More than 500 children and young people discovered what alternative energy means and how it can be integrated into everyday life. For two weeks in August 2023, 15 summer camps’ participants benefited from a training on alternative energy resources, organized by UNDP Moldova in partnership with the Gutta-Club Centre, with financial support from the Government of Japan.

“The ultimate goal is to educate primarily children, as well as our whole society about the importance of alternative and renewable resources, how harmful the fossil fuels we use today are,” says Gabriel Lazăr, Gutta-Club facilitator.

Among the resources they learned about were wind, solar, hydroelectric and bioenergy, which involves using organic matter (plant waste, twigs) to produce energy.

“I found the most interesting method of using geothermal energy because I had never heard of it before. I really found this one interesting and I think it is a good idea for the future. We have photovoltaic panels at home, they produce energy as well as hot water. It's very convenient because especially in the summer, when there's a lot of sun, there's energy and you can use it throughout the day,” says Alexandra, who is from Hîncești.

For a maximum of three hours, while this activity lasted in the camps, the young people looked for solutions for a more sustainable lifestyle through team games. They were challenged to identify as many ideas as possible to promote the use of alternative energy resources. At the end of the activity, some said they would try to convince their parents and peers to use more renewable energy, and others were determined to build homes connected to alternative energy sources when they grow up.

“I didn't know you could make electricity from the sun. From wind I knew, but from sun and water, not so much. I would like to have something like that at home, solar panels on the roof on both sides and maybe photovoltaic ‘propellers’ next to the cottage”, is the thought of Mihail from Chișinău, another participant in the training.

“Such activities are very important especially for young people, because they really need to learn about different ways to protect nature—alternative energy. After all, we are the future and we can change something,” Alexandra from Hîncești is convinced.

The United Nations Development Programme will continue, with the financial support of Japan, to organize training workshops on alternative energy resources. They will be carried out starting from October in schools and aim to increase the level of awareness among students about the importance of the rational use of resources and the alternatives available to them for a comfortable life and a protected environment.