The Green Optimism initiative is the outcome of a collaboration between the Bodossaki Foundation, Deloitte and SciCo aimed at empowering young people in the face of the climate crisis and its challenges. The initiative places young people centre stage in environmental action and inspires them to treat the climate crisis as a reason to participate, create, and bring about positive change.
The programme is funded by a donation from Deloitte, coordinated by Bodossaki Foundation, and implemented by SciCo (Science Communication). Its goal is to cultivate resilience and an active stance in school children, countering eco-anxiety and encouraging young people to make the transition from worrying to taking action.
The programme utilizes the principles of STEM education and the design thinking methodology, and is delivered through experiential workshops. Within this framework, students are asked to recognize their feelings; develop their problem-solving, creative thinking and collaboration skills; and propose interventions of their own in relation to the “green transition”.
In this, its first year of implementation, the programme will be aimed at children aged 14-18 and their teachers in five public schools in Attica. Participation in the project improves the students’ transferable skills and raises their environmental awareness, transforming them into forces for change in their communities.