Toulouse. Sarah, a young eco-citizen, is going to clean up the beach in Barcelona
Sarah Degand, 17, a mature and determined teenager from Toulouse, is embarking on an environmental project with the support of the departmental council. A future Greta Thunberg?
Sarah Degand is 17 years old, lives in Toulouse and is in her final year at Caousou high school. “The school brings me a lot of satisfaction. I blossom through many subjects, particularly in language classes, geopolitics, philosophy and economic and social sciences. I am curious, voluntary with the desire to act and discover the world. And I am very sensitive to environmental issues.”
So Sarah decided to get involved in the field of eco-citizenship thanks to the Initi’Active Jeunesses grant. This is an original device intended for young people aged 11 to 29, supported by the Haute-Garonne departmental council and its youth partners. Accessible throughout the territory, the scholarship provides material and financial assistance to projects that have a social utility. It is technical and methodological support. “With this help, I will carry out an environmental action in Barcelona, cleaning and collecting waste, plastic, cigarette butts… On the beach. I will use walking, cycling to get around this city and I will adopt a zero diet waste. I will take photos and videos to feed a logbook which will be used to restore the project and will testify in particular in front of other young people”, says Sarah. But why did you choose the city of Barcelona? “Toulouse welcomed at the end of the civil war Spanish refugees following a repressive regime. Even today, students or Spanish people settle in our city. Let’s try to understand their way of thinking, their environmental practices. Spain is an ideal destination to continue practicing the Spanish language.”
Reckless, Sarah confides that she could not remain inactive in the face of environmental issues in particular. “My revolt in the face of the rise in mass tourism and the deterioration of the cleanliness of the beaches. My desire to travel and discover the natural beauties that we offer the world. My thirst for knowledge has always been a goal for me. Going to the country allows me to have a more concrete and realistic vision of the life of the inhabitants” she continues, too, “I want to continue to protect the environment. Let’s commit ourselves for the world, nature and future generations so that we can live on a healthier planet. I want to give impetus to young people from Haut-Garonne so that they too can embark on their projects. Testify and convince the young people of the department that everyone can act at their level.” Sarah may already be following in the footsteps of young Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.