Protecting Our Land, Protecting Our Future
Vanuatu | Protecting Our Land, Protecting Our Future - Shefa Red Cross Youth | 2024
Halo olgeta!
We are Shefa Red Cross Youth, a dedicated group of young environmental advocates working to combat land pollution and soil erosion in Eton Village. In 2024, we launched our Protecting Our Land, Protecting Our Future campaign, an initiative to raise awareness, promote reforestation, and educate communities on sustainable waste management practices. Our mission? To restore degraded land, prevent deforestation, and inspire a community-wide movement toward sustainable land use.
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15 to 20 years old
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The Right-Sized Problem
Eton Village is facing severe soil erosion and pollution, leading to degraded farmland, deforestation, and loss of natural vegetation. Many trees are cut down without replanting, causing long-term damage to the environment. Without action, these practices will threaten food security, water sources, and the future of local communities.
What did we do?
Through workshops, hands-on activities, and partnerships with environmental organizations, we engaged students, youth, and local authorities in addressing land degradation issues.
Offline Impact
🌱 Tree Planting & Reforestation – Planted native trees to combat soil erosion and prevent land degradation.
📚 Community Awareness Workshops – Educated students and community members on the importance of tree planting and sustainable land use.
🚯 Waste Management & Land Restoration – Introduced sustainable waste disposal practices, emphasizing recycling and composting.
Online & Media Impact
📢 Community Engagement & Social Media Awareness – Used Facebook and local media to highlight the campaign’s impact and encourage wider participation.
Campaign Impact
79 youth engaged in tree planting and soil erosion prevention activities.
Raised awareness among students about the dangers of deforestation and improper waste disposal.
Strengthened community partnerships with the Department of Forestry and JICA Shefa Province.
Increased youth leadership in environmental activism, with new members joining Shefa Red Cross Youth.
One of the most inspiring success stories came from a young female participant, who expressed newfound passion for environmental work after attending a tree planting session. She shared:
"I never knew how important trees were until now. This campaign made me realize how we can protect our land for future generations."
What’s Next?
We are expanding our impact by:
📌 Introducing reforestation projects in more villages across Shefa Province.
📌 Strengthening partnerships with environmental organizations to scale up awareness efforts.
📌 Developing school-based environmental clubs to sustain long-term impact.
