Event Report: Successful finale of the LDP 7 Group Project Albania “Today’s Children for the Environment”

„Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection“, a group consisting of young individuals from different countries organized the final event of their regional project „Today’s children for the Environment“, on Friday 15 March. „Kristaq Rama“, private elementary school in Tirana, played a host for the final event, which was consisted of three activities: drawing session, tree planting and opening of the drawing exhibition. The team of six young professionals: Megi Llubani and Sofjan Jaupaj from Albania, Lum Citaku from Kosovo, Natalija Pesic from Macedonia, Jan Hupkens from the Netherlands and Vladica Jovanovic from Serbia, gathered in Tirana to celebrate love for environment as an important value of the EU and a core theme of the project. “Today’s children for the environment” is a project that aims to foster attention and activism among children in preserving the environment through artistic expression. Western Balkans is highly affected by the industrial and economic development and has yet to deal with the consequences, especially the ones closely related to environmental issues. In general, elementary school children are not taught properly about the importance of preserving the nature, which is a problem that could lead to further lack of care for green issues. The creators of this project strongly believe that a society that teaches its young generation the importance of being environmentally friendly, represents a European value in itself. The goal was to engage elementary school children through a drawing competition in five different countries (Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, The Netherlands and Serbia), and focusing on environmental activities with different age groups in Tirana. The best drawings were selected in order to be presented in front of the wider public and this amazing opportunity was used to celebrate the environmental awareness of the younger generations. The project booklet that contains the best drawings and country portfolios for the competition was also presented on this occasion. The drawing exhibition was opened by the Communication officer on the project, Megi Llubani, followed by short speeches by Branka Panic from the European Fund for the Balkans and the two experts – artist Ena Bulku and environmental activist Gled Guri. They all reminded us how important are the children in the fight for environment preservation and how art helps us tell this story more effectively. The project Coordinator, Vladica Jovanovic presented the winner, the young Eri Mila with the prize, a bicycle, and shared certificates to all the children that were present. Besides the 50 visitors to the exhibition, the opening was also attended by their H.E. Ambassadors of Macedonia and Serbia in Albania and numerous children and teachers of the school. In the last phase of the project, the booklet will be disseminated to the participating schools. This way the results of the project will have a multiplying effect on all schools included. The project was organized in the framework of the Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme 2012/13. www.seeyoungleaders.org The Group Project is the sole responsibility of the group members who organized it. For more info check the website http://todayschildrenforenvironment.com/ FB page http://www.facebook.com/LeadersForEnvironmentalAwarenessAndProtection