Winning $1500 to bring school-wide composting to Okanagan Mission School, this grade 10 team is ready to spread awareness about the benefits of using food waste for good! To impact Global Goals #11, Sustainable Communities, #12, Responsible Production and Consumption and #13, Climate Action, Avery, Taylor and Maddy have created OKM Composting. They noticed a disconnect at their school when nobody was talking about the fact that there wasn’t a compost program at their school, yet everyone knew the benefits. They set out to change that! Partnering with local Spa Hills Compost and their own school, they will use their funds to provide for weekly pick up of compost. This in turn will be used to improve the soil at Spa hills and complete the cycle of growing healthier food while reducing food waste that enters the land fill. They plan to share their knowledge and passion with other schools in the district including elementary schools who are in their neighbourhood. This team simply asked the question; “why isn’t anyone doing anything about this?” and then they decided to take it on themselves. Throughout the process they have connected with local experts from the regional district who shared their research and science on methane gas emissions from food waste in the landfill. Now they are the experts in their own school and leading the way to impact change. This team is already on their way and have a detailed plan of how they are going to create a legacy at their school by being the leaders in sustainability. Follow them on their Instagram HERE.

This team from KSS has big plans for their $1000 award. When they recognized the need to create open dialogue on important issues with their peer group, Gen Z, they created ZED ED Podcast. By building a podcast booth and learning how to engage youth in their school and community this team wants to impact Global Goal #3, Good Health and Well Being while targeting all of the 17 goals through their show topics. Thanks to Staples Studio who welcomed them into their podcast space and shared tips and tricks, this team is already several episodes into their all student led podcast show. You can find them on Spotify and many other sites, discussing issues, answering questions, featuring guests and doing it all their way! This team starting by learning the Global Goals in their environmental science class and their idea for their project was a hit with classmates and staff alike. They are change makers and leaders who are creating grass roots impact in the lives of those at their school and in the other young people they plan to include in their format. Follow them and listen to their unique way of shedding light on a youth voice. Follow them HERE.

OKM students call out big business and government subsidies for fossil fuels….all while the planet’s future depends on clean energy, Global Goal #7. Partnering with BCSEA.

Constable Neil Bruce middle school students are waking up to the fact that not all women and girls have a voice. Partnering with HER International to raise awareness about gender inequality they are targeting Global Goal #5.

It seems young women in the Okanagan have a will to learn about and fight for their gender to receive equality. Calling out common stereotypes that harm a woman’s rights, these students have a strong message. They partnered with HER International.

Youth mental health and Global Goal #3 are the focus of this CNB student video. A reminder of the importance of reaching out to others when you need help. Partnering with Stepping Stones.