Last exchange on Zero Waste in the world wide web!

 After having postponed the last youth exchange in March 2020 due to COVID-19, we could finally implement our last meet-up online in April 2021. 

It was not the same as meeting in person but it was clear that each one of us had a strong experience of learning and broadening our horizon. Anastasiia Martynenko managed to facilitate this online format in a most fun and interactive way. The week was full of exciting lessons, break-out sessions and engaging discussions, always focusing on the question: 

What are the root causes of the waste issues around us and how can we tackle them in our own surrounding?

Throughout the week, we got the chance to meet inspiring experts. Ribhu Vora from WasteLess India shared his story around how he became active in the field of waste reduction and how he decided to start his own organization. With the focus on educational content and behavioural learning, WasteLess has even reached the Indian government and collaborated with many schools across the country to drive positive change.

 

Laura Grotenrath from Zero Waste Your Life is a young entrepreneur who has started her own business 3 years ago. She shared her insights on how to start it up and how to promote Zero Waste in different fields of society.

 In an inspiring presentation on how to influence policies, Justine Maillot convinced us that we can all make an impact and change the system we live in. She works for Break Free From Plastic, a global movement which aims to build a future free from plastic pollution that advances environmental justice, social justice, and racial justice.

 I liked the most to feel that a single person can make the change. I am just one person, but I am not alone in this. I finished this project with a hope of changing the world step by step. (Participant)

The online-tool Miro helped us to brainstorm and bring our ideas into order. Sometimes, outdoor activities like taking pictures of waste around one's home and sharing these with the others, made it more engaging. Having seen the waste in people's streets in Romania, Croatia, Ukraine and Germany made us realize that the trash looks the same wherever we are and that these small bits and pieces like cigarettes, masks and take-away-cups are the things that should be easiest to avoid out in nature. 

We experienced that it can be also fun to come together online and these formats are important to reduce our carbon footprint. Furthermore, this week was the last chance to contribute to the final Zero Waste toolkit, a co-creation of more than 50 youth from across the Danube region and result of 4 youth exchanges.