Scarborough Youth Environmental Action Project

About this project

The Scarborough Youth Environmental Action Project empowers youth to lead sustainable initiatives while integrating social justice, cultural awareness, and inclusive community partnerships. Through three interconnected activities - Community Cleanup Days, Swap Meets, and Intersectional Workshops, the project tackles environmental degradation, overconsumption, and the exclusion of marginalized voices from environmental decision-making, while directly advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, 13: Climate Action, and 15: Life on Land.

Community Cleanup Days mobilize youth and residents to remove litter, particularly single-use plastics, from parks, schoolyards, streets, and waterways. This supports SDG 6 by protecting areas around waterbodies from pollution, SDG 13 by raising awareness of human impacts on ecosystems, and SDG 15 by safeguarding habitats and biodiversity. Waste tracking and data collection will inform municipal waste reduction strategies, policy advocacy, and targeted interventions, strengthening community resilience against climate and pollution risks.

Swap Meets promote reuse, resource-sharing, and mindful consumption by offering low-barrier opportunities to exchange clothing, books, electronics, and household items. This directly advances SDG 12 by reducing landfill waste, reinforcing circular economy practices, and lowering demand for resource-intensive goods. Partnering with University of Toronto Scarborough clubs, local artisans, and community groups, these events also foster inclusive spaces where sustainable choices become normalized.

Intersectional Workshops address the social dimensions of environmental issues, focusing on Indigenous rights, colonial land use, water access, and climate impacts on marginalized communities. Highlighting Indigenous-led stewardship and hands-on activities, such as tree planting and water filtration, these workshops support SDG 6 through water security education, SDG 13 through climate resilience advocacy, and SDG 15 through reforestation and habitat restoration. Their collaborative format aligns with the 1MYAC emphasis on innovation, peer learning, and disaster risk reduction.

The project targets youth aged 18 - 30, residents of low-income and marginalized communities, and individuals seeking accessible entry points into sustainability work. Lasting impact is achieved by embedding skills, habits, and networks into the community: cleanups teach replicable waste-tracking and advocacy methods; swap meets normalize reuse and establish enduring exchange networks; and workshops foster partnerships and shared resources for continued learning.

Running from December 2025 to August 2026, the project follows a structured timeline of planning, outreach, monthly cleanups, quarterly Swap Meets, and three workshops. Partnerships with municipal departments, schools, universities, student unions, environmental NGOs, community centers, and Indigenous leaders ensure effective implementation, safety, and cultural grounding.

By combining direct action (cleanups, swaps, reforestation), education (workshops), and collaboration (cross-sector partnerships), the Scarborough Youth Environmental Action Project delivers measurable environmental improvements and community transformation. It contributes tangible, scalable results toward the four targeted SDGs while helping achieve the 1MYAC vision of one million youth-led actions for a more just and sustainable future.

Goals and Objectives

The Scarborough Youth Environmental Action Project aims to empower youth to lead environmental initiatives that integrate social justice, cultural awareness, and inclusive community partnerships. Through Community Cleanup Days, Swap Meets, and Intersectional Workshops, we address pollution, overconsumption, and the exclusion of marginalized voices from environmental decision-making, while directly advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 15: Life on Land.

Our objectives are to:
- Mobilize youth and residents to remove litter, especially single-use plastics, from parks, waterways, and public spaces, reducing hazards to people and wildlife while restoring biodiversity (SDG 6: protect areas around water sources, SDG 13: reduce ecosystem stress, SDG 15: safeguard habitats).

- Promote waste reduction and circular economy practices through Swap Meets, encouraging reuse, resource-sharing, and mindful consumption (SDG 12: reduce waste, promote responsible production).

- Deliver Intersectional Workshops that link environmental issues to social and cultural contexts, equipping participants with knowledge, skills, and networks for informed action (SDG 6: water security education, SDG 13: climate resilience, SDG 15: ecosystem restoration).

Beneficiaries include youth aged 18-30, residents of low-income and marginalized communities, and others seeking accessible entry points into sustainability work. These groups are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and well-positioned to develop innovative local solutions.

Sustainability will be achieved by embedding habits, skills, and networks into the community. Cleanups teach waste-tracking and advocacy techniques (SDGs 6, 13, 15), Swap Meets normalize reuse (SDG 12), and Workshops build ongoing partnerships (SDGs 6, 13, 15). As these activities are low-cost, adaptable, and youth-led, they can be replicated across neighbourhoods, campuses, and regions with minimal resources.

Expected result

The program’s three core activities, Community Cleanup Days, Swap Meets, and Intersectional Workshops, are designed to create both immediate environmental benefits and long-term community transformation, while advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 15: Life on Land.

Community Cleanup Days will directly enhance the health and appearance of parks, school grounds, streets, and waterways. By mobilizing volunteers to remove litter and plastics, these events will protect freshwater sources (SDG 6), improve local biodiversity (SDG 15), and reduce environmental hazards that contribute to climate vulnerability (SDG 13). Participants will also develop a deeper understanding of the connection between human activity and ecosystem health, fostering a lasting sense of responsibility for shared spaces. Waste data collected will inform municipal waste reduction strategies, track pollution trends, and support advocacy for stronger environmental policies.

Swap Meets will reduce landfill waste by promoting reuse and resource-sharing. Participants will exchange clothing, books, electronics, and household goods, cutting the demand for new resource-intensive products and reinforcing circular economy principles (SDG 12). These events offer practical cost savings, normalize sustainable consumption habits, and foster stronger community ties through collaborative participation. Over time, they will contribute to measurable reductions in household waste and greater awareness of responsible consumption.

Intersectional Workshops will highlight the social dimensions of environmental issues, with a focus on Indigenous rights, traditional ecological knowledge, and the disproportionate impacts of environmental degradation on marginalized communities. Topics such as water scarcity (SDG 6), climate change (SDG 13), and habitat loss (SDG 15) will be explored through case studies, including boil-water advisories in Indigenous communities. Workshops will feature Indigenous-led teachings, hands-on activities like tree planting (SDG 15) and water filtration (SDG 6), and advocacy training to equip participants with tools for informed, culturally respectful action.

Short-term outcomes will include reduced litter in targeted areas, increased reuse and recycling through Swap Meets, and greater awareness of environmental justice issues. Medium-term outcomes include reduced single-use plastic use, stronger local sustainability networks, and increased advocacy for policies that integrate Indigenous perspectives. Long-term outcomes will be cleaner, healthier ecosystems, reduced landfill waste, and more equitable environmental outcomes for marginalized groups.

Crucially, these activities will also build local leadership capacity, empowering residents, especially youth, to take active roles in sustainability efforts. By working together in cleanups, exchanges, and shared learning spaces, participants will strengthen relationships across generational, cultural, and socio-economic divides. This inclusive, youth-led approach ensures environmental stewardship is recognized not only as an ecological necessity but also as a shared responsibility rooted in justice, respect, and mutual support.

About me / organisation

Kohana Antonio

Kohana is a volunteer with Regenesis, an environmental and sustainability club at the University of Toronto Scarborough, with extensive experience leading community cleanups and clothing swap events. She has a strong track record of organizing youth-led initiatives that combine environmental action, social justice, and community engagement. Kohana has coordinated events that divert waste from landfills, restore local parks, and foster inclusive community connections. For this project, she is leading all planning, coordination, and facilitation, collaborating with Indigenous faculty, community leaders, municipal partners, and local vendors to ensure culturally grounded, impactful activities. Her approach emphasizes youth leadership, practical skills development, and long-term community impact.