What problem prompted you to write the project?

The problem of today is the burning of dry grass in meadows, reclamation canals, dachas, and along the sides of highways and railway roads. There is not enough information about the consequences of burning grass. According to the regional Ministry of Emergency Situations, this problem is most common in the area of ​​the Dnieper Bug Canal and Belarusian Polesie. Firstly, it has a detrimental effect on the ecological pearl of our region and Europe, degrades the land and has a menacing effect on aesthetics and the psyche. But the most important thing, according to information from fire services and forestry, is the most active source of peat, forest and country fires.

Features of the project and its results. Which of these activities were actually implemented?

1) As part of the project, an environmental information and training camp “WE AND INTEGRATION” was held for volunteers at the tourist base “Sputnik” White Lake with practical elements of organizing and integrating environmental work on the ground with children of primary schools in Brest.

2) We held an extended conference “The Earth is our common home”, where specialists from interested departments and representatives of public organizations, leaders of the environmental movement, and the media jointly discussed and aggravated the problem of burning dry grass. We came up with a public initiative on this issue. We identified effective ways of working. This problem is a lack of information at the local level.

3) As part of the program, we held a seminar on local environmental issues “1 drop + 1 drop = ocean.” We gathered “instructors” - teachers working creatively with children in boarding schools in Ukraine, Russia, Poland and Belarus. Under the motto “A CLEAN HOUSE consists of clean BUGS,” they carried out propaganda work among the participants. Our land consists of small local villages, towns, meadows, lakes, fields, and if everyone respects their local nature, then the common house will smell sweet and delight the people living in their “little corner.” The seminar program included practical propaganda work of the Overcoming Theater with the production “World of Love” from the “Chorny Poplau” program. We carried out creative work on a given environmental theme at a Brest special school and organized an exhibition “Ecological Fantasy”.

4) Based on the results of the conference and seminar, we prepared and published an information brochure “Experience of local environmental initiatives” on the current problem of burning dry grass and the environmental initiatives of the non-profit organization “Disabled People and the Environment”.

How many people were reached by the project in total?

1) At the first stage of the project, 42 people (volunteers and junior school students in Brest) participated in the environmental information and training camp “WE AND INTEGRATION” at the Sputnik tourist base, White Lake.

2) The extended conference “The Earth is our common home” was attended by 31 people.

3) In a seminar on local environmental issues “1 drop + 1 drop = ocean”. “Instructors” - teachers working with children in secondary schools and boarding schools in Ukraine, Russia, Poland and Belarus - more than 200 people gathered:

How was the project covered by the media?

 

At the first stage and at the conference, the republican newspaper “Young Fireman” actively participated (Datsuk Svetlana Petrovna Correspondent of the Republican newspaper “Young Fireman”)

At the conference, the news program was prepared by NTV-Bug (Pyotr Petrovich Zelinsky, cameraman and Alexandra Afanasyeva, journalist of the regional television company NTV-Bug) and Radio Brest (Anna Vasilievna Orlova, correspondent of Radio Brest)

The most excellent material was published by the regional newspaper “Zarya” (Garmel Elena Ivanovna special correspondent).

Cheb Elena Evgenievna, special. correspondent of the regional newspaper "Brest Courier", published an essay. The information was also covered in the regional newspaper “People's Tribune” in the Belarusian language.

Publications within the project:

Based on the work of the conference and seminar, we prepared and published an information brochure “Experience of local environmental initiatives” on the current problem of burning dry grass and the environmental initiatives of ISAR and BOMOO “Disabled People and the Environment”.

What support did you receive from government agencies? Was there any support received from scientific, industrial or commercial structures?

Together with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, forestry, and the education department, we held a seminar. Throughout the entire project, we worked in direct contact with these government agencies. They provided their premises, teaching materials, audio and video equipment, illustrative posters, etc. Offers of cooperation were received from Oksana Evgenievna Shemyakova, deputy chairman of the Brest Regional Industrial Forestry Association, and Eduard Evgenievich Shvaiko, member of the Secretariat of the Euroregion Bug.

Did other public organizations take part in the project?

1) The regional pioneer organization actively took part (Svetlana Timofeevna Mirchuk - chairman). At the seminar, a joint program was adopted on the interaction in environmental activities of young disabled people of our organization with the children of this organization in the places where we will hold actions against the burning of dry grass.

