From Hackathon Participant to GO_GREEN Ambassador: Zala Novak Inspires Young Pupils in Slovenia

The GO_GREEN journey doesn’t end with the hackathon! On 14 October 2026, Zala Novak, a participant in the project’s third and final hackathon in Bulgaria, took her experience one step further by introducing the GO_GREEN project to 21 third-grade pupils at Marija Vera Primary School in Kamnik, Slovenia. Inspired by her journey, Zala decided to become a GO_GREEN Ambassador and encourage the next generation to adopt more sustainable habits. Here, Zala shares her personal experience and explains what motivated her to bring the GO_GREEN message into the classroom. “My name is Zala Novak, and I participated in an online Social Skills Training within the GO GREEN Erasmus+ project, as well as in the 3rd and final Hackathon held in Bulgaria. On my way home from Bulgaria, I realised that I wanted to become a GO GREEN Ambassador and share the knowledge and experience I had gained by participating in various GO GREEN activities. I also wanted to inspire young people, especially the children I work with at Marija Vera Primary School in Kamnik, Slovenia, to adopt more environmentally friendly habits and become more aware of the importance of protecting our planet. As part of the GO GREEN project, on 14 October, I presented the project and my personal experience to 21 children in the 3rd grade at Marija Vera Primary School in Kamnik. I introduced them to the project’s objectives, its activities, and the experiences we gained during our participation in the Hackathon in Bulgaria. I shared my personal experiences and the knowledge I had acquired, placing special emphasis on the environmental ideas and sustainable practices promoted through the project. During the presentation, I introduced the children to practical ways they could contribute to protecting the environment in their everyday lives. We discussed how to reduce food waste, the importance of choosing more environmentally friendly means of transport, such as cycling, riding scooters, and walking instead of travelling by car, and the benefits of collecting rainwater to reduce water consumption. My aim was to show the children that even small changes in our daily habits can make a meaningful difference to the environment. Through this activity, I wanted to bring the GO GREEN project’s values closer to the younger generation and encourage the children to think about their own environmental impact. I believe that sharing the knowledge and experiences gained through the project is an important step towards raising environmental awareness and inspiring young people to take responsibility for a greener and more sustainable future. Becoming a GO GREEN Ambassador gives me the opportunity to continue spreading these ideas in my school and community and to encourage children to become active contributors to positive environmental change.”