Making Sustainability Relatable With Nanzan University Students

GreenLight Bootcamp is a dynamic and intensive program designed to provide study abroad students with a condensed version of the Student-Led Sustainability Projects. This unique initiative offers an accelerated learning experience, combining project-focused workshops, mentorship, and social events which foster cross-cultural exchange and help students build relationships beyond the project work. Over the span of six weeks, students gain valuable sustainability problem-solving skills, hands-on experience, and the opportunity to collaborate as they learn GreenLight’s curated sustainability project management process. The aim is to guide projects from ideation to implementation, ensuring comprehensive learning and practical application for the participants.
This year, we had the pleasure of hosting 15 students from Nanzan University in Japan. As the lead facilitator, I was especially excited to meet the students based on my connection to Japanese culture through my brother, who has been living and working in Japan for over three years. He taught me how to greet the students in Japanese to welcome them to Arizona. 
The focus of their project was to create effective waste diversion plans and evaluate waste streams at local Arizona events. Guided by GreenLight facilitators, the teams worked on three specific events: the Mesa Marathon (2022, 2023), Tour de Fat (2022), and GreenLiving Magazine’s Earth Day Extravaganza (2022).
The students meticulously analyzed these events’ waste diversion efforts and translated their findings into three informative infographics per team, for a total of 9 infographics. These infographics showcased the greenhouse gas emission conversions resulting from the waste diversion initiatives, aiming to raise public awareness about the tangible effects of waste. Each team showcased 9 conversions, for a total of 27 relatable sustainability metrics. By utilizing visuals, the teams effectively conveyed the importance of waste reduction to educate the public about the environmental impact of these events’ efforts.
The Impact and Benefits:
GreenLight Bootcamp offers numerous benefits to participating students. By following the GreenLight GuideLines and working on real-world projects, students gain valuable problem-solving skills, project management experience, and a deeper understanding of sustainability in action. The hands-on nature of the program also allows students to build their resumes, enhancing their future career prospects in sustainability-related fields.
Moreover, the opportunity to collaborate with GreenLight staff and student Solutioneers offers students a unique cross-cultural experience and networking opportunities. This exposure to diverse perspectives and collaboration strengthens their abilities to work in multicultural environments and fosters long-lasting connections.
Thank you to Nori Hayashi and Taka Yamagishi, all of our wonderful students, Nanzan University, and Arizona State University’s Global Launch for making this possible!

Author: Gemini Boudrie
Gemini Boudrie graduated from Arizona State University in 2022 with a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Business Sustainability. After spending five semesters as a Solutioneer in the program, Gemini now serves as GreenLight Solutions’ Program Coordinator, working directly with students in our Bootcamp and Student-Led Sustainability Project programs, as well as partnering with local events for our Green Events Services program.