From July 25th till August 20th of 2010, Praxis International Institute (PII) hosted two separate back-to-back summer camps for youth at its Craik Ecovillage campus. The first camp saw 10 delegations of 15 year olds and their leaders from 10 different countries. The theme of the camp was “Living a Green Life.” The second camp saw approximately 40 youth from all across Canada.

Building on the knowledge that it will be our young people that will lead the way in any paradigm shift, and also that experts tell us it takes 21 days to start (or break) a habit, the camps were important because during this time period students not only learned about how to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle, but actually got a chance to experience it first-hand. By not only discussing and learning about issues but actually practicing such solutions as water conservation, (we use rainwater recovery so monitoring and being “aware” of daily water levels and usage was critical), using composting and humanure toilets, eliminating most junk food and choosing to eat healthy, regularly composting other household organic waste and recycling, recycling recycling to name a few, participants saw tangibly the results of their efforts.

Based upon lessons learned and successes experienced during these first camps, Praxis International Institute has decided to offer “Living Green” camps on a regular basis, and to extend and enlarge the topics and activities included in these camps. So far, Praxis as hosted or booked at least three more similar camps. In April of 2011 Praxis hosted a delegation of 18 Japanese students ranging in age from grade 7 to grade 12, and starting in July 2011 Praxis will host two more camps with at least one of the camps being students from China.

The City of Regina, in collaboration with Co-operators Life Insurance Company’s YES Network, hosted 16 high school students for a day of hands on workshops around city planning. Students participated in workshops related to landscape architecture, transportation systems, water systems, building codes, community development and had an opportunity to try and design their own city. The event ran an entire day (8:00 am to 5:00 pm). Students were then invited to sit in on a Regina City Council Meeting. The participating students were recruited through the Regina YES Network. They ranged from grade 10 students to grade 12 students and represented five Regina high schools.

The day was organized in conjunction with World Town Planning Day. It aimed to provide youth with a unique and experiential learning opportunity into how a city is designed and developed. Students gained knowledge about sustainable city planning, they learned how youth can be involved at the municipal level and they found out about possible career paths. Through some role playing exercises related to community planning and development, students also were given the opportunity to develop skills in relation to collaboration in a multi stake holder setting.

The day was an immense success. Students described the day as “educational”, “valuable” and “exciting”. They said they took away from the day ideas such as “an appreciation of city planning”, “new ways to define urban sustainability”, “new ideas on how we can personally affect change” and “the importance of working together.” The hope is to run the day again in 2011 in November for World Town Planning Day.

St. Catherine Community School’s Oil Recycling Day is a project started in 2010 to encourage students to protect the environment. Supported by the RBC Blue Water Project, students have helped organize the opportunity for the citizens of Regina to drop off used oil products to be recycled by hosting the Oil Recycling Day at the school. The project is an excellent opportunity for members of the public to recycle oil and do their part to protect the environment; however, building capacity and life-long skills in students to lead projects that protect the environment into the future is an essential component of this project. Our students will see first-hand how easy it is and what an enormous difference they’re making by making their contribution.

This year the students are inviting members of the general public to drop off used oil products on May 19th at the school, 150 Brotherton Avenue in Regina. Last year we collected just over 300 litres of oil and expect that number to double this year.

We thank the RBC Blue Water Project for without their funds this project would not be possible. We look forward to continuing this relationship into the future and appreciate their recognition of supporting such a worthwhile community initiative.

The project is a design of a community composting system that is cost effective.

The financial analysis shows that, by selling the compost produces as a fertilizer, the costs incurred in starting up and running a community compost can be covered.

This project addresses the issue of garbage or waste going to a landfill. It shows that there are economically feasible alternatives that divert organics from the landfill. These organics, while breaking down, produce greenhouse gases in the form of carbon dioxide and methane. Production of methane is eliminated with the composting process. Even though carbon dioxide would still be produced by decomposition in a compost this is mitigated by the fact that the soil enhancement would increase plant growth and absorption of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.

The project is targeted at municipal governments.

This is a design that is being taken to the Canada Wide Science Fair having placed second at the Qu'Appelle Valley Regional Science Fair.

The project was completed February to May 2011.

It came about as a result of being assigned an action project in school.

The accomplishments to date are: 1. The confirmation that people would participate in a community composting system and would purchase the compost. 2. The financial analysis showing that the project would be cost effective.

Global Students Helping Students has completed 2 annual work trips to Mae Sot, Thailand, in partnership with Global Neighbours (Prince Albert , Saskatchewan) and the Burmese Migrant Workers Education Committee. In those trips, we have funded and built two schools, donated computers, taught computer classes, donated over 2000 pounds in clothing and relief supplies, and made countless friends we will never forget in Mae La refugee camp. Students have opened their eyes to the reality of poverty, opened their hearts to new people, opened their pockets, opened their minds to new ideas, to community pride, to volunteerism. These young people have come to realize how they can make a change for the good, across the globe and at home. It brings new appreciation to all we have in Canada, and it keeps our eyes open for new ways to help anyone we can. We have found that lending a helping hand can become addictive and contagious!