Call for sustainable local projects - Join GAIA Fellowship programme!

Are you an active youth who want to make a positive change in its community? Do you have an idea for sustainable project but you do not know how to start?

If your answer is YES at least once, we have something for you! We are pleased to invite you to join our new leadership programme GAIA Fellowship.

What is GAIA Fellowship:

The GAIA Fellowship, organized and developed by FEE, challenges young people to create and develop their own solution to an environmental-related problem. Each fellow is guided by a mentor and receives several education materials to support the development of their project. The goal of the fellowship is to help the fellows become sustainable leaders and have their projects implemented in real life.

GAIA Fellow’s profile:

The perfect GAIA Fellow: 

• Is between 18 and 30 years old 

• Is part of or involved in one of the 5 FEE programes

• Is motivated and wants to take climate action 

• Wants to develop and implement their own project 

• Has 2 hours/week free to participate in the Fellowship

Benefits of participating:

A total of 10 projects will be selected and will receive several benefits:

• 8 months of guidance from professionals

• Develop several essential leadership skills

• The chance to transform and implement an idea into real-life, change-making actions

• Recognition through FEE’s website and social media

• A certificate of participation and completion

Important deadlines:

Application deadline: 16th of September 2022

Start date: 3rd of October 2022

Total duration: 8 months (October - May/June)

YRE students from India will report from the 4th Edition of International Conference on Sustainability Education

The overall aim of the conference will be on strengthening partnerships and building connections through sharing innovative ideas, experiences and case studies on sustainability education that leads to positive actions. This is also confirmed by the main theme of the conference: Building Connections and Partnership for Sustainable Future.

The 4th ICSE will be organized on September 9 and 10 2022 through hybrid mode at SCOPE Complex in New Delhi by Mobius Foundation in partnership with some of the key environmental organizations, UNESCO, UNEP, Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE, Copenhagen), The Climate Reality Project India, The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), WWF India.
The conference is expected to bring together around 300 participants physically (250 Indians + 50 Foreigners) and will be joined by thousands virtually from across the globe representing multi-disciplinary and diverse group of stakeholders including: policy makers, teachers and educators, young professionals, representative of schools and education networks, youth, scientists and technical experts, as well as individuals from the private sector and civil society.

What is more impressive are the five students from India will be covering the event on behalf of Young Reporters for the Environment programm. Let them introduce themselves!

JUI GUSANI, 22 years old, is presently working as an Intern with the Centre for Environment Education under the YRE and Eco-Schools Programme, India. A graduate of the Pandit Deendayal Energy University (Gandhinagar), she has gained a Diploma in Liberal Studies and a degree of B.A.(Hons.) in English Literature with a minor specialization in Environmental Studies. Jui's avid interest lies in the interdisciplinary areas of Environment and Literature. She believes in the kind of literature or writing that can help create a ripple or a strong wave in the stagnant waters of the mind. This is where journalism bridges the borders between environment and people. People are taking up individualistic steps to counter climate change but by laying out stories through different forms of journalism or art, it could help unite those steps. Jui takes pleasure hiking through different kinds of forests/biodiversity and observing the problems therein. After some amateur but considerable years of traveling, she has come to the conclusion that “living sustainably and teaching sustainability” is the only immediate answer to help save the planet. She has recently adopted the lifestyle of a vegan by unlearning speciesism and loves to cook various vegan dishes. When at leisure, she could always be seen hooked up with a good novel in a corner or writing some random pieces of poetry.

JAHANVI ARORA, 19 year old. She is currently pursuing B.Com hons in the second year aiming to major in BFSI from the Institute of Commerce, Nirma University. She has interned with CEE in the Eco Schools and YRE programme and has gained a pool of knowledge about sustainable education and its benefits. She has worked closely with the marketing of both these programmes and understands that honest and creative journalism goes a long way to promote any programme. She also has a background of writing climate change blogs from her school days and thinks it's integral that climate change discourse be propagated. She believes that by using journalism, we have the power to talk about what is wrong in our world and hold those accountable and being a strong believer of honest journalism, she aspires to bring that level of honesty in her reporting as well.

SHIVANGI VERMA, resident of Delhi, and am currently a class 12th student of Little Flowers Public Senior Secondary School in Science stream. Exploring different art forms, music and culture are my hobbies. I like learning new things and am always curious about how things work. World is an amazing place to explore because everyday there is a new challenge and I personally love challenges.
Journalism is the fourth invisible pillar of government. It aware the public about a particular issue without being biased. Today the world is going through severe environmental issues and there is a need to make people aware about this and journalism is the best way to highlight this issue. I am glad YRE is providing such a platform to these voiceless issues.
And Tom Stoppard once said, “I still believe that if your aim is to change the world, journalism is a more immediate short-term weapon.”'

ARNAV ARORA, 17 years old, a resident of Delhi and studying in ASN Senior Secondary School, he is an avid reader and lover of all that is fantasy, he loves storytelling and wishes to find more stories and to share them through this dying art form which he believes is a unique form of journalism in itself. He believes that Journalism is the best means to spread awareness. Though journalism in its essence should be impartial and factual, it is also a gateway to the voices and problems of the masses. Journalism brings to light the issues that affect the public and should concern the public, it holds the power to influence and bring about radical change. It shapes the ideas of the youth and is thus of quintessential importance to the progress of a generation.

 DIVYANSH NARANG, a 18 year student currently pursuing Journalism from Mumbai . He is an aspiring journalist who loves writing and sharing stories with the people . He believes with the right mindset and correct toolkit , journalism plays an important role in society for creating awareness. Especially in these times of chaos , it is more crucial for journalism to stay in a good spirit. He is an enthusiastic person who is moved to bring the true essence of down spiralling journalism in our country.

 
Find more about conference by clicking here.

The YRE Photo of the Year 2023 - THE WORLD’S A HARD PLACE by Michel Cecil from India

“This is a candid shot of a child working at welding at the age where he should have been having a life away from child labour, a life for a bright future, for education, nourishment, and self-health. Seeing this made me realise that even in this 21st century, an age we call modern, there are still these things going on, be it due to his own need for money for the family or for a way to get out of poverty,” with these words, Michel, the author, begins to describe his winning photography.

The photo impressed the Jury not only with its excellent technical processing, but also with a deeper message focusing on human. At first glance, photography may not seem to be connected to environmental issues, but they are hiding in the background. The Jury also pointed out that the author managed to connect several of the SDG´s goals in one picture.

“This photo offers a concrete illustration that our emphasis on environmental sustainability should not be limited to environmental concepts alone, but should embrace and reflect all three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental, as interdependent and mutually reinforcing, with culture as the essential underlying element. As photo of the year, it captures a snapshot of the complex interdependence between human needs and the natural environment, between socio-economic development and culture, and between the local and the global.”

— Bernard Combes, YRE Jury member, UNESCO

Michel, the author of the photo, described his motivation to submit this picture in the YRE competition: “Later on I approached this guy and had a talk and got to know he studies during the day and works by the night, I was bit moved after understanding his situation and opportunities as to mine, I wish to spread awareness regarding child labour through this picture and a request to help such kids in need of bright future not bright lights around.”

The Photo of the Year are usually announced every year after the International YRE competition and it will be used for the PR and communication purposes of the program.