Eco-Anxiety to Eco-Action
Main Topic
Health – Mental
Additional Topic(s)
Solidarity - Civic Activities
Duration
1-2 hours
Implementation Mode
Indoor F2F
Goal(s)
(Learning) goals
• To provide a safe space for young people to discuss and understand eco-anxiety.
• To promote mental well-being by addressing eco-anxiety and its impact.
• To encourage foresight and proactive thinking about environmental issues.
• To empower participants to take actionable steps towards sustainability.
Expected Results
• Participants will gain a better understanding of eco-anxiety and its effects. They will learn coping strategies and feel more empowered to take positive actions for the environment. The activity will also enhance their ability to think proactively and plan for a sustainable future.
• To provide a safe space for young people to discuss and understand eco-anxiety.
• To promote mental well-being by addressing eco-anxiety and its impact.
• To encourage foresight and proactive thinking about environmental issues.
• To empower participants to take actionable steps towards sustainability.
Expected Results
• Participants will gain a better understanding of eco-anxiety and its effects. They will learn coping strategies and feel more empowered to take positive actions for the environment. The activity will also enhance their ability to think proactively and plan for a sustainable future.
Overview of Activity
"Eco-Anxiety to Eco-Action" is an engaging and supportive activity that helps young people understand and manage eco-anxiety while fostering a sense of foresight and empowerment. Through discussions, creative expression, and action planning, participants learn to turn their concerns about environmental issues into positive actions for a sustainable future.
Description of Activity
What is needed before?
Prepare materials and set up the space with enough room for group work. Provide eco-anxiety fact sheets or articles for reference if needed.
1. Introduction and Icebreaker (10 minutes):
• Begin with a brief introduction to eco-anxiety and explain what it is and how it can affect people.
• Use an icebreaker to help participants feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. For example, ask each participant to share one word that comes to mind when they think about the environment.
2. Discussion on Eco-Anxiety (15 minutes):
• Facilitate an open discussion about eco-anxiety. Encourage participants to share their experiences and feelings related to environmental concerns.
• Use eco-anxiety fact sheets or articles to provide additional context and information.
3. Creative Expression Activity (25 minutes):
• Divide participants into small groups and provide them with large sheets of paper or poster boards and drawing materials.
• Ask each group to create a visual representation of their eco-anxiety. This could include drawings, symbols, words, or any other form of creative expression.
• Play relaxing music in the background to create a calming atmosphere.
4. Group Sharing and Reflection (20 minutes)
• Have each group present their artwork to the rest of the participants.
• Encourage participants to explain the elements of their artwork and how it represents their eco-anxiety.
• Facilitate a group discussion on common themes and feelings expressed in the artwork.
5. Foresight and Action Planning (15 minutes)
• Shift the focus to proactive thinking and foresight. Discuss how participants can turn their eco-anxiety into positive actions.
• Provide sticky notes and ask participants to write down one action they can take to address their environmental concerns.
• Collect the sticky notes and create an "Eco-Action Wall" where all the actions are displayed.
6. Commitment and Conclusion (5 minutes)
• Ask each participant to choose one action from the "Eco-Action Wall" that they commit to implementing in their daily lives.
• Conclude with a brief recap of the key points discussed and thank participants for their involvement.
• Encourage participants to support each other in their commitments and continue the conversation about eco-anxiety and sustainability.
Prepare materials and set up the space with enough room for group work. Provide eco-anxiety fact sheets or articles for reference if needed.
1. Introduction and Icebreaker (10 minutes):
• Begin with a brief introduction to eco-anxiety and explain what it is and how it can affect people.
• Use an icebreaker to help participants feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. For example, ask each participant to share one word that comes to mind when they think about the environment.
2. Discussion on Eco-Anxiety (15 minutes):
• Facilitate an open discussion about eco-anxiety. Encourage participants to share their experiences and feelings related to environmental concerns.
• Use eco-anxiety fact sheets or articles to provide additional context and information.
3. Creative Expression Activity (25 minutes):
• Divide participants into small groups and provide them with large sheets of paper or poster boards and drawing materials.
• Ask each group to create a visual representation of their eco-anxiety. This could include drawings, symbols, words, or any other form of creative expression.
• Play relaxing music in the background to create a calming atmosphere.
4. Group Sharing and Reflection (20 minutes)
• Have each group present their artwork to the rest of the participants.
• Encourage participants to explain the elements of their artwork and how it represents their eco-anxiety.
• Facilitate a group discussion on common themes and feelings expressed in the artwork.
5. Foresight and Action Planning (15 minutes)
• Shift the focus to proactive thinking and foresight. Discuss how participants can turn their eco-anxiety into positive actions.
• Provide sticky notes and ask participants to write down one action they can take to address their environmental concerns.
• Collect the sticky notes and create an "Eco-Action Wall" where all the actions are displayed.
6. Commitment and Conclusion (5 minutes)
• Ask each participant to choose one action from the "Eco-Action Wall" that they commit to implementing in their daily lives.
• Conclude with a brief recap of the key points discussed and thank participants for their involvement.
• Encourage participants to support each other in their commitments and continue the conversation about eco-anxiety and sustainability.
Sources & Additional Materials
• Large sheets of paper or poster boards
• Markers, crayons, coloured pencils, and other drawing materials
• Sticky notes
• Flipchart or whiteboard
• Relaxing music (optional)
• Eco-anxiety fact sheets or articles (optional)
• Markers, crayons, coloured pencils, and other drawing materials
• Sticky notes
• Flipchart or whiteboard
• Relaxing music (optional)
• Eco-anxiety fact sheets or articles (optional)
Additional Notes
Debriefing Questions
How did discussing and expressing your eco-anxiety help you understand it better?
What coping strategies did you find helpful for managing eco-anxiety?
How can taking proactive actions help reduce feelings of eco-anxiety?
What support do you need to implement your eco-actions?
This activity provides a supportive environment for discussing eco-anxiety and encourages proactive thinking. It can be adapted for different age groups and group sizes. Ensure participants feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and provide additional resources for mental health support if needed
How did discussing and expressing your eco-anxiety help you understand it better?
What coping strategies did you find helpful for managing eco-anxiety?
How can taking proactive actions help reduce feelings of eco-anxiety?
What support do you need to implement your eco-actions?
This activity provides a supportive environment for discussing eco-anxiety and encourages proactive thinking. It can be adapted for different age groups and group sizes. Ensure participants feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and provide additional resources for mental health support if needed
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