María José Zavala, 20, and Enrique Pacheco, 23, traveled this month to Germany as part of the prize they won in a university contest for environmental ideas, sponsored in Venezuela by the environmental group Vitalis. “More than 100 young people have participated each year since 2004 with their initiatives. In 2008, we awarded the 10 best ideas for fighting global warming with a trip within Venezuela, plus the two who went to Germany to observe new technologies for preserving the environment,” Vitalis president Diego Díaz told Tierramérica.

Zavala, who studies physics and math in Cabimas, in the northwestern state of Zulia, proposed episodes of an animated show in which a brigade teaches viewers how to take care of the environment.

Pacheco, who is studying modern languages in Caracas, designed a plan with “preachers” who ride public transportation in the capital to raise awareness about climate change.