campaign. In the next three years, a more thorough evaluation will be implemented in order to bring a more in-depth understanding of the campaign’s effect on students. 

FEE is committed to strive for excellence in its programmes and campaign. Through the evaluation of the Litter Less Campaign, we not only gain insights on how to improve in promoting ESD but also demonstrate to our sponsor, our member organizations and to the teachers themselves how their efforts contribute to improvements in student’s waste literacy as well as to a healthier and cleaner environment. 

“The main aim of this assessment is to demonstrate impact on a large scale, it relies mostly on quantitative data analysis. However, qualitative data in form of case studies and statements from teachers implementing the campaign was also included. The case studies show how students bring about a change in the awareness for waste issues in their community during the LLC that is more difficult to capture through a global quantitative survey,” says Shimon Ginzburg, Project Evaluation Officer at the FEE Head Office.    

Litter Less Campaign - England - Phase III

About the Foundation for Environmental Education 

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is the world's largest environmental education organization with members in 77 countries. Through five ground-breaking programs, FEE empowers people to take meaningful and purposeful action to help create a more sustainable world. 

 About the Mars Wrigley Foundation 

The Mars Wrigley Foundation partners with organizations around the world to help people and communities flourish. Founded in 1987, the Foundation works to provide oral health education and care, improve lives in mint- and cocoa-growing regions, prevent litter and waste, and create vibrant communities.

 

Seven Young Reporters Students selected to participate in the Youth Environment Education Congress (YEEC) – 13 – 17 March 2022 in Prague (Czech Republic)

Youth Environmental Education Congress (YEEC) is a side event of THE 11th WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONGRESS (WEEC). A unique event driven by young people who are changing the world by being active within civic and environmental challenges and promoting the enhancement of their education and steps for a long-term future.

YEEC focusing on the support and development of youth with active participation in public affairs, education, environmental, climate and sustainability issues. Bringing together active youths from around the world to inspire and support one another while experiencing an engaging 5 day program. Together they will deliver a message on youth needs and environmental education at the 11th World Environmental Education Congress and will discuss it with leading world educators and key actors in environmental education.

FEE and the YRE programme are the official partners of YEEC and will be presented there also to run different sessions and facilitate activities with youth. More about YEEC can be found here Youth Congress (weec2022.org)



As the Youth Environmental Education Congress will take place in one week, it is time to present to you the YRE students selected!

·    Eva Šintler

·    Demetra Jarc

·    Kristina Mihelinč

·    Luka Skok

·    Maša Melinc

·    Melani Jagodič

·    Omar Husejnagić

Congratulations to them!

As a reminder, their mission will be to:

·    Participate in an entire week training about environmental issues.

·    Attend to different workshops, trainings, but also trips and visits to local organizations and places

·    Report their experience at YEEC.

Students can choose to make either articles or short videos that will be published on YRE’s Exposure page. They are also asked to make daily posts on YRE social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and to represent programmes’ internationally. 

Among 110 participants of the YEEC we have also YRE students from Turkey, Morocco, Northern Ireland and other countries.

Winners of YRE Video Competition for the Promotion of the Global Forest Fund (GFF)

We're happy to announce the winners of the international video competition with the theme “Global Forest Fund – Makes the World a Better Place”. During the competition young professionals from South Africa, Montenegro, Portugal and South Korea created promotional videos for the Global Forest Fund (GFF), the Foundation for Environmental Education's (FEE) unique carbon offsetting scheme. The aim was to promote the GFF as an attractive tool for individuals, organisations and businesses to offset their carbon emissions.

Three prizes, each of 700 Euros, were awarded to:

  • Beatriz Ferrão de Magalhães Sousa, Mariana Filipa Carvalho de Oliveira, Pedro Augusto Rosa Silva Nonaka, Carolina Pereira Barbosa and Theresa Gomes Carneiro de Sousa from OFICINA-INA’s Professional School, Portugal.

  • The Environmental Inspectors: Ivo Fonseca, Beatriz Silva, Beatriz Marques and João Maia from OFICINA-INA’s Professional School, Portugal.

