Global Action Plan, an international NGO, in the 1990s produced an effective, practical model to invite households, schools and other citizens groups to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. Their approach, called the EcoTeam Programme, has since been perfected and adapted to a large number of countries, including many CIS countries. The Belarusian NGO Ecohome, founded by Irina Sukhy and others, and the Dutch NGO IVN recently joint forces to adapt the programme to Belarus society and especially schools. A Belarusian Youth Ecoteam Programme for the ages of 12-15 years can prepare young people for a sustainable development of Belarus, not only in theory but in practice. Together with their parents and neighbourhoods, participants can pave the way for a sustainable Belarus, by developing and adopting modern habits and strategies for energy and water conservation, waste separation, green consumerism, nature conservation and sustainable human relations.
The ’original’ GAP program, tested and improved in 20 countries since 1990, produces measurable behaviour change within a matter of weeks. EcoTeams help households to reduce their impact on the environment andto save money. Typical measured reductions from numerous countries are for instance:
solid waste 40%, energy 12%, water 20%
These effects do not tail off, but continue and even increase over time.
countries, including many CIS countries. The Belarusian NGO Ecohome, founded by Irina Sukhy and others, and the Dutch NGO IVN recently joint forces to adapt the programme to Belarus society and especially schools. A Belarusian Youth Ecoteam Programme for the ages of 12-15 years can prepare young people for a sustainable development of Belarus, not only in theory but in practice. Together with their parents and neighbourhoods, participants can pave the way for a sustainable Belarus, by developing and adopting modern habits and strategies for energy and water conservation, waste separation, green consumerism, nature conservation and sustainable human relations.
