Recently 120 Catholic primary school students gathered at St Paul's Catholic Primary School, Albion Park, for a day focused on eco formation, inspiration, and action. Part of CEDoW's Wollongong Environment Network (WEN) program, the event aims to educate students about environmental stewardship and empower them to lead local action in their schools - and to learn how to work on their "own little bit of the puzzle" to help the environment.

The culmination of the day was each school's sharing of their piece of the jigsaw puzzle for environmental action and the commissioning of four students from each school as Eco Ambassadors.

Students listened to a keynote address by Pip Kiernan, Chair of Clean Up Australia, who highlighted the organisation's impact since its inception by her father, Ian Kiernan, thirty years ago. During her talk, Pip encouraged repurposing and reusing, rather than throwing things out, and being more discerning with purchases.

Pip expressed her admiration for the students, noting their engagement and insightful questions. “What a beautiful experience to meet these eco champions of the future. Bright-eyed, engaging, and full of curiosity, these kids give me lots of hope for the future," she said. "Their questions were not what you would expect from Year 5 and 6 primary kids. They were engaged and well informed - and quite simply inspiring!”

It will be exciting to see how these eco champions will lead, support, and inspire eco-initiatives at their schools, raising awareness of how we all can make a difference and show care for our common home.