16 June 2009

Pristina, Kosovo: UNV organized a one-day event with local students to promote recycling and other environmentally-friendly practices in Kosovo.

To mark World Environment Day, on 4 June UNV worked in partnership with the American University in Kosovo (AUK) Center for Energy and Natural Resources (CENR), together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Center is among the first organizations to initiate comprehensive recycling initiatives in Kosovo. Recycling is not yet very common in Kosovo, and people generally have no choice but to throw recyclables such as paper, plastic bottles and cans into rubbish bins.

The students of AUK recently introduced a comprehensive recycling programme on campus. They have also supported high school students in the development of environmental clubs to promote greener neighbourhoods in those students’ home towns. 

World Environment Day was a good opportunity for the UNV Country Office to partner with AUK to invite high school students in the university neighbourhood, and for UNV volunteers to provide them with some practical tips on how and where they can take voluntary actions to improve their surroundings or help achieve Millennium Development Goal 7 (ensure environmental sustainability).
 
The activity started at the university auditorium with around 30 participants.  UNV opened the event with a short speech on the importance of voluntary contributions to protect the environment, and encouraged them to think about what they can do and to take actions. 

Two students from the university gave short lectures on their recycling exercises and activities of the environmental club.  A staff member from UNDP Kosovo presented UNDP projects and initiatives on environment highlighting the environmental challenges Kosovo is facing.  

During the lectures, small tips for individuals to live an environmental friendly life (extracted from UNEP website and translated by national UNV volunteers) were also provided. Participants were requested to bring back and discuss the information shared with friends and families.

After the lecture, the participants made a short tour of campus to see 23 recycling boxes, colourfully painted by the university students. Participants then walked to Germia Park, a nearby green area, distributed informational stickers with recycling tips to passers-by, and explained that recycling points were available at the university.

UNV plans to support the university to make these good initiatives by students sustainable and widely recognized by the neighbourhood.