Sustainability challenges
Everybody is trying hard to become more sustainable in order to help our planet, but we know that is sometimes harder than it looks and that we may not have the greenest lives as we may think we have. These challenges have the purpose to help you out a little on being more eco-friendly by trying to make you change some of your habits for more sustainable ones. We would recommend you to do the challenge with a buddy or a group of more people for you to be more inspired and to check up on your friends. Are you up for the challenge?
CHALLENGE 1: Eco friendly for a day in Middelburg
Do you want to experience a totally eco-friendly day in Middelburg? This challenge is perfect if you have some spare time on a weekend and you want to do something fun and sustainable! The GO has some ideas for you to explore during that time.
If you like to get coffee in the morning, what better way to get it than with a reusable cup! You can use whichever cup you like, however the Green Office also has their own reusable cups you can buy in Elliott to fill with your coffee
If you want to have breakfast or have a quick bite to eat, go to het Koffiepand! It's a small and cozy café which sells delicious vegan and vegetarian food!
Next stop is the AZC garden! On Saturdays there are gardening sessions of 90 minutes for volunteers who are interested in being outside, gardening and working together with the residents of the AZC
Next is a biking tour! You can choose whichever route you like but we recommend going to Dishoek beach and enjoy the sun (if it is good weather). You don't have enough bikes? no problem! You can make use of the GO bike sharing just make sure to contact the Green Office before!
Tired of the bike tour to the beach or around town? Why not take an ice cream break? Fresco is a great place to go to! Which has delicious ice flavours and vegan cakes.
One of our last stops is thrift shopping! There are many thrift stores around Middelburg which you can check out in the website or green guide! Like for instance Lotus 2de Hands, which is mainly for clothes or Ramsjburg.
Finally, if you want to eat in some restaurant, you can check out Imagine and Stoom, two other incredible vegetarian and vegan restaurants with home grown vegetables. Another option could be preparing a healthy vegetarian meal for yourselves and eating it while picnicking in some of the green spaces in Middelburg! If you don’t have any inspiration the green office website counts with some delicious vegetarian and vegan food recipes
CHALLENGE 2: Get informed
We all are aware of the climate crisis in the world, but the best way to start becoming more sustainable is to really get informed about what is happening and how you can help the most efficiently. This challenge is perfect for people who would like a break of academic stress and would like to relax and learn about sustainability and our planet. This challenge is designed for a week, however you can take the time you want to do any of the tips.
CHALLENGE 3: Delve deeper
Do you like to do more challenges and would you like to participate alongside other people around the world? Then check out the ecochallenge.org page! Here there are many different challenges for you to participate in different action categories such as food, oceans, communities, wildlife etc., in order to create social and environmental change around each community.
WEEK CHALLENGE: Focus on sustainability for a week
Monday: Let's start the challenge! Do you like to listen to podcasts? Then start by listening to one about the environment or climate change!
Tuesday: Tired after a long day? Watch an environmental film or documentary! (there are recommendations on the GO website you could check out!)
→ too little time? Try watching one episode of Global Weirding! A YouTube series made by a climate scientist
Wednesday: Are you researching or reading the news, take advantage and read some articles about climate change! The NY Times climate and environment or the inside climate news might be good sources to look at.
Thursday: Do you like reading? Pick up a new book on sustainability! The GO website has a wide list of books you could choose from!
Friday: If you did the challenge with other people, this is the day to get together and exchange what you learned from the articles, podcasts or movies! Choose a place to meet and exchange your ideas!