The Problem
We used to think environmental issues were mostly about protecting places, but the more we learned, the more we realized they\'re also about protecting people. We were amazed to discover that something as ordinary as the air we breathe or the chemicals around us can shape how our brains develop, how we learn, and even the opportunities we\'re given in life, and noticing these impacts in our own community inspired us to start The ReLife Project, where we help people discover the often-overlooked connections between environmental and human health through education, conversations, and community outreach! ReLife has become so much more than a project to us - it has shown us the incredible power of curiosity, reminded us that meaningful change often begins with a single conversation, and given us the joy of watching someone say, \"I never thought about it that way!\" because we truly believe that when people understand how deeply our environment shapes our lives, they feel more empowered to protect both the planet and one another.
Our Plan
The ReLife Project is a youth-led nonprofit dedicated to helping people discover the often-overlooked connections between environmental and brain health. Over the past year, our student-led team has grown to include leaders from more than 20 countries who have worked together to make environmental health education more accessible and engaging. We\'ve hosted STEM camps, organized monthly environmental awareness campaigns, interviewed leading researchers and advocates through The Green Room podcast and YouTube series, led community service initiatives such as invasive kudzu removal projects, and even facilitated an environmental health workshop at the United Nations Headquarters during the International Youth Conference with students representing more than 80 countries. Building on these experiences, we are now planning to bring this work even closer to home by launching a free four-part Environmental Health Discovery Workshop Series for students and families in our local community. Each workshop will combine interactive activities, discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on STEM take-home kits to help participants explore how environmental factors such as air pollution, lead, pesticides, and other everyday exposures can influence brain development, learning, mental health, and overall well-being. What makes this project especially meaningful to us is that we don\'t want learning to stop when the workshop ends. Every participant will receive Conversation Cards filled with engaging questions and discussion prompts that encourage them to continue talking about environmental health with their families, friends, classmates, and neighbors. We believe these conversations are where lasting change begins. With support from the Awesome Foundation\'s Climate & Conservation Chapter, we will be able to purchase workshop supplies, create STEM take-home kits, print Conversation Cards, and host all four workshops free of charge. Our goal is to empower participants with practical knowledge while sparking at least 500 meaningful conversations throughout our community, helping more people recognize that protecting the environment isn\'t just about protecting forests, oceans, or wildlife-it\'s also about protecting ourselves and one another.
