A "PLASTIC-FREE FUTURE" FOR YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALISTS

Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality continues its environmental education programs for children. Since 2011, activities held as part of the global environmental movement "Plastic-Free July" have fostered environmental awareness among children.

The Metropolitan Municipality's Climate Change and Zero Waste Department and the Children's Rights Unit organized awareness training for children. This year's events included climate awareness presentations titled "Single-Use Plastic: Is It Indispensable?" The program, organized in four sessions and attended by approximately 60 children, detailed the environmental and human health hazards of single-use plastics.

The presentations focused on products frequently encountered by children in their daily lives, such as straws, plastic bottles, plastic bags, and paper cups. The decomposition times of these products and the damage they cause to nature and living creatures were explained through interactive learning methods. During the presentations, children had the opportunity to explore environmentally friendly alternatives.

The activities included gamified content, question-and-answer sessions, and educational examples, encouraging children's active participation. Children learned while having fun and recognized their individual responsibilities in addressing the climate crisis.

The activities, implemented with the approach of "Educating children about climate change is the foundation of a sustainable future," aimed to contribute to the development of individuals with a heightened environmental awareness by reflecting the spirit of "Plastic-Free July."

Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality will continue its efforts to ensure a more livable world for future generations through environmental education.