26/02/2025
Regional environmental forum "Clean kazakhstan: a step into a waste-free future" held at Zhubanov university
K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University hosted the regional environmental forum "Clean Kazakhstan: A Step into a Waste-Free Future."
Aiming to foster environmental awareness among the youth of the Aktobe region, develop environmental education efforts, and support initiatives focused on environmental protection, the event brought together experts in ecology, scientists, teachers, government officials, youth organizations, and volunteers.
The central theme of the forum was the promotion of eco-friendly habits among young people and support for practices and initiatives aimed at preserving nature.
Environmental advocate and winner of the international award "Volunteer of the Year - 2024," Temirlan Zholdybay, highlighted the importance of fostering an environmental culture among citizens. He discussed common mistakes that contribute to waste generation in everyday life and society and suggested ways to learn from them.
Eco-activist Evgeny Lazarchuk, founder of the "Aktobe, Breathe!" volunteer movement, focused on the future of ecology and global solutions. He emphasized the importance of supporting environmental initiatives among university students.
During the forum, Zhubanov University students presented several environmental projects.
One of them, "Reuse of Textile Waste," is aimed at creating sleeping spaces for cats by recycling household waste, thus reducing waste and protecting the environment from pollution. "We collect and sort waste, then design and sew the products ourselves. Our project is not just about waste recycling but also about creating environmentally beneficial products. We introduced this idea to our supervisor through our student scientific club ‘ECOVert.’ We also plan to commercialize our project," said Maria Zimakova, a third-year Ecology student and one of the project authors.
Another project, "Green World," is a new green recreational space for Aktobe residents, created by students from the "Landscape Design" program in collaboration with environmental activist Evgeny Lazarchuk.
A unique feature of this park is the water zone, which will be sustained using melted snow in the spring. The park is divided into 17 zones, each planted with different types of trees selected based on natural characteristics. "In each zone, trees are planted according to their ecological features," explained Inkаr Sailau, a third-year Landscape Design student and one of the project authors.
Additionally, the forum addressed topics such as promoting environmental innovations and practices, presenting green technology startups, and increasing ecological engagement. Through the "Green Welfare" initiative, participants proposed solutions to support nature conservation efforts, correct common environmental mistakes, and encourage youth-led projects promoting eco-conscious living.
The final session of the forum gathered all participants and experts to discuss proposed ideas and environmental issues. The session concluded with the development of solutions to popularize an eco-friendly lifestyle and identify ways to enhance environmental awareness and youth activism.