Bioyoutoon
BioYouToon is an Erasmus funded international cooperation project that uses comics and webtoons to raise awareness about biodiversity conservation among young people.
Through workshops, training modules, and collaborative toolkits, participants (including youth, educators, and artists) developed original stories and illustrations that explore themes like species conservation, urban ecosystems, and human-nature relationships. The project’s outputs include downloadable comic toolkits which provide step-by-step guides for creating biodiversity-focused comics, along with a collection of published webtoons that amplify marginalized perspectives on environmental issues. BioYOuToon’s approach reflects a commitment to participatory learning and arts-based advocacy, empowering communities to re-imagine their role in protecting and celebrating biological diversity.
The Biodiversity corridor
I met Florian and Corinna while working on the “BioYouToon” Erasmus Plus Cooperation project. The project aims to Biodiversity awareness among young people – which is also a passion of Corinna and Flo’s.
So they joined the project as trainers, and consultants for the comic webtoon strips created as a result of the stories gathered. They also have a very unique project they’ve been working on: creating islands of biodiversity along the lengthy streets of Meidling in Vienna, to allow insects and ither species of living things we barely notice in our cities, to move through the city and find places to seek refuge in and exist within.
I documented the bio-diversity walk they took participants of the workshop in Vienna on, then sat down with them and asked them to tell us more about this amazing project.
Webtoons on biodiversity
As X-arts, and together with our participants and project partners, we created a series of webcomics (created by local artists) that transports readers into a world where biodiversity comes alive. Through compelling narratives, relatable characters, and thought-provoking plotlines, the stories immerse young readers into the wonders of nature and awaken their sense of responsibility as stewards of our planet. Here are three of them for your pleasure.
Two siblings embark on a mission to save their budgies by following them into a drawer. They navigate a magical world of diverse plant and animal species as they track down their two adorable pets. Story and illustration by Moka Sheung Yan Wong. Access “Ela, Kayra and the magic drawer” the webtoon here.
A young and curious teenager needs to understand the plight of Danny the Wool Carder Bee, and advocate on her behalf. Illustrated by Dominic Sylvestre. Access Danny the Woolcarder Bee, here.
Baby Turtles navigate a challenging terrain as they hatch and attempt to find their way to the sea. Illustrated by Natalie Sandner. Access “The plight of the see turtles”, here.
You can obtain more info on the project and access our resources, via the x-arts site, here!