05. Community Learnings and Reflections SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
Fields Of Change: A Sustainability Handbook
Greece , Organisation Earth
Organization Earth (OE) is a non-profit based in Greece, founded in 2010. OE delivers environmental education for all age groups and cultural backgrounds, and runs Center of the Earth, an award-winning organic vegetable garden that is used as an educational hub. Since the influx of refugees into Europe from 2016, they have implemented Sport For Good programmes that aim at facilitating the integration of refugees into their host communities, equipping them with green and personal/professional skills, and helping them to pursue a healthier and more active lifestyle. Plastic pollution is one of the main challenges in the Greek refugee camps. Food catering provision results in a huge number of waste plastic bottles and tubs, and there is often no recycling or sustainable waste management.
Progress So Far:
The Project: Goals for Zero Plastic Goals for Zero Plastic is OE’s project in Schisto Refugee Camp. It aims at promoting climate resilience and sustainability while providing 800 residents with new sustainable sports infrastructure. The project initially motivated camp residents to recycle their plastic caps and bottles, which were then used to construct goalposts, benches, and corner flags for a new sustainable football pitch. The first year of the project saw the successful construction of this infrastructure, alongside 68 environmental awareness sessions led by environmental educators, primarily targeting refugee children, but also engaging the adult population. These sessions were crucial, as many residents had limited familiarity with climate change concepts such as sustainability, recycling, and reusing. At the same time, the project recognized that many residents come from backgrounds closer to nature and traditional ways of living. The project was framed sensitively, acknowledging the potential perception of hypocrisy in asking refugees to focus on recycling when sustainability issues remain prevalent in richer countries.
• A new sustainable pitch has been constructed, serving both OE’s Sport For Good programme and providing camp residents with a space for leisure and community gatherings. • A vegetable garden has been planted with seasonal and aromatic plants, creating a green space for camp residents to enjoy while developing their green skills. • Almost half of the planned environmental activities have been delivered to young and adult residents, introducing them to key sustainability concepts. • The project has now been refunded for a second year, with plans to install solar lighting for the football pitch and build a kiosk from recycled plastic caps. This kiosk will provide shelter from heatwaves and rain, further enhancing the community space.
Next Steps:
• Continuing weekly environmental activities and educational sessions for the camp residents. • Organising recycling workshops in partnership with Athens Makerspace, who were responsible for constructing the goalposts, benches, and corner flags from recycled plastic caps. • Expanding outdoor activities for residents, including beach clean-ups and visits to sport centres. • Installing solar lighting and constructing the recycled-plastic kiosk to offer a protected space for the residents.
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