The objective of the "Product Lifecycle" project was to unveil the "hidden biography" of ubiquitous consumer goods to adolescents, exposing the often-overlooked backstory of items inherent to our daily lives. By deepening their understanding of supply chains and their associated implications, the initiative aimed to highlight the environmental toll of consumer culture, specifically regarding the exacerbation of the climate crisis, thereby transforming students from passive consumers into active agents of change. In practice, we facilitated a workshop at the Social High School in Kiryat Ata, anchored in the "Photo-Story" methodology. During this session, students conducted an in-depth investigation into the origins of personal items such as mobile phones, lipstick, and a shirt. They uncovered startling data regarding labor exploitation, environmental pollution, and animal testing. Subsequently, working in collaborative teams, they staged and captured creative photographs that vividly illustrated the detrimental impact inherent in these production processes. The students’ response was profoundly emotional, marking a tangible shift from initial apathy and skepticism to shock, curiosity, and a newfound sense of self-efficacy and desire to drive change. By the workshop's conclusion, most participants reported that the insights gained had significantly heightened their awareness, altered their perceptions, and ignited a motivation for change stemming from a sense of personal accountability. The final deliverables consisted of a photographic series documenting the issues raised, which were then curated into a poster featuring: a clear Call to Action. This included advocacy for sustainable practices such as purchasing second-hand clothing, scrutinizing production methods prior to purchase, and acknowledging the broader environmental ramifications of our collective consumption habits. The poster was disseminated throughout the school community to raise local awareness. Furthermore, the artifacts were uploaded online as part of the "Green Map" initiative, a global platform that provides international exposure for local environmental projects.
