The Chinese Conservation Education Trust (the Trust) recently held a creative upcycling workshop at Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts in Auckland.
The Trust was established in 2002 by a group of individuals dedicated to encouraging Chinese New Zealanders to learn more about conservation. The trust aims to foster an appreciation and understanding of New Zealand's unique places, plants and animals.
The upcycling workshop taught 24 participants from the Chinese community how to use old or broken umbrellas and t-shirts to create reusable shopping bags and hangers.
The Trust provided two sewing machines for the workshop, and facilitators showed participants how to make bags out of umbrella fabric. A no-sew option using old t-shirts was also demonstrated.
These workshops were a great opportunity to bring together community members for a fun and informative session. Participants found the workshop interesting and educational, and were thrilled to leave with a one of a kind, upcycled reusable bag!
Estella Lee, the Trust’s founding Chairperson, said she hopes to get more Chinese New Zealanders involved in the Trust’s activities to learn more about conservation. “It is important that all of us take action to protect our beautiful environment in New Zealand.”
To find out more about the Chinese Conservation Education Trust visit www.ccet.org.nz.