From 11 November to 5 December 2025, the Growing Green Minds project was implemented in collaboration with Jukumu Letu Organisation in Kenya. The initiative focused on empowering children through recycling, creativity, and practical environmental action.
The project engaged children in hands-on sustainability activities designed to help them understand recycling, reduce waste, and become environmental ambassadors within their school and communities.
Learning Environmental Responsibility Through Action
The program began with interactive environmental awareness sessions tailored to young learners. These sessions focused on recycling, environmental responsibility, and simple daily actions children can take to protect their surroundings.
Rather than presenting sustainability as an abstract concept, facilitators connected it to everyday life, helping children see how their choices at school and at home can make a difference.
Turning Waste into Creativity
A central component of the project was the use of recycled materials for arts and crafts. Children created useful and creative items from waste materials and built hanging gardens using recycled containers.
These practical activities transformed discarded materials into something valuable. The process strengthened creativity, teamwork, and confidence, while reinforcing the idea that recycling is both meaningful and achievable.
Clean-Up Action and Recognition
The project also included a school clean-up activity, allowing children to apply what they had learned in a visible and practical way.
The program concluded with the awarding of certificates to recognize participation and commitment. This acknowledgment reinforced the importance of environmental responsibility and celebrated the children’s contributions.
What Changed?
By the end of the program, children demonstrated a clearer understanding of recycling and its importance. They were able to explain what recycling means and how they could promote it within their school, homes, and communities.
The hands-on approach showed that environmental education can be engaging, creative, and practical. Children gained confidence and took pride in the items they created from recycled materials.
As one student shared:
“I learned that recycling means turning old things into new things and helping the environment.”
Challenges and Adaptation
One of the main challenges was explaining abstract environmental concepts such as sustainability and long-term environmental impact to younger children.
To address this, the approach was adjusted to focus on visual demonstrations, storytelling, and hands-on activities such as toy-making and gardening. This shift significantly improved understanding and engagement.
“The children were very excited to learn and proud of what they created from recycled materials.” – Martha from Jukumu Letu Organisation
Looking Ahead
The Growing Green Minds project demonstrated that environmental responsibility can be introduced effectively at an early age when learning is practical, creative, and participatory.
By combining recycling education with action-based activities, the program helped children see themselves not only as learners, but as active contributors to environmental protection.
Read more about Live-EX project HERE.