Eco reporter

Our project

Eco Reporter started in Bolivia in 2020 and is today a worldwide initiative of Terre des Hommes Suisse that enables young people to become agents of change through journalism on child right and planetary boundaries. In 2024, our project brought together 123 children and teenagers aged 8 to 17 from Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and India.

This flagship program now covers 4 countries on 2 continents, with a clear mission: to strengthen children’s ability to play an active part in building a fairer, more liveable and sustainable world that respects everyone’s rights and the planet’s limits.

An innovative teaching approach

Our approach is based on action-research learning, enabling young people to explore new horizons and understand the relationship between planetary boundaries and children’s rights.

Participants develop essential skills:

Global citizenship
Planetary boundaries
Children’s rights
Photographic techniques
Principles of journalism
Creative and factual writing

Our process

The project engages children in a process of learning about local environmental issues and challenges. It enables them to become advocates for preventing environmental degradation and combating different types of pollution.

In the field, the young reporters :

Identify local issues
Interview community members and other stakeholders
Photograph these issues
Develop articles
Contribute to a photo magazine presenting their vision of environmental degradation and how to remedy it

Reports that make a difference

The 69 photo reports produced this year cover a wide range of environmental topics, from positive initiatives such as reforestation and recycling to challenges such as air pollution and waste management.

In India, for example, 62 girls and boys shared their experiences with environmental threats in their communities. They documented how chemical fertilizers are damaging the soil and water, how single-use plastic causes multidimensional pollution, and how brick kilns are degrading the atmosphere.

The right to a healthy environment and education for sustainable development

At the heart of our approach lies the deep conviction that every child has the right to a healthy and sustainable environment. This fundamental right is inseparable from the other rights of the child.

Our educational projects, designed in line with local pedagogical requirements, raise awareness among participants about living together, global citizenship, and respect for the environment. The success of these initiatives highlights the importance of firmly embedding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into the daily practices of both teachers and children.

“In the children’s clubs, we made around 500 paper bags by reusing old newspapers. Together with the youth group, we distributed them to local shops to raise awareness about the harmful effects of single-use plastic bags. We also use cloth bags for our daily needs and encourage our families and community members to do the same.”
Dany, Haiti

Our community

Eco Reporter is made possible through the commitment of a passionate community of educators, journalists, environmental activists, and of course, the young participants and their families. Together, we are building, day by day, a global network of conscious and engaged young Ecojurnalists that can inform the population if their rights and planetary boundaries are being violated or protected.

A growing impact

Each photo essay is a window into the daily reality of these young reporters, capturing local environmental issues with authenticity and emotion. Through their eyes, we discover stories often overlooked by adult-centric traditional media.

Outlook for 2025

Building on its success, the Eco Reporter project is set to expand its reach in 2025 with the inclusion of two new countries: Switzerland and Senegal. This expansion will further enrich the diversity of perspectives and environmental issues addressed by our young reporters.

Explor our magazines

We invite you to explore the full range of magazines produced by our young reporters. Each publication reflects their creativity, sensitivity, and commitment to a more sustainable and equitable future.

Eco Reporter Magazine Bolivia

The fifth edition of the Eco Reporter magazine in Bolivia, where children and teenagers from Cochabamba, La Paz, and Potosí document the state of their right to live in a healthy environment through 27 photo essays. This initiative by Terre des Hommes Suisse aims to give young people a voice so they can become agents of change in the protection of their environment.

In this edition

Cochabamba Region: The challenges of agriculture in the face of pests and climate change
Ecological initiatives in schools to preserve water and green spaces
Potosí: The impact of mining pollution and its consequences on community health
El Alto: Young people committing to urban reforestation and the creation of sustainable alternatives
Citizen initiatives for animal protection and the recovery of natural spaces
Uyuni: Facing the challenges of pollution and water resource management

Eco Reporter Magazine Peru

The first edition of the Eco Reporter magazine in Peru gives a voice to 13 young journalists who authentically document the environmental challenges of the Cusco region. Through their lenses and pens, these teenagers invite us to discover how ecological issues directly impact their communities and their rights.

In this edition

Huancarani: The hidden cost of waste in Sunday markets
Ccatcca: Composting, turning waste into resources
San Jerónimo: Brick kilns in ecological transition
Kosñipata: Beyond coca cultivation
Paucartambo: Investigating forest fires
Chacabamba: Facing water contamination

Eco Reporter Magazine Colombia

The first issue of the Eco Reporter magazine in Colombia, where over 20 children and teenagers aged 8 to 16, from Colombia and Venezuela, share their perspectives on the environmental challenges in their region. In collaboration with our partner CECUCOL in Cali, these young journalists explore the issues that directly impact their daily lives.

In this edition

Pollution: A concern for children in low-income neighborhoods
Climate change: A silent threat that particularly affects vulnerable communities
Deforestation in the city of salsa: Between local practices and the responsibility of large industries
Water: A fundamental right threatened in the neighborhoods of Cali’s hillside
Young people committed to protecting plants and green spaces in their community

Eco Reporter Magazine India

The first issue of the Eco Reporter magazine in India, where 62 girls and boys from the tribal villages of Ghatsila, Jangipur, and Alipurduar share their reports on the environmental threats facing their communities. This edition, the result of a collaboration with Terre des Hommes Suisse, illustrates how children are becoming agents of change for the protection of their environment.

In this edition

Murshidabad: Organic farming facing environmental challenges
The consequences of deforestation and water pollution
The water crisis and local initiatives to address it
Alipurduar: Communities facing the challenges of flooding and chemical pollution
Ghatsila: The impacts of brick kilns and the exploitation of natural resources
Sustainable solutions led by village communities

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