We want to raise funds to increase air pollution awareness, by creating a pollution-absorbing sculpture and wildflower meadow in Lewisham. It's in memory of 9 year old Ella Adoo Kissi Debrah, who died in 2013, the first person to have air pollution on her death certificate.
This is phase 2 of the fundraising campaign, paying for the completion of the sculpture. The Mayor of London has confirmed a £10K donation; "I am proud to support this project. The memorial will serve as a powerful tribute to a young Londoner and will also help educate others about the dangers of toxic air.”
Phase 1 of the fundraising campaign achieved its £15K target that funded the sculpture’s design and concept. The target for the third and final phase is £7K, to fund the development of a plaque, completion of the wildflower meadow and online educational packs.
The sculpture will be a focal point for educating people about the dangers of air pollution, responsible for the death of 7 million people a year.
What we'll deliver:
- A pollution-absorbing sculpture – a legacy of Ella Adoo Kissi Debrah and her life
- A pollution absorbing wild flower meadow and plant 400 plants
- Online educational packs on combatting air pollution and caring for a wild meadow
Why it's a great idea:
The project will help educate people in Lewisham, south east London and beyond about the impact of air pollution and empower them to reduce and mitigate its effects. The sculpture is a way of making an invisible topic visible, and we believe will start conversations amongst the people that see it, in the park, as well as the world. The sculpture will enable us to amplify our work and message by utilising our networks and relationships with key local and global stakeholders, to communicate this to local, UK wide and a global audience. Feedback from talks the Foundation gives regularly is that people want to know more about the impact of air pollution on medical conditions, including asthma and heart disease. An AirLab Senser will give passers-by a real-time reading of air pollution by the sculpture, and will give a sense of how many people are engaging with the sculpture, which can also be used as a teaching tool by local schools and community groups.
Steps to get it done:
- Developing the concept and design and 3D models
- Completing the sculpture
- Design of the wildflower meadow
- Purchase of the plants
- Completion of the wildflower meadow
- Purchase of the plaque
- Unveiling of the sculpture and wildflower meadow
Young people and future generations, who have not caused the problem will have to bear the brunt of the legacy of air pollution unless we make it recognisable and empower people to work for change. Air pollution is a global and a local problem and global and local solutions are needed to address it. This sculpture is a part of the solution. The foundation is embedded in the community and has relationships with the Mayor of Lewisham, the London Borough of Lewisham, the Mayor of London and community groups. We will develop a communications plan including posts and tweets on social media, blogs and press releases, announcing the launch of a fundraising campaign for the sculpture and wild meadow. Press releases will be distributed at key points updating people on the amount of money raised. We will involve our local community in fundraising and educational activities. If you want to find out more about our work, please visit our website: Home | The Ella Roberta Foundation
