“Small Changes for Big Impact” Sesa+Me Corporate Training Workshop with Drop Inc.
Sesa+Me, a project run by Erin from Australia, Catherine from Kenya, Santiago from Colombia, Naomi from Japan and Marcos from Chile, aims to spread sustainable practices and solutions all around the world. One of the ways in which we seek to do this is by holding educational activities such as interactive lectures and workshops.
On the 17th of December, the Sesa+Me team, together with Tane no Chikara, held a workshop for 5 participants from Drop Inc., an Osaka-based startup consulting firm. The aim of the workshop was to allow participants to experience the practical aspect of SDGs and learn about ways to incorporate sustainable practices into their daily lives, while creating a relaxing environment in which participants could unwind and get to know each other a little better. With this in mind, the team designed a four-part workshop with the theme “small changes for big impact”. By the end of the workshop, it was hoped that the participants would better understand the impact their daily life choices have on the environment.
The first session was led by Tane no Chikara and focused on permaculture. The aim of this session was to break the myth that all healthy, organic food is expensive. It centered on the practices employed at the farm to grow fruits and vegetables in a way that utilized the natural elements of the environment without negatively impacting it, while also ensuring great quality and yield. Walking around the farm, the participants were able to see how the crops had been planted to create a healthy symbiosis.
While a healthy vegetarian lunch using the organic ingredients picked fresh from the farm was being prepared, we began the second session of the day. This session was run by special guest Michele, a Generation 1 AYF alumnus, who created the meetup group Sustainable Kansai. Michele discussed the aims and initiatives of Sustainable Kansai, and everyone present commented on their shared interests in sustainability and the combined efforts we could make to achieve this.
The third session of the day was a zero-waste lecture by Erin from the Sesa+Me team. The lecture delivered some statistics on how much, or little of what we throw away is recycled, as opposed to how much is actually recyclable. The aim of the session was to give the participants pause when choosing what to consume, and to consider the entire life cycle of even the smallest product, from its production to well past its disposal. Additionally, Erin gave an example of everyday items that can be swapped for more sustainable options, and discussed the combined impact this can have.
This provided a good transition to the fourth and final session of the day, an eco-wrap workshop. With the guidance of the Sesa+Me team, the participants had a chance to make their own reusable wraps using cotton cloth, beeswax, resin, coconut oil and jojoba oil. These wraps are a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic wrap and can be composted at the end of their lives.
The day concluded with a feedback session and a group photo that has undoubtedly become an AYF tradition.
Find out more about Sesa+Me and their activities through the website and social media accounts.
Author: Catherine Mwangi