2) Ecotourism club of secondary school No. 30 in Brest (Sedun Dmitry Vasilievich, leader). We conducted a joint trip to the Tsar Oak in the Malorita region and held a camp with them on White Lake as part of this project.

3) Youth Initiative Center LLC provided premises for t.b. "Sputnik" and workshop premises.

4) The Brest Cycling Tourism and Travel Club held a marathon.

What kind of public response did your project have?

Firstly, the very presence of many representatives of government agencies and institutions, public organizations at the seminar was a complete surprise for us. Less was expected.

Representatives from Poland, Ukraine, and Russia are also interested in our experience. It seems to us that the interest generated by numerous media indicates its usefulness and relevance.

Subjective opinion - we need to hold more and more often similar events that unite both government agencies and public organizations. This living cause coordinates a united front in a matter that is necessary for society.

Has the environment improved as a result of your project? If yes, then how?

During the environmental information and training camp “WE AND INTEGRATION” for volunteers at the tourist base “Sputnik” Beloe Ozero, we connected theory with practical elements of organizing and integrating environmental work on the ground with primary school children. They removed the garbage and landscaped the base area.

As part of the seminar program on local environmental issues “1 drop + 1 drop = ocean”. We gathered “instructors” - teachers working with children in boarding schools in Ukraine, Russia, Poland and Belarus on the territory of Lake Zadvortsy not far from the Druzhba Hotel. A tourist parking area has been developed at this site with an organized fire pit. Before this event, this place was literally a landfill. It took a whole day to put this area of ​​the Brest suburb in order.

Has the image of your organization changed as a result of the project? Why did this happen and how is it visible?

The implementation of this program did not significantly affect the image of our organization. However, the new direction of not only practical work on improving nature, but also theoretical work, gave a new impetus to cooperation with government agencies. Before the seminars and conferences were held, we were looked down upon, and the successful unification of all government agencies and the public under the roof of the conference gave authority to young disabled people.

“Live” stories (can be humorous) related to the implementation of the project. Schoolchildren and teachers came to conduct an environmental information and training camp “WE AND INTEGRATION” for volunteers at the Sputnik tourist base, White Lake. Everyone thought there was no guitar at the base. As a result, 6 guitars appeared for thirty people. A wise decision was made at the final chord of the camp. Six guitar owners played "Grasshopper" on one guitar. The first person, sitting on a chair, played a rhythm. The second, sitting on the floor, played the same solo guitar, the third played the bass string. The fourth and fifth used the guitar as a percussion instrument. The sixth one held.

What additional sources of funding appeared in your organization as a result of the project?

We cannot say about the sources, but it would be correct to say that the prospect of further cooperation has emerged using the material and technical base and capabilities of partner organizations, which is no less important.

Has the number of your organization increased as a result of the project? How much?

According to the Charter of our organization, every person participating in our events is considered a candidate member of our organization. Therefore, there are undoubtedly more candidates. In addition, the volunteer detachment has increased its ranks.

Your assessment of the project What problems did you encounter related to the implementation of the project? How were they overcome?

We were unable to make contact during the conference with the representative offices of the embassies of Ukraine, Poland and Russia. Although when a theater festival was held in Brest, within the framework of which a seminar was held on local environmental problems, “1 drop + 1 drop = ocean,” they took an active part in the opening of this forum. Only we were unable to communicate with representatives of the Russian consulate.

How are you going to continue the project in the future? Is this necessary?

Our organization works in three areas of rehabilitation of young disabled people: employment, creativity and ecology. This year in Brest we are holding a republican 6-day seminar “How to make money for a disabled person”, where questions will be raised about environmental volunteer work, as self-realization of the personality of each person, the development of business qualities, and ultimately the acquisition and improvement of the ability of a young disabled person to get a job and a paid job based on the experience of free work.

We are planning to hold an environmental marathon with our friends with disabilities from the city of Vladava in the Myastechko Okuninka. They have White Lake and we have White Lake. They have environmental problems and we have the same ones. Why not share experiences and solve problems together? We are separated by a border and 30 kilometers of distance, but no one can divide nature. In the mornings, in calm weather, we often hear the voice of Polish roosters from beyond the Bug.

And of course, we are actively expanding and improving the creative potential of theatrical activities. We are preparing scripts and rehearsing new environmental programs about the eternal and good.