  • Petar Dzakovic, Luka Vucic, Jovana Golovic, Marko Pejanovic, Momcilo Pekic, Andjela Cizmovic, Danilo Grbovic, Masa Bubanja, Vukan Radunovic, Sava Radunovic, Vladimir Vujadinovic, Lidija Dzakovic from Montenegro.

The videos are an excellent example of how young professionals  can use the skills they've developed in the YRE programme to make the world a better place.

Watch all three videos below!

Join the Jamboree Denmark 2022 as an Environmental Reporter!

Are you a YRE student who is part of the global Scouts network?

Are you 15 or older and an opinion leader?

Do you care about environmental issues and are interested in photography, writing or videography?

THEN WE’VE GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU!

Spejdernes Lejr 2022, in collaboration with the Young Reporters for Environment programme (YRE), are inviting youth to not only participate in the Jamboree Denmark 2022, but also to experience it through the lens of an environmental journalist!

This summer, more than 40,000 Scouts and Guides from the whole world participate in the biggest Jamboree in the Nordic countries. Jamboree Denmark 2022 will take place near Copenhgaen from the 23rd-31st of July and is organized by five Danish Scout and Guides associations and more than 4,000 volunteers who have created more than 200 fun and educational activities under the theme ‘Our Common Future’.

Want to Practice Your Journalism Skills?

Be an Environmental Journalist at Jamboree Denmark 2022!

Through the collaboration with the YRE programme, you will also have the opportunity to act as an environmental journalist during the Jamboree! This means you’ll get to interview Jamboree participants, take photos, and create videos that focus on and raise awareness about environmental issues, such as litter and waste, climate change and loss of biodiversity. Your stories will then be shared through various media channels (Facebook, Instagram, various websites) and help raise public awareness about environmental challenges. At the end of the Jamboree, you will get a certificate from the international YRE programme. There are only 45 spots for environmental journalists at Jamboree Denmark 2022 so make sure to register below!

SIGN UP TO BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALIST!

There are only 45 spaces available, so get ready!

Registration to be an environmental journalist for the Jamboree Denmark 2022 open on February 16 and close on May 31st.

Don’t Forget to Prepare!

To help you polish up your journalism skills and make sure you’re ready to be an environmental journalist at the Jamboree, you can participate in three Environmental Journalism courses to help polish up your reporting skills! These courses are for free and will be available online through FEE Academy from May to June 2022. You can find more information below.

Featured
Environmental Journalism: Writing
Environmental Journalism: Writing

Words are powerful tool to bring about positive change which is why in this course you’ll learn how to use them to write informative, engaging and effective journalistic articles about an environmental issue affecting your local environment. By going through the YRE methodology, you’ll learn how to investigate and conduct research on your topic, do interviews, and create a well-structured and impactful journalistic article. The last step of the course is to share your final article to help raise awareness of the environmental issue you’re passionate about!

Time Required: 8-10 Hours

Target Group: Young People, Ages 14-25

Course Coordinator: Reeza Hanselmann, reeza@fee.global

Environmental Journalism: Videography
Environmental Journalism: Videography

Come learn the basics of videography through the environmental lens of the Young Reporters for the Environment programme! This course will help you figure out WHAT you want to shoot, HOW to put your ideas onto the big screen and WHY film is a powerful tool to raise awareness about environmental issues and SOLUTIONS in your community. By the end of the course, you’ll have created your very own short environmental film!

Time Required: 12-15 Hours

Target Group: Young People, Ages 15-25

Course Coordinator: Reeza Hanselmann, reeza@fee.global

Environmental Journalism: Photography
Environmental Journalism: Photography

In this course, you’ll learn how to use photography as a powerful storytelling tool by going through each step of the YRE methodology (investigate, research solutions, report, and disseminate) in order to create an impactful photograph that raises awareness about an environmental issue you’re passionate about.

Time Required: 6-8 Hours

Target Group: Young People, Ages 11-25

Course Coordinator: Reeza Hanselmann, reeza@fee.global

Ready to get started? Find out what’s happening when below!

Want more details about the different activities? You can find more information here.

