Almaty has launched the GREEN UP environmental project as part of the national 'Taza Kazakhstan' program, aimed at fostering eco-habits among schoolchildren and their families. The initiative was presented on August 31 at city school No. 224, reports infohub.kz.
The project is implemented with the participation of ECO Network, supported by the city's Department of Ecology and Environment and Eco Almaty. The first pilot launch is taking place in the Bostandyk district. The Green APP Almaty program plans to bring together kindergartens, schools, and colleges in the district. The initiative is based on eco-hubs at 44 Markov Street and at Satbayev University, as well as the digital platform econetwork.me.
Participants will be able to collect recyclables at home and bring them to the eco-hubs. Results will be recorded in a mobile app and counted in the overall rating of educational institutions. Points can also be earned for participating in environmental campaigns and volunteer activities.
School No. 224 director Raiza Akhmetova emphasized the importance of forming eco-habits from an early age. "Our goal is to cultivate an ecological culture in students and make responsible attitudes toward the environment a daily habit. It is important that a child not only knows about the need to protect nature but also understands that through their own actions they can make a concrete contribution to its preservation," said Raiza Akhmetova.
During the presentation, students were shown how to sort waste properly and which materials are accepted for recycling. Pupils also brought waste paper and plastic waste and handed them in for recycling.
Project author Yevgeniy Mukhamedzhanov stressed that eco-habits are best formed through practice and family involvement. "Ecological culture begins with simple actions that a person performs every day. If a child sorts waste at home and brings it for recycling, gradually the whole family gets involved. Our task is to make eco-friendly behavior clear, accessible, and interesting," commented Yevgeniy Mukhamedzhanov.
In the future, participants will be able to create environmental clubs, propose their own initiatives, and take part in city-wide nature conservation campaigns. Volunteer programs are also planned for schoolchildren, college students, parents, and staff of educational institutions.
The project includes a motivation system: participants and educational institutions can receive prizes for activity and for collecting certain types of recyclables. In the long term, the model is planned to be scaled to other districts of Almaty. GREEN UP combines environmental education, digital tools, and practical actions to make responsible waste management part of everyday life.