Are we becoming the product of exhaustive labour sustaining life itself? What if we were to create jobs=worlds that are explorative and healing towards us and our environment? My project aims to explore the means of developing new environmental systems.
Local
Greece
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It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
No
No
As individual(s) in partnership with organisation(s)
First name: Dora Last name: Farkas Gender: Female Please describe the type of organization(s) you work in partnership with: Hopeland is an NGO, operating at the intersection of sustainability, personal development, environmental protection, culture and tradition. They host and design volunteering projects under ESC values. Age: 27 Please attach a copy of your national ID/residence card:
By ticking this box, I certify that the information regarding my age is factually correct. : Yes Nationality: Hungary Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Bocskai street 34 Town: Harkány Postal code: 7815 Country: Hungary Direct Tel:+31 6 40660719 E-mail:fdorii19@gmail.com
The concept of this project is creating an experimental environment to tackle our global waste challenge through our citizenship and institutional support, giving trash a new life through local recycling streams and reproducing waste into everyday objects that can supply various community necessities. Apart from its physical purpose, this project aims to establish an environment of shared learning, skills exchange, creativity and innovation, where central values are preservation, knowledge, respect, and future generations. Furthermore, this project seeks to raise awareness and participate in the circular economy, provide proof of the extent to which it can meet essential, quality goods for a limited or no cost, and simultaneously contribute to fighting one of the most serious global environmental issues.
resilience
local networking
innovative waste management
autonomous functioning system
experimental learning environment
The world currently generates approximately 2.01 billion tonnes of solid waste annually, estimated to increase to 3.40 billion tonnes yearly by 2050. (Waste Management World, 2021) The key objective of this project is through its purpose - decrease disposal in landfill and increase the circulation of waste. Sustainable Development Goal 12 strives for Responsible Production and Consumption by “...substantially reducing waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.” (United Nations, 2015) The project aims to, beginning on a local scale, with the vision to further extend its applicability, create redirections in current waste streams to achieve a new flow of movement. The team will do this by establishing local networks to involve businesses and individuals from a wide variety of industries and institutions (bars, restaurants, building industry, auto repair shops, educational institutions, municipalities), providing both a residential and industrial benefit. With the help of Hopelands’ established presence in the local area, the project plans to include creative communication and interventions to build awareness amongst urban residents, businesses and institutions locally and regionally. The goal is to encourage willingness towards participation; in return, the planned extension of Hopeland will provide space for experimental learning, research, data collection, workshops in plastic recycling and eco building. The collected waste can be converted into functional items on requests based on a local scale, a mutual exchange benefiting all parties. The project and its activities will provide support for Greece’s development in terms of its 2030 commitments to the SDGs.
We must re-envision the built environment creatively, not just for us but for the generations that follow us. Across the globe, living conditions vary wildly. 90% of major global cities have now been deemed unaffordable (Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2019). There’s a disconnection between people and the environment. Currently, 1.2 billion people live in homes that cannot withstand ecological threats (Institute for Economics & Peace, 2021). The climate crisis is forcing us to rethink how we treat our shared planet. A palpable urgency in our society that makes us reconsider how we live. In their report - IMPERMACULTURE: The Future of Youth Culture, Space 10, together with Dazed Studio, explores how 18 to 24-year-olds across the world understand the concept of home. Traditional definitions of home revolve around structures of residence and essential spaces of shelter, but our feelings, attitudes, and behaviors have drastically altered the definition of home today. Home is in flux. Its meaning is becoming tied to changing ideas of safety, spaces of representation, community and identity. Home has also evolved into a profoundly emotional concept, and at the same time, it has become ever more challenging to attain. Young people are being robbed of the fundamental right to put down roots. Hopeland, on the other hand, provides a unique way of living. Being part of a simulative eco-community where sustainability is striving in practice is an experience in itself. Hopeland provides a safe learning environment with non-violent communication practices, workshops and informal training opportunities. The planned extension aims to enhance the learning experience for curious individuals and add to the playground of activities.
