Young Reporters for the Environment
Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is a network of international youth engaged in education for sustainable development, coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The goal of YRE is to engage youth in resolving environmental problems and issues.
Young Reporters, aged between 11 and 25 (Above grade 6) in more than 34 countries, investigate environmental problems and issues and propose solutions through published investigative reporting, photographic and video journalism. YRE also enables participants to develop skills and expand their knowledge. For instance, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of sustainable development, the programme teaches or enhances communication and citizenship skills, individual initiative, teamwork, critical analysis, social responsibility and leadership. Each student or group is supported by the national organisation (National Operator) running YRE, who in turn receives support and guidance from FEE. International YRE website, as well as social media platforms are also set up to provide information, inspiration and ways to connect.
Every year the best article (written in English), photograph and video in each age category are submitted to the international competition, following a national one, where they are assessed by an international YRE jury, that is made up of expert representatives from the FEE Executive Board, organisations and agencies e.g. UNEP, UNESCO and the European Environment Agency (EEA), as well as the media. Certificates or prizes are awarded to the best article, photograph and video in each of the three age categories, and international workshops may also take place.
The international network created by youth in participating countries serves as a press agency, specialising in producing and delivering environmental news. In the context of the Litter Less Campaign, the YRE network acts as the driving force to reporting on litter throughout the campaign.
Litter is a great place to start working on environmental issues with students. It is visible and it is easy to see the improvements. Involvement in a ‘litter less’ campaign teaches young people they can help find solutions to issues and have the power to change their environment and the attitudes and behaviour of others.
The Litter Less Campaign is a campaign run by the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Eco-Schools and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programmes, with the support of the Wrigley Company Foundation.
How does it work?
Young Reporters campaigns mainly focus on the production of a journalistic piece (article, video clip, or photograph report).
The Litter Less Campaign is being implemented in 31 countries, and aims to engage and educate students and young people on the issues of litter, encouraging them to make positive changes.
Age categories : 11 - 14, 15 - 18 and 19 - 25 years of age
Reporting Format : Article, Photograph and Video
The goal of the Litter Less Campaign is to reduce litter and affect long-term behaviour change among global youth. The main objective of the campaign is to raise awareness of the effect of litter on the local environment and wider community, increase student knowledge and practical skills in preventing and managing litter, collaborate with other schools to promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and influence others by communicating with them through multimedia and other channels.
Through the YRE programme the Litter Less Campaign aims to find and then report solutions through articles, photographs and videos.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVES
• To raise awareness of the effect of litter and waste on the local environment and wider community by implementing community action days.
• To increase student knowledge and practical skills in preventing and managing litter and waste
• To improve students’ behaviour in preventing and managing litter and waste
• To improve the schools’ waste management treatment
• To create good examples of school waste management systems by uploading pictures and descriptions on the website
• To report on issues related to local litter and waste treatment and solutions through articles, photographs and videos
• To collaborate with other schools in order to disseminate good examples
HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS
SAYEN SECRETARIAT
Centre for Environment Education (CEE)
Thaltej Tekra, Ahmedabad 380 054
India
Phone: 079-26844733/34
Fax:079-26858 010
Email:[email protected]
