MDI Global teamed up with Citizen Motion, a Brussels based non-profit working on audiovisual production and media education, to work with Belgian students to showcase how young people can become more active citizens on the environment and in the media.
Citizen Motion held workshops and training at two schools in Brussels – the école secondaire plurielle karreveld based in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and the Lycée Intégral Roger Lallemand in Saint-Gilles. Alongside reflecting on the importance of caring for the environment and what that looks like for young people, the students were taken to visit some citizen-led environmental initiatives.
One school visited Les Amis du Scheutbos a non-profit working to protect the park of Scheutbos from real estate development. The aim is to manage the park in collaboration with public authorities and make it a showcase for young and older generation. The park is located in the municipality of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. The second location was Marais Wiels Moeras, an urban wetland in the municipality of Forest. Its management and programme are run by two non-profits, including the Marias Wiels. Students were able to meet and learn from representatives of the organisation.
The training and visits to the two citizen-led non-profit initiatives resulted in the production of two podcasts. They reflected on the work in both locations and how young people can become more active citizens in protecting and caring for the environment.
The students showcased their podcasts at a final event under the title ‘pas de filtre sur le climat’ (no filter on climate) on the 24 June 2026, which also included a panel discussion. Students of both schools who took part in the project along with various members of the public listened to excerpts of the podcast. During the panel discussion, representatives from both Les Amis du Scheutbos and Marais Wiels spoke about their work and the importance of active engagement of the community including how young people can contribute. Maguy Ikulu, an eco-feminist, anti-racism, decolonisation and intersectionality expert, also joined the discussion. The intergenerational dialogue panel aimed to engage young people to care for the environment and feel empowered to make change in their local communities.
To listen to the podcasts – in French – click here.