Hopeland strives to offer solutions concerning the economic crisis challenges that don't allow youth to become more creative, more employable, entrepreneurial and closer to European values. They do this by providing an environment that stimulates creativity, self-development, and confidence in participating individuals to embark on entrepreneurial journeys, increasing their employability. Next to inclusion, both accessibility and affordability have been leading aspects during the creation of the extension plan. The idea is intended to operate on a larger scale. Therefore, it was essential to keep monetary investments relatively low. Material availability will depend on the number of donations (waste) generated throughout the local network. Precious Plastic communities worldwide have been creating more than profitable businesses using open-source learning materials. Hopeland can strengthen Greece's presence within the Precious Plastic community, promoting the idea of a youth-maker culture with dynamic product creation benefiting communities directly. After the early developmental stages, redirected waste streams will eventually require sorting and cleaning centers, which opens up an opportunity to create new jobs locally, according to SDG standards.
The idea strives for the existence of local, climate-neutral, resource-efficient environmental settlements to complement local waste management resources. An additional layer into our current recycling system can help strengthen the ease of flow between Precious Plastic communities across any given country. Redirecting local, industrial and residential waste streams in a more systematic way opens up space for experimentation amongst communities. Higher participation rates increase resilience to climate shocks and accelerate the decarbonisation of the economy. The project promotes inclusivity through embedded activities such as setting up collection points, carrying out municipal interventions, and plastic and recycling workshops. All to encourage behavior change towards the way we discard our garbage. The goal is to create value around waste and treat it like the valuable material it is. The provided workshops bring immediate value (results) to participants encouraging further involvement. During the early stages, there will be the opportunity to participate in eco-buildings and gain experience in ecopreneurship. The project will mobilize a diverse group of European youth, allowing them to take part in the cocreation of their future. The wide array of the added activities will enable participants to familiarize themselves with an emerging new technology (Precious Plastic) that helps us tackle our global waste issue.
On a local level, at the very center of all Hopeland’s processes and development activities stands non-formal, lifelong education. They are on a mission to create interconnectedness between humans and the environment with embedded elements of culture, tradition and personal development. The engagement on a regional level will primarily come from local citizens in terms of neighborhoods and various local communities willing to contribute to the development aims. The project will highly focus on creating as much awareness and engagement as possible to encourage a change of perception towards waste and stimulate positive behavior awareness in current waste disposal practices. When it comes to a national level, the project will aim, through its realization, to begin communication, and possible future cooperation, with municipalities and governmental institutions to provide general waste solutions. Aiming to provide support to Greece throughout its journey of completing its SDG goals, the practices of this project will be able to offer positive contributions to SDG 4,5,9,11,12,13,15. On a European level, this project is following the EU 2050’s long-term strategy for becoming net-zero by 2050; its processes and activities are tailored according to the specific official requirements, regulations, and advice. The project will fully support diversity and interdisciplinary engagement.
The knowledge field in this project begins with Hopeland. Therefore this project was developed in accordance with Hopeland’s values, culture and its belief in the power of community and learning. The inspiration for this project idea came from a personal experience at Hopeland. My background is connected to Spatial Development, and my interests lie in urbanism, alternative lifestyles and the revitalization of abandoned (to be) rural areas. Developing experimental living conditions by initiating new functions within these areas so that we can create a nurturing environment for the exchange of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in terms of design and development. The goal is to showcase the abilities of circular economy principles, not only to fight the current global challenges of waste but to help strengthen the human-nature bond and prove the power of communities building resilience together. The concept consists of a development plan for Hopeland, an extension proposing the establishment of a Precious Plastic workshop. Activities of a workplace of this kind will also allow participating individuals, through their experimental nature, to unlock their creativity and sense of curiosity and therefore be motivated, inspired to create, and willing to explore uncharted territories.
