Green Games at Giffoni: the game for the 'Environmental Natives'

250 thousand students throughout Italy.

These are the numbers of the Green Game, a project that, in the last 11 years, has conquered schools across half of Italy, demonstrating how important it is to educate new generations about sustainability, using interactive and engaging methods. For this reason, the project has also earned an important place at the 54th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival, becoming one of the most anticipated events. The Green Game is promoted by the National Consortia for the Collection, Recovery and Recycling of Packaging, including BIOREPACK, CIAL, COMIECO, COREPLA, COREVE and RICREA, and is conceived by Alvin Crescini who is also its host. A virtuous and unique way to seal the collaboration between the consortia and Giffoni. The initiative is present at the festival for the third consecutive year, demonstrating its importance in the Italian educational panorama.

The Multimedia Format

The multimedia format of the Green Game, focused on the theme of recycling and environmental sustainability, is taking place these days in the spaces of the Sala Verde of the Multimedia Valley. The aim of the project is to educate and entertain young people, raising their awareness of good practices of separate waste collection and environmental issues.

Interactive Approach with Teams and Rewards

The kids, divided into teams and equipped with wireless responders, compete to win eco-friendly prizes and gadgets, all made from recycled materials. This dynamic encourages cooperation and teamwork and also promotes greater ecological awareness among young people.

Gamification as a Teaching Method

“The secret is the language we use to talk to kids,” says Alvin Crescini. “The idea of ​​using gamification in schools was an intuition from 11 years ago and led us to have a very direct approach to them. Young people at school are divided into classes and each class is a team. At the beginning we provide information on good practices of environmental sustainability and then there is a test on how much they have learned through a “television” quiz, with push-button panels and digital methods. Here at Giffoni we use the same formula. The kids are divided by shirts and materials, each material represents a consortium. And they challenge each other. First a lesson pill and then the game. They win gadgets, a book on separate waste collection designed together with the consortia. By now our project has received valuable collaborations such as the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of the Environment. A very strong and inclusive social spirit emerges. It is always said that you learn by playing. We certainly didn't imagine that after 11 years we would have such active and happy teachers and principals. Here in Giffoni we had a mother happy for our return, who told us how her daughter has become an expert in recycling. In short, the kids become our champions who educate their parents, they are much more attentive to these issues. They are "environmental natives"and become protagonists of this change."

---