Making Waves in Environmental Awareness
Title:What if kids could teach each other about the importance and value of water? This is the guiding thought behind the latest Swarovski Waterschool program. A nine-month pilot, created in conjunction with Earthwatch Australia and Kids Teaching Kids, aimed at empowering kids in the greater Sydney area to make an impact – and make it last.
Since its establishment in 2000, the Swarovski Waterschool has made it its mission to educate younger generations about the importance of water and the environment. And, more importantly, arm them with the knowledge and tools to make a difference. So, when the opportunity arose to team up with two likeminded entities – the Australian arm of a global environmental NGO, Earthwatch Australia, and peer education initiative, Kids Teaching Kids – how could Swarovski Waterschool resist?
For almost four decades, Earthwatch Australia has been taking action to address global change through citizen science and community engagement. As a result, it has helped to safeguard critical habitats, preserve biodiversity, and promote the sustainable use of natural resources. Likewise motivated by the desire for environmental change, the Kids Teaching Kids initiative was founded on the belief that peer education can inspire young people to act. And, since its inception in 1999, it has empowered more than 152,000 students to make a change within their communities.
In 2020, the two entities joined forces to offer lifelong environmental education. This goal was so aligned with the Swarovski Waterschool mission and vision, that it prompted an exciting new collaboration – and an inspiring Swarovski Waterschool project Down Under.
文化、社區和聯繫
Title:如果不完全瞭解問題，又怎能解決問題呢？當然不能。這就是為何 Swarovski Waterschool 澳洲試驗計劃會邀請西悉尼與墨爾本外環地區 15 個學區總共 150 名學生參與，教導這些學生詢問正確問題和探索各式各樣的解決方案，以便追求持久、可持續的改變。
在整個學年裡，計劃參與者將透過四個階段，成為水與環境保護的領導者。他們第一步要進行研究並應用批判性思考，在完整的複雜脈絡下瞭解問題，同時掌握如何針對具體問題改變以往做法。接著，他們將會聯繫當地大自然的傳統「監護人」，透過原住民文化探索水的價值。
澳洲首間原住民教育科技公司 Indigital 也會協助他們學習先進的科技技能，例如擴增實境、動畫、錄音和撰寫程式碼。接著，這些學生將會與地方當局、政府代表人員和環境組織對話，進一步瞭解水的重要性。
學會知識後，他們會反思所學，並將所學知識轉化為實際行動，為其他兒童開辦工作坊。最後，專案參與者將會成為領導者，鼓勵同儕起而效尤，實現創造正面影響力的目標。
在這過程中，Swarovski 會以各種活動、座談會和虛擬教育，為專案提供支援，確保下一代知道自己有能力為自己與全地球的未來，挺身而出來發聲。
