The CEI Project Philosophy
A CEI project is a call to action. We invite young people to observe, imagine, create, and act to make their communities more sustainable. You are not just passive listeners; you are caretakers and youth leaders shaping solutions.
Quick Tips: The "Do's & Don'ts"
The Goal
Action & Impact: Move beyond awareness; do something measurable.
Visual Storytelling: Use visuals to convey your message clearly.
Theme Focused: Link clearly to the annual CEI Conference theme.
Rehearsed: Practice to fit the 10-minute limit perfectly.
Avoid These Mistakes
All Talk, No Walk: Don't focus only on awareness without action.
Text Overload: Don't crowd posters or slides with too much text.
Loss of Focus: Don't forget the specific conference theme.
Unprepared: Don't wing the presentation; timing is key.
Core Characteristics of Projects
Relevance
Address a genuine environmental or sustainability issue. Explain why it matters to you, your school, or your country. Define your scope: local, regional, or global.
Feasibility & Impact
You don’t need to change the whole world; focus on the difference you can make in your surroundings. Design realistic steps that are actionable.
Youth-Led
Teachers guide, but students drive. Take the initiative, make the decisions, and present your own perspective on the solution.
Collaboration
Involve your community. Work with NGOs, local authorities, or other schools. Connect people for a shared purpose to test your actions in the real world.
Creativity & Innovation
Think out of the box. Use diverse skills (scientific research, video editing, art, or journalism) to surprise and inspire your audience.
Sustainability
Think beyond the conference. How can your efforts continue? Plan the next steps to ensure your project leaves a lasting legacy.
The Project Roadmap
Step 1
Find Out & Reach Out
Identify important local issues. Talk to experts, families, and organizations. Research the problem and build a delegation team.
Step 2
Analysis
Dig deeper. Connect the issue to SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Identify stakeholders, causes, and the potential for scaling a solution.
Step 3
Design & Decision
Create your plan. Define specific actions, assign team roles, and build a timeline. Ensure your solution is creative yet feasible.
Step 4
Realization
Execute the plan! Implement your actions, document progress with photos/videos, and track your results against your expectations.
Step 5
Inspiration & Reflection
Share your story. Spread the message via social media or local events. Reflect on what you learned and define the next phase.
Project Timeline
October: Form team, choose topic, research local issues.
November: Finalize objectives, define methods, begin early fieldwork.
Dec-Jan: Action Phase. Implement project, collect data, engage community.
Feb-Mar: Evaluate results, reflect on progress, improve where needed.
April: Summarize findings, prepare final report and visuals.
Early May: Deadline: Submit Project Summary.
May: Design poster, finalize data, rehearse presentation.
June/July: Conference Time. Final rehearsals and presentation!
Deliverables & Presentation
The Project Summary
Length
200–250 words.
Content
Topic, actions taken, main results, and lessons learned.
Visuals
Include 2–3 high-quality photos.
Usage
Published in the Global Forum magazine and on the website.
The Presentation (10 min)
Opening (1 min)
Hook the audience, introduce the team/country.
The Issue (2 mins)
Explain the problem and your analysis.
Timeline & Actions (3 mins)
What did you do? How did you overcome challenges?
Results (2 mins)
What changed? What was the impact?
Future Steps (2 mins)
Key takeaways and discussion questions.
The Poster (In-Person or Online)
Design
Heavy on visuals, light on text.
Privacy
Use first names only.
Content
A summary of Why, What, and Results.
Format
If online, ensure it is readable on a screen and saved as PDF.
Final Checklist
Project summary (200–250 words) submitted?
Poster designed (Visual-heavy) and submitted?
Presentation structured and rehearsed (under 10 mins)?
Team roles confirmed and Q&A prepped?