Young people from Lieksa and Joensuu gathered to discuss the sharing of environmental knowledge between different generations. During a workshop in Taidetalo Yrjölä (Art house) in Lieksa on 29 August, participants generated ideas on how environmental knowledge could be shared between generations in the future.
“They have been involved in developing an intergenerational learning model aimed at strengthening young people’s environmental agency and participation in environmental collaboration,” says Tiina Jääskeläinen, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Eastern Finland and Coordinator of the VIZAZI research project.
The workshop was part of a co-creation process conducted within the research project. Throughout the process, young people and experts from various fields shared knowledge on environmental topics selected by the young participants.
Based on the themes the young people chose, broader topic areas were developed. These included the influence of social media influencers on consumption behaviour, material efficiency in the mining sector, energy efficiency in greenhouse cultivation, resource-wise baking, and solutions to nanoplastic pollution.
“Connecting concrete environmental issues from everyday life with discussions of broader societal challenges hopefully gives young people a sense of perspective and optimism about their opportunities to participate and make a difference. The space and time that the research process provides for intergenerational interaction is also highly valuable,” says Ulla Pötsönen, environmental educator at ENO Schoolnet Association, who facilitated the workshops.
“The project has created opportunities for people of different generations to interact with one another. It has also strengthened intercultural connections, as many of the young co-researchers and partner organisations come from diverse cultural backgrounds,” adds Ahmed Ibrahim from Lieksan Metka Association.
The VIZAZI project, led by Professor Irmeli Mustalahti of the University of Eastern Finland, seeks to increase understanding of how intergenerational learning can promote young people’s participation in collaborative environmental governance. The project brings together young people and adults through co-research and knowledge co-creation methods in Finland and Tanzania.
“Young people have taken an active role in environmental governance around the world. However, their opportunities to participate in decision-making remain limited. We aim to explore whether and how intergenerational learning can enhance young people’s inclusion in collaborative environmental governance,” says Mustalahti.
The Responsive Natural Resources Governance (RNRG) Research Group of the University of Eastern Finland, the environmental education association ENO Schoolnet Association, Lieksan Metka Association, and the North Karelia Biosphere Reserve organised the workshop held in Lieksa.
The VIZAZI project is implemented with partners in two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: North Karelia in Finland and Amani in Tanzania. In Tanzania, the College of Business Education (CBE) conducts the research. The project works with numerous partners in both countries.
In North Karelia, partners also include Porokylä Bakery, Business Joensuu Ltd, the Forest Joensuu Innovation Ecosystem, the PLASTLIFE project of Karelia University of Applied Sciences, ProHöytiäinen Association, Lieksa Digitupa, and Lieksa Development Company LieKe Ltd. In Tanzania, partners include Amani Nature Reserve, Amani Friends of Nature, and WWF Tanzania.
The Research Council of Finland (formerly the Academy of Finland) funds this research project.
