February 23^rd 17.30. Semiotic research center organized eco-workshops in Panevezys Youth school’s premises, during which the attendants learned how to create unique gifts and home interiors – teddy bears – using an old skirt or a shirt. Workshops were aimed to reduce consumerism and to pay the public’s attention to the fact that in order to give close people something special you do not have to look for new things in the supermarket.

“It is obvious that many of us have a vein of creativity. However, why we use it so rarely and why we keep looking for unique items in stores for a gift or room decoration? Buying one thing after another we trap ourselves in a continuous cycle of consumption and, our homes become full of unnecessary shopping. These eco-workshops are for saying “stop” for reckless consumption” – said the organizer of eco-workshops Martynas Norbutas.

According to Norbutas, we all know that a thing from the store would never be as valuable as handmade. “Today public talks about the environment are increasing, but how much we really contribute to protecting the environment? One major problem – persistent growth of consumption and the consequences of it are evident: the increasing amount of waste, pollution in the process of production, persistent demand for resources and their consumption. This can be stopped if we start living differently, act differently,” – told the leader of the project implemented by Semiotic research center, Martynas Norbutas.

“Little needed to impress yourself and others – few hours of work, scraps of material, a pair of old buttons, thread, needles, and, of course, creativity. And what once seemed unnecessary – a long skirt or a jacket – can turn into a wonderful toy – a teddy bear. That is what we are going to learn sewing in eco-workshops,” – said young artist and training leader Milda Lukoševičiūtė.

According to the artist, wonderful things are everywhere around us. Just go over things you were going to throw away and use your imagination for creating unique, single-unit items. “If we want, we can make each piece of material speak for themselves. I will be delighted if more bears from old clothes awake in the world after these trainings,” – said Milda Lukoševičiūtė.

Eco-workshops are part of Grundtvig project “Earth S.O.S. through Eco-Creativity” coordinated by Semiotic research center. Grundtvig sub-program is a part of the Lifelong Learning Programme, which is administrated in Lithuania by the Education Exchanges Support Foundation.

The project is funded by the European Commission. This report reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.