Ilse and Rosa Win the OMO Sustainability Award

A wonderful recognition for Ilse Vloet and Rosa van Loon from 5 HAVO. With their profile project on plastic pollution, they won the 2026 OMO Sustainability Award. The jury recognized their project for its strong combination of research, creativity, and social impact.

This is where the sea begins
Many students and colleagues remember the eye-catching pink signs that appeared around storm drains on campus earlier this school year. At about thirty locations, the message read: This is where the sea begins. The campaign immediately drew curious glances, sparked conversations in the hallways, and raised many questions. That was exactly what Ilse and Rosa wanted to achieve. Through their campaign, they highlighted how plastic waste on the streets eventually ends up in rivers and oceans via rainwater and storm drains—a journey that many people never stop to think about.

A Global Problem
For their profile project, the students chose guerrilla geography: a method in which unexpected locations prompt people to think about a social issue. They applied the text using biodegradable chalk spray, which disappears on its own through rain and wear and tear. In addition to the campaign, Ilse and Rosa created a work of art from collected plastic waste. In it, they incorporated the continents and the oceans. The artwork shows that plastic pollution doesn’t just happen far away, but is a global problem that affects us all.
The campaign was only part of their profile project. Ilse and Rosa also investigated whether their initiative actually had an impact. Beforehand, they conducted a survey to assess students’ knowledge of plastic pollution. After the campaign and the presentation fair, they repeated the survey. This allowed them to determine whether awareness among students had increased.

Making an Impact
Teacher mentor Roy van den Broek followed the project from its initial concept and watched it grow steadily. “Ilse and Rosa threw themselves into this profile project with both hands. They researched the topic thoroughly, dared to launch a striking campaign, and got the whole school talking. That takes courage, perseverance, and creativity. The fact that they’ve now won the OMO Sustainability Award is more than well-deserved. I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved.”

A Crowning Achievement
The OMO Sustainability Award is presented annually to a research project or initiative that contributes to social or environmental sustainability. The award aligns with “Koers 2030” from Ons Middelbaar Onderwijs, in which sustainability plays a key role. Through their research, creative campaign, and measurable results, Ilse and Rosa demonstrate how students can bring a social issue to life.

Congratulations, Ilse and Rosa, on this special and well-deserved award!