POPS International Youth Summit
Algalita’s International Youth Summit engages students and educators from across the UnitedStates and around the world in action-oriented, solutions-based education about plastic marine pollution. This excitingSummit involves students in hands-on activities and projects that strengthen student leadership and speaking skills, promote environmental awareness, support educational curricula and spark local action. More information aboutthis program can be found on our website www.algalitayouthsummit.org
WHO WE SERVE
Algalita works with students and teachers throughout the world to foster a greater appreciation of the marine environment, as well as an understanding of how plastic pollution effects marine life. The Summit’s objectives are to educate, motivate, and empower by engaging, mentoring, and overseeing youth leaders in launching action campaigns to reduce plastic waste in their own communities.
Educate - Giving students the information, tools and skills they need to become leaders in their communities. Providing teachers with improved curriculum and educational tools to teach students about issues related to plastic waste.
Motivate - Involving students in hands-on projects with measurable outcomes that lead to plastic waste reduction in their own communities. Inspiring local, national and international youth to continue seeking ways to reduce plastic waste in their own neighborhoods.
Empower - Preparing students to deliver presentations to community outlets such as a town councils, other schools, and local organizations. Growing and strengthening a peer network of youth leaders throughout the world committed to positive change.
2011 YOUTH SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS
During the inaugural 2011 Summit, more than 100 students, 30 academic advisors, and 50 speakers and guests gathered in Long Beach, California. Student teams and their advisors represented 12 countries, including the Bahamas, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guam, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zambia. From the U.S., students and teachers traveled from throughout California, as well as Illinois, Indiana, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and South Carolina to attend in person.
Via webinar, participants represented 27 countries, including countries as far away as Brazil, Fiji, Israel, Morocco, Netherlands Antilles, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and Uruguay.
Creating awareness of the problem of plastic marine pollution and engendering a sense of responsibility are the first steps toward a long-term solution. Algalita’s objective is to provide information in a compelling manner that connects with students, teachers, and the public at large.
2011 YOUTH SUMMIT RESULTS & IMPACT
A team of junior high school students from The Pegasus School in Huntington Beach, California presented their project on local Styrofoam® pollution to the City Council. The council members were so impressed with the findings that they moved to ban Styrofoam® products from council chambers and asked the team to come back for a commendation for their efforts to reduce plastic waste.
Students from the International School of Lusaka in Zambia wrote and produced a music video for their original song “Change the World” and invited students from other schools to be part of the production. The song and video caught the attention of influential leaders in their country and has brought the topic of plastic pollution to the forefront of environmental conversations.
The four-member Gaia team from Canada staged an impromptu performance, commonly known as a “flash-mob,” in their school cafeteria. The purpose was to inform and educate their classmates about plastic pollution using the posters and signs they had created during the Summit.
