Adults for children: ecological workshops Play green with us!® in the Pelplin commune

The project, as part of the Play green with us!^® program, consisted of organizing seven art workshops for students from Pelplin primary schools using recycled materials. The task was carried out by members of two active organizations: the Kociewskie Forum Kobiet and the Senior Club in Lignowy Szlacheckie. This is the result of several years of cooperation between Polenergia, the Pelplin commune and women actively working in this area.

The aim of the workshops was to introduce children and young people to the idea of ​​caring for the environment in which they live, promoting pro-ecological attitudes and encouraging them to take action in this area. In addition, it was important to point out that intergenerational activities bring many benefits to each party. During the classes, members of the Kociewskie Forum Kobiet and the Senior Club helped them understand that waste can and should be treated as valuable raw materials. Students had the opportunity to see how, as a result of waste recycling, they can create new items that can be used in a very practical way.

The first of the series of recycling workshops took place on December 13, 2024 at the Education and Upbringing Complex in Rudno, during a Christmas fair organized by the school. Children, together with members of the Kociewskie Forum Kobiet and the Senior Club, made Christmas decorations from materials that are commonly considered trash. The workshops were very popular, and the self-made decorations were hung on the Christmas tree in many homes.

After the winter break, the Polenergia project Play green with us!^® was continued. The next eco workshops took place at the beginning of March in two primary schools in Pelplin: Zespół Kształcenia i Wychowania No. 1 and Primary School No. 2. There, impressive and unique vases were made from glass bottles from drinks and vinegar, which would certainly have ended up in the trash. The following were used for the works: yarn from used sweaters, jute and cotton strings, pieces of ribbons and lace, remnants of used blouses, and even peanut shells. The classes were extremely popular with the young people, their commitment, focus and great creativity in creating new objects were visible.

The next activities were aimed at preschoolers. On March 13, the organization’s leaders visited the Kindergarten in Lignowy Szlacheckie from the Education and Upbringing Complex in Rudno. The aim of the activities was to make an “Easter egg” decoration from cardboard packaging of articles using various fabrics: rags from old blouses, dresses and curtains, as well as from leftover corrugated cardboard. The children received a cardboard egg and glued it with coloured strips of fabric themselves. The second stage was to stick an Easter bunny made of felt. Finally, the tags were attached and the Easter decoration was ready! During the eco-activities Play green with us!^® there was a pleasant buzz, joy and a nice atmosphere in the kindergarten.

During the next three workshops, flower gardens were prepared from corn and pea cans, which were decorated with leftover fabric. Almost all the cans had ears, feet, whiskers, and eyes glued to them and were transformed into hare-shaped flowerpots – due to the approaching holidays. These classes took place from mid-to-late March in: the Primary School in Małe Walichnowy, the Education and Upbringing Complex in Rajkowy, and the Education and Upbringing Complex in Kulice.

Such projects show that it is possible and worthwhile to work together to activate women from rural environments, the elderly people, children and young people, and above all, that joint actions for ecology are possible! Exchange of experiences and mutual learning are also important. We would like to thank the Ladies from the Kociewskie Forum Kobiet and the Senior Club from Ligny Szlacheckie for organizing the eco workshops Play green with us!^®. We would also like to thank the employees of the Pelplin City and Commune Office for their support!