Environmental Clean-up Engages Russian Students

Voronezh, Russia – On April 26, 2025, the city of Voronezh in southwestern Russia launched an environmental education project called Eco-Volunteers’ School: EcoGeneration, organized by Ms. Elena Knyazeva, coordinator of environmental programs for UPF-Russia.

The project is part of the Native Shores national campaign, supported by a grant from the NGO, Image of the Future, and initiated by Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Mr. Alexey Gordeyev. The campaign is coordinated by the Central Black Earth Office of Rosprirodnadzor, Russia’s environmental supervisory agency.

The Eco-Volunteers’ School offers a variety of activities, including educational programs for volunteers, eco-themed game sessions in city parks, outdoor environmental classes for local residents, and clean-up events to promote environmental stewardship.

The first event was held on April 26, featuring an eco-game session and a clean-up organized in collaboration with volunteers from School No. 103.

Animated characters, symbolizing the Guardians of the Voronezh Region, led the eco-games. Through interactive activities and challenges, participants discovered fascinating facts about the environment and the natural heritage of their region. Following the games, 32 participants – students and parents from School No. 103 – joined a community forest clean-up, collecting 35 bags of litter.

This hands-on effort made a meaningful contribution to environmental preservation and served as a bright and inspiring conclusion to Russia’s 2025 Spring Week of Kindness – a nationwide volunteer campaign that has been uniting socially significant initiatives across the country since 1997, with support from the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

By Elena Knyazeva, Coordinator of Environmental Programs, UPF-Russia April 26, 2025