One Action, One Book: A Multilingual and Eco-Friendly Project

The "One Action, One Book" collection, initiated by EIB Grenelle and supported by Globeducate in partnership with Gulf Stream Éditeur, is an inter-school literary and artistic adventure that raises pupils' awareness of environmental issues while promoting multilingualism and artistic collaboration. This unique project enables students from Globeducate schools to get involved in the creation of books tackling environmental issues, written in the schools' own languages and illustrated collaboratively. 

2022-2023 : The launch of the collection with "Fight Food Waste!" 

The collection began in 2022-2023 with the CE1 class (2nd Grade) at EIB Grenelle, which published the first volume entitled "Fight Food Waste!" in the school's three languages: French, English and Chinese. The aim of the project was to raise pupils' awareness of food waste, an issue to which they are exposed on a daily basis. Under the guidance of their teachers and in collaboration with illustrator Thuy-An Buis, the pupils created the adventures of Jack and Lucy, two children of their own age, who discover solutions to reduce food waste. 

The children chose to tackle the issue of food waste in the canteen. This was the starting point for their story and their search for information on the subject, before suggesting actions to reduce this waste and, for some, to implement them in their school.

2023-2024: Expansion to new schools and themes

The success of the first volume has encouraged other schools in the Globeducate network to join the project. For the 2023-2024 school year, four new books have been created by students from different levels. Each participating school has chosen a different environmental issue, allowing for a wide variety of themes to be addressed. 

• EIB Grenelle (CE1): "It's too hot", written in French, English and Chinese 
• EIB de la Jonchère (CM1): "Artic ice cap in danger", written in French and English 
• EIB Lamartine (CP): "Stop! The planet is not a garbage can", written in French, English and Spanish 
• Lycée français Sophie Germain (CE2): "Eco-citizens heroes", written in French, English and Arabic

A multilingual project

One of the most remarkable aspects of this project is its multilingual approach. Each book is written in at least two languages, enabling students to work not only on their language skills but also on their ability to communicate and collaborate in a multicultural context. This approach reinforces inclusion and opens students up to linguistic and cultural diversity.

Artistic creation as a vehicle for collaboration

The artistic dimension is also central to this project. The students not only write the stories, they also play an active part in creating the illustrations. Thuy-An Buis, the project's illustrator, worked closely with the students to bring the characters of Jack and Lucy as well as their faithful companion, the fox Wiki, to life. The students drew the backgrounds, and the characters were integrated into these environments, creating a truly collaborative work.

Raising awareness of environmental issues from an early age

"One Action, One Book" does more than just develop students' linguistic and artistic skills. It also aims to raise awareness of environmental issues from an early age. Each book tackles a specific environmental issue, and the solutions devised by the students are often inspired by actions already in place or to be introduced in their schools. "One Action, One Book" is in line with the Eco-School projects undertaken by our schools. This pragmatic approach enables children to understand the importance of their daily actions in protecting the environment.

A promising future for the collection

The "One Action, One Book" collection is set to expand. With the success of the first volumes, new schools in the Globeducate network are ready to join the adventure, bringing their own ideas and perspectives. Each new publication enriches the collection, offering opportunities for sharing and learning between students from different countries and cultures.

In conclusion, "One Action, One Book" is much more than a school project. It is an initiative that combines environmental education, linguistic development and artistic expression, while fostering international collaboration. Thanks to the commitment of students, teachers and partners like Gulf Stream Éditeur, this collection promises to become a valuable resource for educating and raising awareness among the younger generation.