SPONSORED BY
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” – John Muir, Environmentalist & Author
Welcome to Day 1 of Project Green Challenge.
It’s October 1st and you are here! We couldn’t be more excited to embark on this month-long adventure together.
The Project Green Challenge journey has been designed to prompt questions, expand next generation worldviews, and empower each of you with the tools to be the change. However you’re feeling – brimming with excitement for what is to come, curious about the unknown or just eager to get going – it’s all just as it should be.
Before you get started, take a minute to think about your WHY.
Why were you inspired to sign up for PGC? Did it have something to do with the environmental challenges humanity faces daily? Or perhaps your eyes have been opened to a multitude of social injustices?
It may feel like there is an alarming story every time you switch on the news: pollution, poverty, species extinction, food scarcity, the list goes on. What’s more, all local and global challenges are tied to the single greatest threat of our time: climate change. We know that our earth is undeniably warming, which exacerbates existing environmental and social problems and prompts new ones. Scientists estimate that we have 11 years to make unprecedented reductions in emissions or risk an irreversible climate catastrophe that threatens our very existence. The time to act is NOW.
Learning about, confronting and dealing with all of this may seem overwhelming, but all we have to do is start: choose proactivity over apathy. How can YOU, a student, begin to tackle or solve the challenges that countless global leaders cannot effectively combat? Begin in one place as one person with one commitment — or thirty, as will be the case on the PGC journey this coming month.
We believe in the power of one and the capacity of youth to make tangible, lasting, positive change. PGC is here to exemplify that YOU can have a massive impact and launch widespread ripple effects.The next generation of leaders possesses the hope, determination and innovative spirit to build a sustainable future, the passion and power to shift marketplaces, and the will and strength to mobilize communities around change. Young people also have the greatest stake in the outcome, in our collective future.
Throughout PGC, you will learn how individual choices can positively impact the planet. We are proud to stand with movements, organizations, companies and platforms that believe enormous impact begins with small changes and daily approach — including through the purchases we make, like today’s partner, Acure. Another partner, Project Drawdown, has documented proven solutions to mitigate climate impact from drastic waste reduction to water conservation, sustainable food systems to ethical fashion.
We recognize that environmental and social justice issues are intrinsically linked; one cannot be resolved without addressing the other. For many challenges, you will have the opportunity to reflect on how different themes connect and then mobilize to act.
By the end of this month, we hope you will be inspired and empowered to advocate for change in your lives, on campuses, and throughout communities. Together, we can create the sustainable, equitable future in which we all want to and can live!
We can’t wait for you to be part of this journey. Let’s get started!
PGC is about transformation. Transformation is a process. In order to transform, it is important to first understand who you are right now, at this very moment in time. That way, at the end of this month, you can look back and see what transformation looks like in the context of your own life.
This is the beginning: your first challenge! Read through each bullet point below. Take a minute to think before writing 50 to 100 word responses for each question. Follow the submission instructions under “Deliverables.”
Next, fill out the PGC Entry Survey here. We will ask you to fill out the same survey at the end of PGC so you can see how you have been measurably impacted through 30 days of learning. There are no right or wrong answers!
(Pay attention to this format, as it will be the same each day, and we want you to excel all throughout PGC!)
Upload your responses to the questions and a screenshot of your PGC Entry Survey completion in a PDF document. Please include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.
Submission Guidelines
*The leaderboard has been fixed. You can check your score by going to edit profile on the bottom nav bar.*
Too often, the conversation around environmentalism defaults to a myth that we’ve lost our ability to connect with and work for the greater good. Let’s flip this story and imagine what the world would look like if empathy was the most important value of our time.
Watch today’s video, “Dear Future Generations, I’m Sorry.” Take a moment to reflect on how this video made you feel. Next, check out National Geographic’s empathy gap project.
Upload your photoblend and caption in a PDF document. Please include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.
Submission Guidelines
*The leaderboard has been fixed. You can check your score by going to edit profile on the bottom nav bar.*
We believe one is a powerful number. Why? Because every movement starts with one. With someone. Even though the state of our planet may feel overwhelming and you might not know where to start, we deeply believe that one person has the power to impact big, bold change. Sharing your voice is a powerful first action.
Create a one minute (or less) video that highlights why you are doing Project Green Challenge. This video can take any form from a public service announcement, to reading a poem or singing a song. Be creative and engaging. Think about the content that goes viral every day on your social media platforms. Try to make it that impactful!
Upload a link to your video in a PDF document. Include a screenshot of your social media post. Please include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.
Submission Guidelines
*The leaderboard has been fixed. You can check your score by going to edit profile on the bottom nav bar.*
Up to 10 Greener and 10 Greenest of the most outstanding submissions will be chosen as winners and awarded prize points to redeem in the PGC Prize Store. Greener wins = 75 prize points, Greenest wins = 100 prize points. Check the Winners page to see if you’re selected!
5 submissions will be randomly selected to receive:
Acure Brightening Facial Scrub
Acure Mega Moisture Shampoo
Acure Mega Moisture Conditioner
“Climate of Hope” by Michael Bloomberg
Each time you submit a challenge, you get an entry. Complete Green, Greener, and Greenest to triple your chances!
Extended deadlines and extra credits do not apply.
English
Arabic
Bengali
Chinese (Simplified)
French
Spanish