Chongqing Elementary Students in Taichung Explore Yunus’ 3ZERO Vision of Sustainability Through Craft Workshop

(中央社訊息服務20241227 18:19:51)In late November 2024, the Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan collaborated with Chongqing Elementary School in Taichung to organize a 3ZERO Sustainable Craft Workshop at the Taichung Yunus Story Center located in Wufeng Guangfu New Village. This event introduced children to the "3ZERO" vision—zero net carbon emissions, zero poverty, and zero unemployment—through creative, hands-on activities. The workshop was led by Ms. Chen Jin-Yun, founder of Cloud Crafts and a community empowerment instructor at the Taichung Yunus Story Center. She guided students to use recycled materials to foster creativity and cultivate a foundation of sustainability from a young age.

During the event, the Foundation shared the inspiring story of Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2006 and founder of the Grameen Bank, who pioneered microfinance to empower impoverished individuals to start businesses and escape poverty. Through this story, the children learned about the transformative power of goodwill and innovation. Ms. Chen also demonstrated how common materials, such as walnut shells, could be repurposed into personalized, creative crafts. Students created their own unique works by designing and repurposes these items, which otherwise would have been discarded. Through this process, they gained a deeper understanding of the 3ZERO goal of zero net carbon emissions and how everyday waste could be turned into useful, sustainable items.

The participating students were the top three book borrowers from each grade level at Chongqing Elementary, chosen for their enthusiasm for learning and knowledge. The workshop aimed to transform their newly acquired knowledge into practical daily actions. After the session, the children shared how the crafting process was not only relaxing but also sparked their interest in environmental issues. Teachers at Chongqing Elementary expressed high praise for the event and hoped to invite the Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan back in the future to share more ideas about fostering a socially and environmentally friendly mindset among students.

Philippa Tsia, President of the Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan, remarked: “Yunus’ 3ZERO vision and environmental sustainability must be ingrained from a young age. When these small saplings grow into towering trees, they will help create a beautiful 3ZERO world for our planet.” Juno Wang, CEO of the Foundation, added:“From a young age, Professor Yunus had a profound desire to change the world. Through ongoing sustainability education across all age groups, the Foundation aims to nurture future leaders like Professor Yunus who can lead societal progress. We are also deeply grateful to Chongqing Elementary for the opportunity to collaborate and look forward to expanding our social impact further.”

The 3ZERO Sustainable Craft Workshop showcased the impact of collaboration between schools, the Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan, and local community resources. This partnership illustrated the influence of multi-stakeholder cooperation and emphasized sustainable development as a collective responsibility. The Taichung Yunus Story Center plans to continue hosting similar activities, promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships (SDG 17) to drive social progress and sustainability. For updates, follow the Taichung Yunus Story Center’s Facebook page at https://reurl.cc/26DNZO .