"I Should Use Less Plastic"... Pureun Asia Holds Ecological Transition Classroom for Youth

Students at Hampyeong Girls' Middle School are engaging in team activities. Pureun Asia

Pureun Asia, an international climate and environmental NGO (non-governmental organization) chaired by Sohn Bongho, announced on July 15 that it had collaborated with the Hampyeong Office of Education in Jeollanam-do, led by Superintendent Park Jeongae, to operate the "Visiting Hamgeurae (Hampyeong Green Future) Ecological Transition Classroom" for elementary and middle school students in the Hampyeong area from July 7 to July 11.

This program was conducted by visiting the participating schools, with a total of around 350 students from 12 schools?7 elementary schools and 5 middle schools in the region?taking part. Under the theme "The Transition Starts With Me Now!", the program was structured as a four-session project-based learning (PBL) course to encourage active student participation.

The lessons covered the following topics: the causes and impacts of the climate crisis; the crisis of climate change and ecosystems; energy transition and resource circulation; and solutions to the climate crisis and ecological citizenship. The program was designed so that students could work on team projects to understand both the necessity and methods of ecological transition. To this end, nine expert instructors in ecological transition education provided tailored guidance to the students.

Pureun Asia plans to publish a collection of ecological essays written by participating students in August and to release a video showcasing the implementation process and outcomes of the project. In addition, at the Hampyeong Glocal Education Festival to be held in Hampyeong in November, Pureun Asia will present its "Climate Education Board Game" and operate a climate change experience booth to enhance climate literacy.

Students at Hampyeong Middle School are presenting their team activities. Pureun Asia

Baek Hyun, principal of Hampyeong Singwang Middle School, one of the few schools nationwide to offer environmental studies as an elective subject, stated, "As heat waves intensify and climate-related disasters and resource depletion become more frequent, this education is essential for living a sustainable life." He added, "In addition to existing activities such as school gardens, resource circulation, and plogging, I expect that through this ecological transition education, students will come to value an environment where all living things coexist."

Kim Yunwoo, a sixth-grade student at Hampyeong Elementary School, shared, "Before this class, I didn't really know much about the state of the Earth, but after taking the class, I realized how much danger the planet is in right now. I used to use a lot of plastic, but learning that plastic is putting the Earth at risk made me think I should use less of it."

Oh Gitul, executive director of Pureun Asia, said, "I hope that the Ecological Transition Classroom, conducted in cooperation with the Hampyeong Office of Education, will give students a chance to feel the climate crisis firsthand and consider practical solutions." He added, "In this era of climate crisis, Pureun Asia will work together to ensure that students take a leading role in the community's response."