KidsCanFixTheWorld
It's up to us.
Ready to get started?
The time is right, the issues are front page, and you want to do something.
A good place to start might be to share this video from the United Nations Environment Program with some of your like-minded friends. The video explains why plastic has become so ubiquitous in our world. And while plastic was once hailed as a miracle substance, we now know the damage it does to the earth's ecosystems, the climate, and human health.
If there's an environmental club in your school, that's the logical place to start. An established club saves you the trouble of organizing your own (see below if there is no club in your school) and provides the network of kids you'll need to launch and manage the KCFTW campaign. ​
Do a little homework.
• Meet with your school superintendent and explain what you want to do and why. Find out of there is a contract with a vendor who supplies plastic water bottles to your school. Does the contract allow for changes, and/or is the vendor willing to work with you to help reduce plastic waste?
• Meet with the school district's purchasing manager and explain what you want to do and why. Find out who the school's major vendors are. Learn what you can about the vendor's business and investigate their commitment to reducing plastic waste.
• Attend the next meeting of the Board of Education. During the public comment period, tell the Board about your campaign, and explain why it's important to you. Be prepared with statistics and facts to support your point.
​
• Decide what to do about students who may not be able to afford their own re-usable water bottle, or for kids who misplace theirs during the day. Consider setting up a "take it or leave it" station for re-usable water bottles.
​
• Use the draft letters (see the DOCUMENTS page) and personalize them for your school.
Launch the Campaign
• Design some campaign posters to go up around your school, emphasizing the plastic pollution problem and the power that kids have to make positive and lasting change. Feel free to use the KCFTW logo or design your own.
• Plan your campaign kickoff event. You might decide to hold a press conference, an after-school rally, or simply table at a local environmental fair or community event. Pick a catchy title for your campaign, like "Kicking the Plastic Water Bottle Habit" or "Students Aren't Stupid" or some other catchy phrase.
• Alert the local press (print, radio and local TV) about your campaign and kickoff event, and invite them to cover it.
• Let us know about your campaign so we can promote it to other schools.
No environmental club in your school? No problem. ​
• First, you'll need a group of like-minded friends who understand the seriousness of the plastic crisis and are willing to do something about it.
• Next, identify a teacher who has an interest in environmental issues to serve as your faculty sponsor. (This is usually a biology or earth science or health teacher.)
• Check with the school principal about any rules and official steps for creating a club.
​
• Invite everyone in the school to join!