Our labor made this world and keeps it running, but are we becoming the product of exhaustive labor sustaining life itself? It’s up to us to create new worlds which could replace our current one. Based on my research, a living lab is a concept defined as: “A user-centered, open innovation ecosystem based on a systematic user co-creation approach, integrating research and innovation processes in real-life communities and settings.” (European Network of Living Labs, 2006) The modern world is controlled by a certain sense of careless waste and destruction where time, energy and attention are devoted to attaining increased amounts of momentary wealth. Wealth used to carry a different meaning amongst pre-civilized hunter-gatherer populations. It meant any attribute of the individual that contributed to a flow of valued goods or services. According to research, variation in material wealth had less effect on well-being than variations of other forms, such as health or social connections. (Smith, E. A., Bell, A., & Hill, K., Wealth Transmission and Inequality among Hunter‐Gatherers, 2010) Hopeland provides an environment of care and common agreements, much like the example mentioned above. They invite participants to take part in nature-based activities and experience the dynamics of a healthy community through an embodied approach. Technology is demanding that we question the boundaries of our communities. In order to answer those demands, the plan is to establish autonomous functioning systems where we could harness the power of digitalization, creating informal learning centers to support the knowledge economy. At its core, the extension plan strives to develop an experimental environment operating in a territorial context. A small-scale industrial settlement supplied by redirected waste streams to strengthen local circularity.
The concept is 100% transferable. The idea is built upon open-source technology provided by Precious Plastic. Able to accommodate differing needs, depending on location and available resources. 50% of people involved in Precious Plastic are under 30, which indicates generational transformation. Communities are multiplying across the globe. The beginning of 2020 saw a 73% increase in workspaces being born compared to 2019. (Precious Plastic, 2021) Through surveys, interactions and waste interventions, there’s an opportunity to map local needs and collect quantitative and qualitative data. Through waste interventions, the idea aims to induce behavioral awareness in terms of perceptual changes regarding waste. Removing the stigma around waste disposal, turning the action into a valuable service - donation, something that supports the existence of intentional communities. Through further interventions with local residents, industries and municipalities, the goal is to develop a network that handles and circulates waste locally.
The project proposes an infrastructural extension to Hopeland. Establishing the long-term volunteering area with additional sleeping & shower pods to facilitate more people and a workshop to house PP machinery. Hopeland is already actively involved in youth work, providing a great learning environment to gain skills that will enhance one’s employability. An interpersonal exchange from all parties benefits. Volunteers can learn, develop and engage with practices/materials/tools available around them. It encourages creativity, resourcefulness, adaptability and resilience. The extension is experimental, indicating its intended goal of being replicated on a bigger village scale.
The global population has recently reached 8 billion people. This rapid urbanization exposes residents to dysfunctional cities, especially when growth happens chaotically and too fast. (Landry, 109.) If we look at the reasons behind the mass movement, people have left rural areas due to a lack of opportunities and possibilities. Urban settlements are the only livable realities that exist today. In hindsight, over 20 million ha of agricultural land is currently at high potential risk of abandonment within EU premises. (EU Science Hub, 2018) What will happen to villages and rural areas whose population moved to cities in search of a better life? Being close to nature is something we deeply cherish, but we rarely have time for it. Overworked people need more time to engage in slow-paced, low-consumption activities.
Over time, uncollected waste has become one of humanity's worst enemies, the source of plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, plus it's an incubator for infections. The effects of climate change are already being felt, and mitigating the crisis will require widespread behavior change. The EU is dedicated to a more innovative and inclusive adaptation strategy, like gathering more and better data on climate-related risks and the support of local and nature-based adaptation actions. (European Commission, 2021) The project questions linear modes of production and consumption patterns as waste management has been recognized as one of the most severe problems in Greece's environmental performance indices (Waste Management World, 2021). To take actionable steps in tackling this issue, I teamed up with Hopeland as an organization so I could plan an extension for them. A way of experimenting with implementing an open and flexible adaptation strategy in a local context, where 'micro factories' can act as innovative waste management centers, allowing projects to mutate organically according to interest and participation, strengthening local resilience.
