ENVIRONMENT

FairLife L.C.C.'s youth initiatives on health and the environment have been implemented over the last three years (2021-23) under the auspice of the European Year of Youth 2022.

Innovative aspects:

-  Developed by young people for young people to promote engaged citizenship and develop skills, attitudes and opinions. 

- Based on a holistic approach, designed to give young people a new role in the family, school and society, in order to build "the first tobacco/ lung cancer free generation".

-  Establishing a structured plan to motivate, network and initiate actions by individuals, institutions, schools, organizations, municipalities, etc. Networking is promoted through FairLife L.C.C.'s youth blog, national student and youth creative writing and poster competitions, collaborations with schools, organizations and municipalities.  Concept and planning of the majority of initiatives were carried out by the youngest Brand Ambassador Orestis Mikelakis and the team of FairLife L.C.C.'s young volunteers. The actions were implemented in collaboration with schools, educational institutions, students and municipalities (Trikala, Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni), which supported youth actions. 

- Fostering a new environmental culture of knowledge, skills, values and attitudes. The concept of sustainability as part of the educational process and health awareness shapes young people into responsible and active citizens.

Youth actions on health and the environment include:

YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS

1.1. Information and awareness-raising short informational broadcasts on LC ("14 minutes of life"), health and the environment (Inhale…Exhale….? OR BREATHE?)

1.2 Celebrating the World Environment Day for Climate Change with a poster exhibition (Patras, 11-18.09.2021) and a beach cleaning action in Voula (Voula, 03.06.2022) in collaboration with the Municipalities of Patras and Vari - Voula - Vouliagmeni. 

1.3 Youth Blog. FairLife L.C.C. volunteers have created the Youth Blog, a Think Tank in which young people highlight the health value of our common lung, the environment, through painting, creative writing, journalism and scientific research. The youth blog also posts school activities implemented under the supervision of FairLife L.C.C., studies carried out by students, etc.  The volunteers' initiative to interview scientists of various disciplines about smoking and health issues is quite remarkable. A similar action is being carried out on environmental protection and cigarettes.

1.4 Video for World Lung Day and World Environmental Health Day 2023:  FairLife L.C.C. welcomes new ambassador Antonis Tsapatakis, Paralympic swimming champion to raise awareness for the environment and lungs’ health, The video also features mountaineer and FairLife L.C.C.’s ambassador Kiki Tsakaldimi and high school student, Eric Bell as the voice of the new generation. The video is a call for the universal human right to breathe clean air. 

NATIONAL COMPETITION OF PAINTING AND CREATIVE WRITING

The 1st Panhellenic Student and Youth Creative Writing and Poster Competition for primary, middle school and high school students, entitled " The first tobacco/vape- free generation“ was implemented under the auspice of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and the European Year of Youth with the participation of 150 schools from Greece and abroad. Its aim is to highlight the close link between lung cancer and the environment.

The competition is accompanied by the online event of the presentation of the new youth anti-smoking campaign for 2022 as well as the announcement of the results of the Panhellenic Student Competition.

"OUR COMMON LUNG" - EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOLS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND MUNICIPALITIES

A network of schools -Ambassadors has been built through the Panhellenic Competition and volunteers. They participate in youth initiatives or develop educational programs in collaboration with the scientific team.  FairLife L.C.C.'s scientific team elaborated a Guide of indicative proposals for environmental, health and smoking-related initiatives, focusing on the environmental footprint (72 billion cigarette waste of 1.5 billion smokers, 40 % of which is found in the Mediterranean) and the pollution of the soil, flora, fauna and maritime environment. The educational programs are designed by teachers within interdisciplinary education and include field research through social media, painting exhibitions, experiments, rhetoric competitions, essays, clean-up activities, etc. We wish to help children and families build a responsible attitude towards cigarettes and raise awareness of health and the environment, our common lung.

Indicative topics included in FairLife L.C.C.'s educational proposals for schools:

-Chemical composition of cigarettes - environmental impact (Chemistry)

-Nicotine effects on human body (Biology)

-Tobacco industry, environmental pollution and the role of the media (Language, Literature)

-Legislation on smoking and environmental protection - Environmental impact (Social and civic education)

Educational actions have been implemented in more than 30 schools (e.g., Athens College, Psychiko College, St Catherine’s British School, CGS, CLC Educational Institute, 4th Gymnasium of Trikala "Georgios Seferis", 4th Gymnasium of Halandri, 1st Lyceum of Halandri, 2nd Gymnasium of Neapolis Thessaloniki, Gymnasium of Astypalaia, Xyndaraki Language School, Kinoniko EKAB, Bookstore Vivlioplio etc.)

Students of the International Baccalaureate, in cooperation with the CLC Institute, are conducting a study on the smoking impact on the environment and the economy, for 2023.

“ASKLEPIEIA EN DRASI – THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HEALTH”/PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES IN NATURE

FairLife L.C.C. launched in Trikala the institution “Asklepieia en drasi- The cultural heritage of health”, on 06-07/11/2021, linking ancient healing temples with physical exercise (walking, running, cycling, etc.), contact with nature, environmental protection and a healthy lifestyle. The event was held under the auspices of the Central Union of Municipalities in Greece (KEDE), the Municipality of Trikala, the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing (EOOA) and the Hellenic Cycling Federation (EOP). The actions were supported through the participation of local sports clubs (Trikala Ski Mountaineering Association, Trikala Runners Club, Trikala Cycling Club), students and many citizens. The event was followed by Informative events-meetings, wellness actions and participation of young volunteers in athletic charitable events.