A Hero Made of Waste: Students in Pristina Mark World Environment Day
A schoolyard in Prishtina turned into a small stage for big environmental messages.
Students of Faik Konica School Elementary School in Prishtina, Kosovo marked World Environment Day through art, imagination, and the bright sincerity that children bring so naturally – and they gave it a face Captain Green, a hero built entirely from waste.
The recycled art installation and accompanying activity were organized as part of the “Mendo Gjelbër, Vepro Gjelbër” / “Think Green, Act Green” climate awareness campaign, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ Kosovo. The aim is to bring students closer to the topics of waste, recycling, responsible consumption, and environmental protection through a creative process that connects learning with making.
Captain Green was created by artist Burim Berisha together with students, using recycled and repurposed materials such as plastic bottle caps, PET, CDs, cables, and other discarded items. In their hands, these familiar objects became more than waste. They became shapes, textures, and stories; a way for children to better understand what we consume, what we throw away, and what can still be saved, sorted, reused, or reimagined.
Held on June the 5th 2026 to mark World Environment Day, the event brought a global environmental message into the everyday world of students. Instead of speaking about climate and waste only through facts and figures, the activity translated these topics into something visible, playful, and a strong reminder for anyone passing by.
Held on 5 June 2026 to mark World Environment Day, the event brought a global message of environmental protection into the everyday life of the school. Rather than speaking about waste and recycling only through facts and figures, the installation turned these topics into something visible, creative, and lasting, a strong reminder for everyone passing by to look differently at what we throw away, what we can reuse, and what we choose to protect.
The students were at the center of the program. They moderated the event, shared their recycling habits, spoke about how they understand environmental protection, and reflected on the work behind the installation. Their role gave the activity its warmth and honesty, as they explained in their own words why keeping the environment clean matters and how small daily actions can become part of a bigger change.
Ms. Catalina Heine, Attaché for Culture and Media and Head of Culture and Press at the German Embassy in Kosovo, delivered remarks on behalf of the Embassy. Speaking to the students, she reflected on how environmental protection often begins with simple questions and everyday choices.
“It is about asking: can we use less? Can we reuse more? Can we take better care of the places where we live, learn, and play?”, noted Heine.
The recycled art installation was developed under the “Think Green, Act Green” campaign, which promotes public awareness on climate change, environmental protection, energy transition, and sustainable living in Kosovo. Through creative formats, public events, digital communication, and educational activities, the campaign aims to make climate action more visible, relatable, and inclusive.