Students from 154 countries taking action for the planet through online collaborations gain support from world leaders
This October and November, 4.400,000 youth aged 5-22 came together virtually to interact as climate change activists in a free, interactive innovation project called the Climate Action Project. The project took place for six weeks from September 25 – November 2. The project culminated in Climate Action Day, a global virtual event, featuring students who have been successful in making an impact.
In its 7th year, the project has gained support from world leaders and global experts with endorsements from Dr. Jane Goodall, President Mary Robinson from Ireland, Tony Hawk, award winning director Andrew McKay, astronaut Leland Melvin and many others. Any student, anywhere on the planet is invited to be a part of the project created by the education non-profit Take Action Global in collaboration with WWF International, NASA, and the United Nations. The project is further endorsed by Ministries of Education and Environment from 17 countries, including USA, Canada, South Africa, the Philippines, UK, Venezuela, and Argentina. By working with governments and leading agencies and organizations, the project is designed to change the mindset of youth and with them society.
The project designers and a global team of hundreds of volunteer educators are committed to providing students with access to action. Over the course of the last eight weeks, Marymount students worked to develop their own authentic solutions to climate change after building foundational knowledge, considering bias and scientific evidence, establishing trusted sources, and creating personal connections with the work of environmental justice.
Istituto Marymount continues to be a forerunner in educating our youth on the climate crisis. This year we continue our legacy as one of 100 founding Climate Action Schools around the world. Marymount also continues to be an educational model by building 21st century skills for our students. Teachers provide students with marvelously exciting activities to ignite their passion to make changes to help the environment. They are learning to use creativity and analytical skills to understand climate change, critical thinking to problem-solve and collaborate in hands-on group activities about these issues which also results in experiencing empathy. “I feel strongly about teaching SDGs and creating global citizens by bringing the world into the classroom and taking my students around the globe! I think it is urgent we reach our students about the serious climate crisis and encourage them to take action. By doing this, our youth also learn to respect others and our planet.” Amy Bivin, elementary teacher and School Climate Education Leader.
The 3rd graders have completed a series of transversal projects (geography, science, technology and art), called “Build the Change”, created by the LEGO Group to enhance their awareness of future issues caused by Climate Change. Since the beginning of the school year they have participated in amazing environmental and social sustainability projects. They research, then design, communicate and then use LEGOS and recycled material to build their creations. One mini challenge objective was to design a better school for the future, using innovation to empower students to engineer a mind-blowing sustainable school. “This project was so much fun because we used our imagination and created our own future school. We can do our part to save the world!” LF 3B
Another project, directed by artist Maria Angeles Vila Tortosa in Art class, called “The Living Box”, students explored a large wooden box, decorated inside with earth creations, while listening to ideas about nature. Next they had to create their own “earth” with expressions of emotion and feelings about our planet and how to help it. Students take the issue into their own hands to protect people, the planet and their future.
“Youth are not only future leaders, they are the hope of today. With their thoughtful and targeted actions, they are greatly impacting the change on this planet we call home.” Céline Cousteau, filmmaker and explorer
Many classrooms expanded perspectives of the climate crisis beyond the walls of schools through class-to-class virtual exchange experiences, working with other youth who look and live differently from them. They exchanged their hands-on learning experiences and discussed their understanding of causes, effects, and solutions as both global collaborators and also knowledge constructors.
This year the project had an enormous impact: 4,393,271 students took 58,869 different actions, being recorded through our EarthProject App. 2,334,601 trees have been planted.
The project is designed to inspire questions as opposed to simply providing answers. Students will design, invent, campaign, and share their stories with the world through use of technology and creative expression of ideas.
“Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge that the world has ever faced, but we can take active steps. Whatever happens in the next decade, the future is going to look very different, and it is essential that young people are prepared for that future, and given the opportunity to shape the world that they will inherit. This includes understanding how we must work with nature if we want to achieve a healthy and sustainable world.” Cecily Yip, Global Education Coordinator, WWF
The project can be visited at www.climateactionproject.org
The Climate Action Project is launched by Take Action Global, a non-profit (501c3) based in Florida, USA, www.takeactionglobal.org
