GECKO: Green Ambassadors in China I

Through WomenWatch, I found an inspirational story about the Greennovate Foundation's GECKO (Greennovate Environmental Challenge for Kids Outreach) program. This initiative educates and trains Chinese youth, many of whom are girls, in schools throughout China. Their programs are offered for free to students and inspire them to become ambassadors to their communities that can inspire others to practice sustainable living. The program launched in 2008, and in 2009, Greennovate also started training university volunteers to deliver the program, which has extended its reach even further.

Just last month, a program designed by GECKO students won the Global Sustainability Impact Award, which recognizes the best sustainability projects within the AIESEC network of 107 nations. The winning project, Green Power Now, is currently the largest AIESEC program in China. It seeks to network with schools, companies, and non-profits to offer sustainable energy courses to students.