Magic Carpet
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In fall 2006 a community group of Magic Carpet volunteers in Ganja were
awarded a competitive grant from the Democracy Commission of the US
Embassy in Baku to conduct an environmental awareness campaign among
highschoolers in northwest Azerbaijan.
Working with 60 teens from 3 schools (in Ajikend, Ganja and Samux), a
unique project was carried out to clean years' worth of litter from 6
freshwater springs near the former resort town of Ajikend (now settled
with refugees) in the mountains near Nagorno Qarabagh. After hauling
away loads of trash, the teens then installed on site permanent garbage
cans with an inspirational quote from revered national poet Nizami
Ganjevi urging environmental protection. Youth participants also attended
environmental seminars with a local ecologist.
Despite the cold weather (see photos below of the students wearing their
coats during the seminars in their unheated schoolrooms), the teens
enthusiastically participated in all activities. By the end of the project in
January 2007, participants demonstrated an exponential increase in
environmental awareness (from less than 10% to over 90% on before and
after evaluation questionnaires). Even more strikingly, they were already
acting on their newfound concern for the environment by planting trees at
their school - completely on their own initiative!
The campaign was also covered on local TV, reaching thousands with its
positive message of youth activism and environmental protection.
awarded a competitive grant from the Democracy Commission of the US
Embassy in Baku to conduct an environmental awareness campaign among
highschoolers in northwest Azerbaijan.
Working with 60 teens from 3 schools (in Ajikend, Ganja and Samux), a
unique project was carried out to clean years' worth of litter from 6
freshwater springs near the former resort town of Ajikend (now settled
with refugees) in the mountains near Nagorno Qarabagh. After hauling
away loads of trash, the teens then installed on site permanent garbage
cans with an inspirational quote from revered national poet Nizami
Ganjevi urging environmental protection. Youth participants also attended
environmental seminars with a local ecologist.
Despite the cold weather (see photos below of the students wearing their
coats during the seminars in their unheated schoolrooms), the teens
enthusiastically participated in all activities. By the end of the project in
January 2007, participants demonstrated an exponential increase in
environmental awareness (from less than 10% to over 90% on before and
after evaluation questionnaires). Even more strikingly, they were already
acting on their newfound concern for the environment by planting trees at
their school - completely on their own initiative!
The campaign was also covered on local TV, reaching thousands with its
positive message of youth activism and environmental protection.
Youth lead environmental cleanup: Ajikend
US Embassy recognizes Magic Carpet volunteers! Read on...
Above: Ecological seminar for teens prior to bus trip to clean polluted mountain springs.
Above: Refugee teens from 3 schools remove litter and install trash cans by springs near Ajikend.
Some of the mountain springs cleaned feed into fountains heavily used as a source of drinking water (see below left
and bottom); others (above and below right) were further from the town of Ajikend and lead to simple faucets.
and bottom); others (above and below right) were further from the town of Ajikend and lead to simple faucets.
Below: Litter was cleaned from around the fountain or faucet to well back towards the source of the spring.
