A pair of young siblings in Orillia are turning heads with a new hands-on environmental education program designed entirely by kids, for kids<\/p>\n
NEWS RELEASE
\nRAINBOW INITIATIVE ORILLIA
\n************************
\nA new youth-led initiative is putting a fun, hands-on spin on environmental education for kids in Orillia. STEAMifying Sustainability is a weekly drop-in program designed by kids, for kids, using the power of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) to teach children aged five to nine about sustainability.<\/p>\n
The program is part of Rainbow Initiative Orillia, a grassroots effort to empower youth to lead change in their own communities. There are currently five \u201cideas\u201d operating under the umbrella of the Rainbow Initiative. Each was awarded seed funding in June 2024 to implement their projects with support from adult mentors and the wider community. STEAMifying Sustainability is the latest project to launch, following the Bridging Pages Book Club and Raccoon Skate Club.<\/p>\n
Two local siblings, Fatima and Omar Khattak, came up with the idea because of their shared concern that too few fun and accessible resources existed to help young children understand climate change and environmental responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere just weren\u2019t enough fun, simple ways for young kids to learn about sustainability,\u201d said older sibling Fatima, aged 14. \u201cWe wanted to change that \u2014 with something affordable, creative and built from a kid\u2019s point of view.\u201d<\/p>\n
What sets STEAMifying Sustainability apart is its kid-led design. Each session runs for 45 minutes and all the activities are engaging and age-appropriate, as well as educational, because they were imagined and developed entirely by Fatima and Omar.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids learn best when they\u2019re having fun,\u201d explained younger sibling Omar, aged eight. \u201cAnd who knows what makes learning fun better than other kids?\u201d<\/p>\n
Through hands-on experiments, creative projects and real-world problem-solving, the program introduces key sustainability concepts in a way that sparks curiosity and builds practical skills.<\/p>\n
The first session was a success, and the organizers are now seeking community support to keep the momentum going. They’re looking for families to sign up, spread the word and contribute small donations to help expand the program for future seasons.<\/p>\n
The initiative is generously supported by the Kiwanis Club of Orillia, whose commitment to empowering young leaders has helped bring the project to life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited to see younger kids get curious about the environment,\u201d said Fatima and Omar. \u201cAnd we hope to inspire others to take action too.\u201d<\/p>\n