#Japan #Upcycling #Precious Plastic #Saga City #Karatsu Farm&Food

Enhancing Sustainability Awareness in Saga's Youth

On December 12, 2024, Nakagawa Elementary School in Saga City hosted an engaging upcycling workshop for its fourth and fifth-grade students. Coordinated by NPO Karatsu Farm & Food from Karatsu City, this initiative was part of the "Plusma LIFE Saga" initiative by Saga Prefecture, aimed at promoting sustainable living and education.

The workshop collaborated with the students' self-initiated project, the "Colorful Cycle Project", where children learned to create unique keychains using recycled PET bottle caps. Utilizing a Precious Plastic injection molding machine, the students experienced firsthand the transformative power of upcycling, turning everyday waste into valuable items, all while focusing on the theme of biodiversity.

Learning Through Hands-On Experience

During the workshop, students crushed discarded PET bottle caps and processed them through heating and molding to create their fashionable keychains. This hands-on approach captivated the children, demonstrating how materials typically seen as garbage could be transformed into something beautiful and useful.

Many students expressed their surprise at how stunning the final products were, with comments like, "It’s amazing how the caps turn into such lovely shapes" and aspirations such as, "I want to reduce the amount of plastic I throw away for the sake of the ocean."

Additionally, the workshop included discussions on the severe marine plastic pollution issues affecting Northwest Kyushu, particularly Tsushima Island, illustrating a growing crisis where large quantities of waste wash ashore, outpacing cleaning efforts.

Emphasizing Collective Responsibility

The educational experience encouraged children to think critically about fundamental solutions to these pressing issues, focusing on:

• - Reducing single-use plastics,
• - Circulating plastics as resources,
• - Understanding the intricate connections between forests, rivers, and oceans, and creating systems that prevent waste across entire watersheds.

In the spirit of teamwork and collaboration, the students were reminded that sustainable efforts are not just about individual actions but about working together to make small, impactful changes.

Creative Expression for a Brighter Future

To conclude the workshop, students created "Digital Wave Ema," a personalized art piece representing their wishes for the ocean and their hopes for the future. This creative segment allowed children to express their ideas and aspirations, showcasing the power of their imagination and determination to contribute positively to the environment.

About NPO Karatsu Farm & Food

Karatsu Farm & Food, based in the Yokomakura area of Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, acts as the management organization for the region's "Nature Coexistence Site (OECM)." Their mission includes biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and community-based initiatives. By focusing on upcycling projects with Precious Plastic, they address various regional challenges through environmental education, SDGs workshops, and support for remote islands.

For more information on their initiatives, visit their official website: Karatsu Farm & Food

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