Participate at the Youth Environmental Education Congress - 13 to 17 March 2022 in Prague (Czech Republic)

The Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) as well as Eco-Schools and LEAF programmes (under Foundation for Environmental Education) is looking to award of a small group engaged 6-8 students to participate in the Youth Environmental Education Congress taking place from 13 – 17 March in Prague, Czech Republic We are looking for students who are interested in sustainable development can be part of the training as well as to report on different climate change related themes by attending sessions and conducting interviews, but who are also able to actively participate in or run workshops and panel debates.

Expected tasks as a Young Reporter for the Environment (YRE) at YEEC

The selected students are expected to be part and reporters of the YEEC. First, students will participate to an entire week training about environmental issues. They will have access to different workshops, trainings, but also trips and visits to local organizations and places. Then, students will have to report their experience at YEEC. Students can choose to make either articles or short videos that that will be published on YRE’s Exposure page. They are also asked to make daily posts on YRE social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and to represent programmes’ internationally. 

  Requirements of applicants:  

·       Age between 14-25 

·       From  Bosnia & Hercegovina, Czech Republic, Germany, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia or Switzerland

·       Has been involved in the YRE, LEAF or Eco-Schools programmes 

·       Live in the countries above and can travel alone to Prague on the required dates 

·       Good proven skills as a young reporter or an eco-school’s student  

·       Excellent English skills (both spoken and written) 

·       Interested in journalistic types of work  

·       Interested in themes related to ESD, sustainable development and climate change  

 What is covered: 

·       Registration fee (140 EUR)

·       Local costs of accommodation, food, ect. (About 335 EUR)

·       Travel costs (About 200 EUR)

 

Foundation for Environmental Education can cover 600 EUR per participants and can accommodate about 6-8 people in total depending on the travel costs.

 To apply for this conference, please send the following to the Communications and Public Relations intern Josephine Cresson (josephine@fee.global) no later than 31 January 2022: 

1.    Brief letter of motivation (max. ½ page in A4) 

2.    CV (max. 2 pages in A4) 

3.    Sample of work previously produced – articles or videos related to the theme of Education for Sustainable Development, SDGs, Environment, etc.   

DECLARATION OF CONSENT FOR PROCESSING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION  

When signing up for the conference and sending back the information above, you agree that we can process your personal data provided and share them with the relevant travel agencies and meeting planners of Foundation for Environmental Education and the WEEC Network. We process the data so that we can register your participation in the conference and arrange the travels for you. 

 

We also ask for your consent to use your photo and bio and your production from the conference for publications on our websites, newsletter, and PR in general. We will process these data to promote you as YRE students.  

 

You always have the option to withdraw your consent that you have given above. 

The Data Controller is: 

Foundation for Environmental Education 

Scandiagade 13, 2450 Copenhagen SV, DENMARK 

+45 70 22 24 27 

info@fee.global 

Lesley Jones, President of FEE answers to our questions

Lesley Jones

President of Foundation for Environmental Education

Hi, we are Sabrina and Linda YRE from Montenegro and Serenza YRE from Mauritius who interviewed Lesley Jones, president of FEE as part of FEE's 40th anniversary celebrations. FEE, Foundation for Environmental education has been indeed implemented in 1981, 40 years ago and is currently running five programmes including YRE. Listen to Lesley Jones' interview to find out so many interesting and unknown stories and anecdotes about her, FEE, and its new GAIA20:30 strategy! We are sure you will learn a lot from her because we did: she is such a good story teller and so inspiring!

Presentation of the students

Serenza Chan Kam Lan

I am 17 years old and I am from Mauritius. I study at Pailles State Secondary School where I am a young reporter for the environment since 2019 and it is such a great experience.

Sabrina Lukovic

I am from Montenegro and I live in a small town named Berane. I am 15 years old and I go to Radomir Mitrovic school. I am very happy to be part of this project and to get the chance to lead this interview. I have been participating in the YRE programme for 2 years.

Linda Joksimović

I am from Berane a small town in Montenegro, I study at Radomir Mitrović school, I am 14 years old. I am glad because I was able to participate in this project. It is been 2 years since I am involved in the YRE programme.

