Laos: Children and adolescents in use for environmental protection
Starting situation
"Jewel of the Mekong" - With this slogan, the 2018 Tourism Ministry promoted visitors. But the jewel loses its shine. Laos' economic growth is based on the exploitation of its natural resources. Plants and animals rob huge hydropower plants, intensive agriculture and mining. The environmental degradation affects a country that already feels the effects of climate change: Longer dry periods are becoming increasingly violent storms and floods.
The terre of the Hommes partner organization
The "Association for Community Development" (ACD) has been actively committed to child and women's rights, environmental protection and sustainable agriculture since 1994. ACD works especially in remote communities that suffer particularly from environmental degrees.
Measures and effects
At three schools in South Laos, ACD supports students and teachers in founding environmental clubs. Their members receive training courses on environmental and climate protection topics, executive training and communication advanced training. For example, the young people learn the basics of radio journalism. You get acting lessons and support with the shooting of short films.
Use the knowledge acquired directly. They design information material, prepare radio programs and perform plays. Your goal: to clarify classmates, neighbors and politicians about the consequences of the environmental degradation and to show alternatives. This includes, for example, waste prevention through the "3R principle"-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. That means shopping with fabric bags and bamboo baskets instead of plastic bags. And upcycling: In workshops, the young people make new things new and create works of art out of garbage that they later sell.
In a youth camp, the clubs network and plan actions together.
A total of ACD works with over 9,000 adolescents and young adults as well as over 200 teachers who work as a multiplier for the protection of the environment.
Challenges and planning
Laos is already suffering from the destruction of his environment. Climate change will further tighten the situation. With the project, ACD helps young people to develop their strengths and confidently stand up for their right to a clean environment. They become "agents of change" and role models for others.