More than 600 schoolchildren from all over Croatia showcased their creativity by participating in the eco-educational competition of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund entitled “For an even more enchanting Croatia!”. They submitted 250 works demonstrating the harm that single-use plastic is doing to the environment and offered simple solutions that can be used instead. The goal of this year's competition was to indicate the responsibility of each and every one of us in reducing the excessive use of plastic. The outstanding response showed the willingness of younger generations to choose more environmentally friendly products, such as canvas bags, reusable bottles and lunchboxes over disposable packaging.
The expert jury, consisting of Sunčana Matić from the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, eco-influencer Marina Matijević, teacher and creative person Mirna Deskar, and a representative of the agency implementing the competition, selected the most creative works in three categories. Lower grades elementary school pupils had the task of designing an eco-superhero, and according to the jury’s assessment, the 1st place was won by IV. Varaždin Elementary School, under the mentorship of Nikolina Cikač. Higher elementary school grades had to create a 3D comic, where the announced winner was Elementary School from Vođinci, with mentor Jasenka Meštrović. High school students had to assume the role of eco-influencers and create short and inspiring, but at the same time entertaining videos, and the winner was the Nova Gradiška Electrical and Economics High School, under the mentorship of Kristina Dujmović.
"We were pleasantly surprised not only by so many applications, but also by the creativity our students have shown," said Sunčana Matić from the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund. "This approach to the problem of single-use plastics shows that our future will indeed be more sustainable. The young people who took part in the competition not only recognised the problem but also offered concrete and imaginative solutions that should inspire us all to make positive changes in our everyday lives."
The winners will get not only recognition for their efforts and works, but they will also receive valuable prizes – the youngest will get an interactive whiteboard and roller skates, higher grades will get a 3D printer and smartwatches together with gift vouchers, while the most creative high school students will be awarded with a Go Pro camera and a short film-making workshop.
"As a member of the jury, I was delighted with the ideas and environmental awareness the students showed in their works. I am especially pleased to see their vision of the future because they show that ecological thinking and behaviour is not just a trend; it’s a lifestyle in which we can raise more responsible generations", concluded jury member Marina Matijević. This was the sixth eco competition conducted by the Environmental Protection Fund, and its goal is to promote thinking about ecology and sustainability by encouraging the creativity and imagination of students of all ages. By adopting different habits and making better everyday decisions, together we can ensure a healthier environment for not only this generation, but also for the generations to come.
> The gallery of awarded works is available at zaljepsunasu.com
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOWER GRADES
- Winner: IV. Elementary School Varaždin – Boravkaši, mentor: Nikolina Cikač
- 2nd place: Elementary School Rikard Katalinić Jeretov Opatija - Kreativci (Mia Brubnjak, Vid Delonga, Nola Kinkela, Lena Vivoda, Kiara Vlašimsky), mentor Gordana Jedriško Popeškić
- 3rd place: Opuzen Elementary School - Rita Kapović, mentor Ivana Bašić
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HIGHER GRADES
- Winner: Elementary School Vođinci - Latice (Ena Jandrić, Mia Medved, Lorena Savić, LanaSušac, Anđela Vidović), mentor Jasenka Meštrović
- 2nd place Ante Kovačić Elementary School Zagreb - Alberto Obajdin, Norbert Obajdin, Ema Brstilo, Jana Petrovečki, Zoe Burić, mentor Ines Radušić
- 3rd place: Josip Zorić Elementary School Dugo Selo - Lana Ivaniš, Iva Katinić, MilaLekić, Emanuel Peponi Pintar, mentor Ana Petković Gleđa
HIGH SCHOOLS
- Winner: Electrical and Economics School Nova Gradiška - Laura Badanjak, Lana Maraković, mentor Kristina Dujmović
- 2nd place: Maritime and Technical School Dubrovnik - Osviješteni, mentor Dalija Milić Kralj
- 3rd place: Pakrac High School - Paula Lucić, Adrijan Lucić, mentor Martina Matić
