Gumi City Expands Environmental Education with Waste Banner 'Upcycling Classes'

Securing Provincial Funding Enables 31 Sessions for Kindergarten and Elementary Students from May to September
Contributing to Local Welfare by Creating Jobs for Vulnerable Groups

Gumi City in Gyeongbuk is set to launch an environmental education program that utilizes discarded banners. Banners that were previously simply thrown away will be reborn as 'upcycling teaching materials' to enhance children's awareness of resource circulation.

Gumi City Hall, Gyeongbuk

The city has secured special adjustment grants from Gyeongbuk Province for 2025 and will operate a total of 31 upcycling experience classes from May to September. The program will target 55 classes across 11 schools within the city, including 8 classes at 2 kindergartens and 47 classes at 9 elementary schools.

This educational initiative is part of the 'Gumi City Waste Banner Recycling Project.' It is designed as a hands-on experience rather than a theory-based event, naturally fostering environmental sensitivity among participating children. For elementary schools, professional instructors will visit and conduct the classes directly, while for kindergartens, the sessions will be held in the lecture hall at the Saemaul Undong Theme Park.

The curriculum includes both theoretical concepts of resource circulation and practical activities such as making air fresheners from waste banners and planting hanging plants. The main focus is on having children make these items themselves, helping them learn the importance of resource recycling through direct experience.

In addition to this education program, Gumi City is also producing upcycled products such as shopping bags and umbrellas from waste banners, linking these products to community-based projects like traditional market shopping initiatives and shared umbrella programs. These efforts are also contributing to job creation for vulnerable groups, thereby improving local welfare.

Kim Hyungsun, head of the Resource Circulation Division of Gumi City, stated, "Instilling the correct understanding of resource circulation from an early age is a crucial task for building a sustainable society," and added, "We will continue to expand practical environmental education programs that meet the needs of our citizens."