Voronezh, Russia – An environmental education project, “Eco-game Library: Green Solutions,” attracted around 3,000 participants in the Voronezh region of Russia from May 19 to September 30, 2023. In all, 21 projects were carried out throughout the region. The program was designed by Elena Knyazeva, coordinator of environmental programs for UPF Russia, and head of UPF in the Voronezh region. Built around the concept of “eco-education through play,” it employed an entertaining format to show participants, especially children, that it is not difficult to live in an eco-friendly way. It included tasks and games intended to encourage environmentally friendly habits, such as separating and reusing recyclable materials and learning to calculate one’s carbon footprint.
Co-organizers of the project were Svetlana Safonova, head of the Center for Environmental Information of the Voronezh Regional Universal Scientific Library, and Anna Osminina, head of the Center for the Support and Development of Volunteering; thirty volunteers from this group supported the activities. A total of 35 project partners included state and regional administrative institutions, centers of social initiatives, businesses, and NGOs.
The project was recognized as one of the most successful under an environmental action plan called Native Shores, initiated by the State Duma. It received grant support from the Center for Support and Promotion of Public, State and Municipal Initiatives of the Voronezh Region, as well as a letter of appreciation signed by Alexey Gordeyev, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma. It also received wide coverage in regional media and social networks.
