Project: Cotton bags
The “cotton bags” project represents another major project of ours that is very close to our hearts. It was financed with the money we collected at the “Ikarian Days 2016” and was carried out in 2017 in the 5th grades of all the primary schools on Ikaria.
250 cotton bags and pencils to paint on them
Total donation: 450 EUR
Supporters: Participants in the « Ikarian Days 2016 » ; “Ioannis Melas”/Agios Kirikos association, parents organisations of the schools in Agios Kirikos.
Project: Cotton bags
The “cotton bags” project represents another major project of ours that is very close to our hearts. It was financed with the money we collected at the “Ikarian Days 2016” and was carried out in 2017 in the 5th grades of all the primary schools on Ikaria.
250 cotton bags and pencils to paint on them
Total donation: 450 EUR
Supporters: Participants in the « Ikarian Days 2016 » ; “Ioannis Melas”/Agios Kirikos association, parents organisations of the schools in Agios Kirikos.
The story behind the project
On Ikaria – like in any other place in the world – plastic materials are used all over the place: as packaging materials, for grocery shopping, for take-away coffees – like the famous “Frappé” – and for take-away meals. After being used just once, they are thrown away, finding their way not only to the garbage bin, but also to the streets, beaches, forests and the sea. Plastic bags are one of the major causes of environmental pollution.
Against this background, the idea came up of supporting an educational project at the primary schools on Ikaria, while teaching the pupils how to protect nature. Cotton bags represent a key element and one of the very first steps to reducing plastic use. Especially on an island like Ikaria – where the coastal environment is very sensitive – greater awareness of the impact of plastic garbage on nature is a crucial educational element.
The cotton bags were donated and distributed to all the 5th grades of the primary schools on Ikaria with the help of the cultural association “Ioannis Melas” in Agios Kirikos and the parents associations of the schools. The pupils painted the bags with colourful images. At one school the educational project was accompanied by the presentation of a film about the pollution of the seas, directed by Greenpeace.
Lessons learned
It is a great pleasure to see the cotton bags in the streets of Ikaria, used by all generations and for different everyday activities, such as grocery shopping, going to the sports club and to the beach. It is good to see that change is possible, starting with education in schools. Little steps … and we are happy to be part of it.
The story behind the project
On Ikaria – like in any other place in the world – plastic materials are used all over the place: as packaging materials, for grocery shopping, for take-away coffees – like the famous “Frappé” – and for take-away meals. After being used just once, they are thrown away, finding their way not only to the garbage bin, but also to the streets, beaches, forests and the sea. Plastic bags are one of the major causes of environmental pollution.
Against this background, the idea came up of supporting an educational project at the primary schools on Ikaria, while teaching the pupils how to protect nature. Cotton bags represent a key element and one of the very first steps to reducing plastic use. Especially on an island like Ikaria – where the coastal environment is very sensitive – greater awareness of the impact of plastic garbage on nature is a crucial educational element.
The cotton bags were donated and distributed to all the 5th grades of the primary schools on Ikaria with the help of the cultural association “Ioannis Melas” in Agios Kirikos and the parents associations of the schools. The pupils painted the bags with colourful images. At one school the educational project was accompanied by the presentation of a film about the pollution of the seas, directed by Greenpeace.
Lessons learned
It is a great pleasure to see the cotton bags in the streets of Ikaria, used by all generations and for different everyday activities, such as grocery shopping, going to the sports club and to the beach. It is good to see that change is possible, starting with education in schools. Little steps … and we are happy to be part of it.
“Oli mazi” – “all together” – a wonderful expression that has taken the shape, in the best meaning of the words, of a fire engine for Ikaria.