We (Sabrina and Linda) would like to say something about our school Radomir Mitrović. It is a very good school and we get good knowledge there. Students have won many prizes so far in many subjects and we are proud of this project too. We would like to thank our biology teacher Čilovic Ifeta and our principal Vujović Aleksandar who enabled us to attend this interview and who allow us to be part of the YRE programme.

Mini LLC Competition Winners!!!

4 YREs covering COP26 and FEE holding a conference!!!

4 Young Reporter for the Environment will take part in COP26 and cover the event! They are all from the UK due to Covid restrictions but also because it is better in terms of carbon footprint! Let’s remind that COP26 takes place in Glasgow, Scotland!

Callum Alexander from Scotland, Jessie Stevens from England, Maria Aaroy and Emer Rafferty both from Northern Ireland will act as YRE (and even more) during the event.

They will attend conferences, make interviews, explore the blue zone (where there is the YRE exhibition for instance), explore the green zone (where FEE is holding a conference), report on the COP, act as speakers in several events and so much more! Ambassadors of the YRE programme, they are also representing the youth who call to fight against climate change!

Presentations of the students

Jessie Stevens

I am a keen Walker and cyclist and love to explore green spaces.

My name is Jessie and I am a youth climate activist passionate about people-led decision making, the youth voice and getting more youth representation in the media.
I am the founder of the movement People Pedal Power, which led me to cycle 570 miles (917kms) to COP26. Through my activism I do a lot of writing, and now filmmaking to try and highlight the need for greater youth representation in all aspects of climate politics and other sectors.

Emer Rafferty

I am a determined, passionate and ambitious young advocate for our planet, on a quest to ensure that our people get the healthy planet, thriving economy and bright future that they deserve. Having been chosen as a UK COP26 OSG Climate Ambassador, a 30 Under 30 Global environmental educator, the first Translink Changemaker ambassador and a speaker at several Climate events, I have been findings ways to support others; businesses, politicians and ordinary people, take the lead on climate solutions.  

I am looking forward to being a YRE to spread the hope, the buzz and the ambition all across the country!

Callum Alexander

My name is Callum Alexander, I live in Perth and Kinross in Scotland and I am very excited to be attending COP26 in my home country. It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain such valuable knowledge and understanding of the world's most pivotal issues. I am very much looking forward to meeting like minded people from across the globe so that we can all learn and collaborate together.

Maria Aaroy

I am a 19 year old Young Person from Belfast who has worked mainly with young people trying to increase engagement and proper action on climate change. I have furthered my engagement by becoming the Chair of the Youth Working Group in Climate Action and the Youth Commissioner on the Belfast Climate Commission.


We are looking forward to following their adventure live on Facebook @yre.global and Instagram @yre_int and to reading their reports on Exposure afterwards.

Find out already the first article related to the COP: What are the Danish government’s ambitions for COP26? by YRE International - Exposure

About the conference that will be held by FEE

The theme of COP 26, ‘Together for Our Planet’ provides an important platform to showcase the impacts being created by the network of FEE and explain how each programme is driving the agenda of Climate Action. FEE has prioritised Climate Change, along with Biodiversity Loss and Pollution, as key areas of urgent action for its 10-year strategy – GAIA 20:30.


Through panel presentations, the event will showcase stories of positive actions from around the world. It will bring together voices of different stakeholders such as youth leaders from Eco-Schools, managers of Green Key awarded establishments, municipalities with Blue Flag accredited sites and Young Reporters for the Environment.


The event will explore how the FEE network is able to make an impact at a global scale with common principles and goals to achieve a sustainable world. It will connect the global impact FEE is creating through stories of change supported by local examples from stakeholders from the UK.

You can follow the event online! It will take place on the 2nd of November, at 4:30 pm CEST!

We are looking forward to attending the conference!!!

GREAT NEWS: YRE EXHIBITION AT COP26

10 YRE photos (from Republic of Korea, Greece, Israel, Montenegro, Portugal, India, China, Singapore, Iceland, and New Zealand) are now hanging at the COP26 venue in the Blue Zone.

Below each photo, quote of the student and his/her/their name(s) and country.

