Svitlana Kariakina

Green teams strengthen resilience by creating shared responsibility. I will join or help start a green team in my workplace, school, or community group to support sustainability and collaboration.

Resilience is part of how nature works. I will spend 5 minutes learning about ecological resilience—how ecosystems adapt to disturbances and renew themselves through cycles of growth and renewal.

Dishwashers can save water — if used wisely. I will only run the dishwasher when it’s full and skip the pre-rinse to reduce water and energy use. If I don't have a dishwasher, I will turn off the tap as often as possible while washing dishes.

Give back to your community & the environment by participating in an environmentally-related volunteer activity this April. Not only will you get points in the EcoChallenge, but this counts towards FCR's corporate volunteer day objective as well!

Preserving food through freezing, drying, or fermenting helps food last longer, reduces waste, and ensures supplies during difficult times. I will preserve or store food during the challenge to strengthen household and community resilience.

Working together builds resilience and pride in the places we care about. I will participate in 1 community projects such as a cleanup or local beautification project that strengthens connections and shared purpose.

Swapping and sharing resources reduces waste and builds community bonds. I will participate in 2 swaps or sharing activities, like borrowing items, attending or hosting a swap meet, or giving away items I no longer need to support a sharing economy with friends, family, colleagues or neighbors.

The goal is to use less water and to save resources.

I will strengthen my personal resilience by staying active through Pilates and spending time outdoors hiking whenever possible. Each day, I will take a few minutes to reflect, focus on the positive, and manage stress through movement and mindful breaks.

Eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is a simple way to boost our personal health and support a more resilient food system. I will prepare and enjoy 3 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

Native plants provide food and shelter for local wildlife and help ecosystems adapt to change. I will choose native plants for my yard, balcony, or community space instead of non-native or ornamental species to support biodiversity resilience.

Fallen leaves, logs, and brush provide shelter and food for wildlife. I will leave natural features in my yard or community space to help strengthen biodiversity and soil resilience.

Extreme weather events like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods can disrupt lives and upend our communities. I will take proactive steps to prepare for extreme weather by safeguarding my home and creating or updating an emergency plan and kit with essential supplies, evacuation routes, and contact information.

Regular health check-ups help prevent problems before they start. I will schedule or attend a medical, dental, or mental health check-up to take care of my well-being.

Sharing builds common understanding. I will share 1 definitions of resilience that resonate with me—through conversations, social media, or the event feed—to help others explore what resilience means.

Bringing people together helps strengthen bonds. I will organize and host a gathering, such as a potluck, coffee meet up, or shared meal, for friends, family, colleagues, or neighbors to foster connection and community spirit.

Daily movement supports our physical and mental health. I will spend 40 minutes each day exercising in a way that feels good to me, such as walking, running, stretching, or dancing.

I gave a "second life" to one broken item - mended a piece of clothing for my daughter, she really likes it. Resilience is about recovering from damage rather than being discarded

I have spent the last 30 days learning and reflecting. I will share what I have learnt with my colleagues in the office.

Bees and other pollinators are vital to ecosystems and agriculture. I will spend 5 minutes learning how to support local pollinators and take at least one action—such as planting native flowers or avoiding pesticides—to help sustain resilient ecosystems and harvests.

Growing food builds resilience by connecting us to the soil and reducing reliance on long supply chains. I will grow edible plants—such as herbs, vegetables, or grains—in my home, balcony, or community space, strengthening both my food security and local biodiversity.