| Not a lot of teenagers care that much about the | | | | EnergyWise campaign. |
| waste that comes out of their parent's GMC | | | | Vania Santoso joyfully received the most |
| muffler or what happens to the trash after they | | | | prestigious young environmentalists' accolade in |
| take it out of the house. But there are some who | | | | the world saying, "Whilst it was a stain on |
| do care about making this world a better place. | | | | Indonesia's reputation being branded the dirtiest |
| Two years ago the World Health Organization | | | | nation in the world by WHO, it was also a |
| gave Indonesia the title of the dirtiest country in | | | | wake-up call that something had to be done and |
| the world - a title that certainly would not be the | | | | in our small way, we may have helped both |
| envy of other countries. Just recently however, | | | | change perceptions and improve our local |
| two 15-year-old students from Surabaya in | | | | environment and economy." |
| Indonesia have helped turn the tables by winning | | | | Her colleague Wening Pranayadipta added, "It has |
| the prestigious Volvo Adventure World Final in | | | | been an amazing experience coming to |
| Gothenburg. | | | | Gothenburg and being encouraged by how many |
| Useful Waste for a Better Future is a project | | | | other students are as passionate about the |
| that not only removes rubbish but also recycles it | | | | environment as we are and it is a great honour |
| into sustainable souvenirs and gifts with the | | | | to win, especially against so many other powerful |
| additional advantage of adding value and helping | | | | projects." |
| overcome poverty. | | | | Olle Axelson, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, |
| Edging out of 365 projects across 47 different | | | | Volvo Cars presenting the prizes at the Volvo |
| countries worldwide, two 15-year-old Indonesian | | | | Adventure Awards ceremony, said, "The pride |
| schoolgirls, Wening Pranayadipta and Vania | | | | and the passion all these students have for their |
| Santoso, alias Bright Youngsters took the | | | | own local environment and the wider global picture |
| US$10,000 first prize for their project Useful | | | | is highly encouraging and in fact they are all |
| Waste for a Better Future - beating out New | | | | winners." |
| Zealand (second place) who won US$6,000 and | | | | "But the big winner here is the environment itself, |
| South Africa (third place) winning US$4,000. | | | | and facing so many challenges on so many fronts, |
| Theodore Oben of the official Volvo Adventure | | | | the creativity and dedication of these young |
| partner, the United Nations Environment | | | | people convinces me that the environment is |
| Programme (UNEP) said, "The standard goes up | | | | being passed into safe and responsible hands," |
| and up each and every year and this year, and | | | | added Mr Axelson. |
| Useful Waste for a Better Future is a project | | | | "The Volvo Adventure is immensely inspiring and |
| that works on many environmental levels, waste | | | | within the automotive industry in general and |
| reduction, recycling and revenue-earning and as | | | | Volvo in particular, we can draw great strength |
| such, it was the outstanding project amongst 15 | | | | and motivation to redouble our environmental |
| excellent finalists." | | | | efforts." |
| New Zealand's Plastic Not So Fantastic project, | | | | Projects are already underway all round the world |
| represented by the Green Teens won the | | | | for the seventh annual Volvo Adventure and the |
| US$6,000 while South Africa's Facing Up team | | | | closing date for entries is 31st January 2008. |
| took the US$4,000 third prize for their | | | | |