1. Companionship

Let saplings and children grow together, let us add greens to our world!

Xue Fan

Wonjae Lee, Republic of Korea

China

2. Garbage Feast

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the exponential increase of consuming disposable products was inevitable. The disposal of diversified and swelling waste leads to consequential harms to the earth: burning the waste pollutes the atmosphere; burying it degrades the soil; and marine litter destroys the aquatic ecosystem. The earth is cramming the garbage feast humans have prepared.

3. Looking Back for a Solution of Today

Along the corridor of her 3-room apartment, my grandmother cares for her 16 vegetables. While she claims it is "nothing much", she has cut her carbon footprint by reducing plastic waste from her supermarket trips. While we often think that climate change requires modern-day solutions, my grandmother's garden reminds us that we can take a page from the past.

Loraine Lee Yen, Singapore

4. It's Time to Solve This Puzzle

Challenges arise over time to rethink and reflect on society and the planet. The situation we have been through is one of those moments that we should use to put the missing pieces together. We must put the broken pieces together and rebuild a more sustainable planet, preserving the environment and solving part of the problems of which we are guilty.


5. Recycling Makes Good Business Sense

Recycling saves earth's resources, provides work to many people mainly in the unorganized sector, and can be a profitable business too! Material like glass and metal can be melted, reshaped and recycled. They could be repurposed and also up-cycled into useful products. Segregated waste material helps in ensuring its efficient use.

Yogeshwaran Rajagopaal, India

6. Save the Octopus

We started this project knowing the needs of our island, Andros, Greece. It seemed to be a simple school trip at the beginning. However, when we eventually took action, we found out how much we underestimated the pollution of our seas. Through our Nature Art project, we want to raise awareness for the devastating situation in the Mediterranean sea, where marine life is gradually 'drowned'.

Vasiliki Lembesi, Irene Marini, Michaela Eftyhia Syrigou, Athanasios Spyridon Panagiotopoulos, Styliani Petraki, Greece


7. Sustainable Surfer

The photograph represents my whanau's (family) spiritual connection with the land and oceans of Aotearoa (New Zealand). For Maori people wai (water) is the essence of all life and all water has mauri (life force). Rubbish accumulating on beaches threatens aquatic life. This is my sister at the break of dawn playing her part in cleaning up the beaches and recycling. Small regular acts do matter.

8. Sweet Destruction

We are ruining the earth for our own short time happiness. We are licking up the earth, and it’s sweet resources just like ice cream. If we don’t want the earth and the life on it to die we need to stop consuming and producing so much at the earth’s cost. Let’s enjoy our sweet and beautiful earth responsibly.

9. The End of the World

I often visit the national parks in Montenegro and photograph what catches my attention like this - the remains of a boat, a missing lake, cracked earth in the middle of Biogradska gora. Obviously, nature is calling for help. It is up to us to react as soon as possible in order to postpone the "end of the world".

Djordje Pejović, Montenegro


10. Footprint

This photo was taken on a family trip in Hadera forest. It represents the negative effect humans have on Earth. Like this shoe, people leave their footprints all over the planet and it's hurting nature for a long time. The idea behind the photo is to inspire people to preserve nature - our most valuable resource. Let's leave only positive footprints!

YRE partners with the world’s largest digital and radio Scout event: JOTA-JOTI

JOTA-JOTI - From 15 to 17 October 2021

jotijota.PNG

JOTA-JOTI which meansJamboree-on-the-Air-Jamboree-on-the-Internet, is the world’s largest digital Scout event taking place online and over the air. The educational event brings together more than 2 million Scouts every year in October for a weekend of Scouting and friendship. Young people can learn about communications technology and connect with fellow Scouts from over 171 countries.

YRE is partnering with the Scouts for a while and will hold there 2 events: A workshop for scouts about the Litter Less Campaign on Saturday, at 11 am CEST and another session about the LLC as well but for scouts leaders on Sunday, at 6pm CEST.

Good news: the whole event is not only open for scouts! Everyone can join and connect with the Scouts!

YRE is proud to partner with the Scouts and to reach more and more students around the world!

Find more information here.