Jump into Sustainable Lifestyle

Project summary

The world is struggling with consequences of unsustainable growth and we cannot keep on avoiding to face those issues. Obviously, today's education must change. If we want to ensure bright future for future generations, we need to change the way we think and reconsider our values. Education for sustainable development plays a key role in this and must be introduced into curricular in all countries. Education for sustainable development consists of acquisition of knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for functioning in today's society. Moreover, it is aiming to contribute to the individual's ability to manage not only his or hers own life but also effectively manage nature resources. Many initiatives are being taken all around the world to achieve more responsible ways of living in relation to our own lives, the lives of others and the natural environment. PERL/UNITWIN (The Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living) is an international network of experts, researchers, teachers and policy-makers that develop curricula, learning methods and materials about responsible, sustainable living. The AIM of the JSL project is to intensively disseminate and adapt those innovative practices of education for sustainable development in the Baltic states: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Education for sustainable development requires more “transformative” mode of teaching, where pupils can learn to integrate new knowledge and compare new information to what is already understood about the world. It gives them an opportunity to make meaning from their own previous knowledge and experiences. However, in the Baltic states "transmissive" teaching methods are used more widely, which is why, implementation of the project "Jump into sustainable lifestyle" would bring high value to the education in the Baltic countries. The main objectives are: 1. To adapt a methodology, which has been prepared by PERL to the needs of partnering countries (LT; LV; EE). The methodology will consist of theory, complete lesson plans and activity suggestions. 2. To improve competences of mainstream education teachers by organizing training seminars allowing to share good practices and learn new competences on education for sustainable development. 3. To put into practice the adapted PERL methodology and widely disseminate practices of education for sustainable development in partnering countries. The methodology will be tested for 4 months in 4 pilot schools in the Baltic countries (LT, LV, EE). 4. To improve the quality of education for sustainable development in partnering countries. The project intend to work closely with formal and non-formal education centers in 3 partner countries. Each Centre will coordinate the implementation of PERL methodology in 4 pilot schools in their region, a total of 12 secondary schools. Nonetheless, the methodology will finally be widely distributed in other schools in partnering countries through created JSL website. The long term work and extensive experience of promoting learning for sustainable development in this network, will be reinforced by the experience of the participating organizations in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and vice versa. The project "Jump into sustainable lifestyle" will contribute to cooperation between schools in the region; the opportunity to learn from each other will constitute an important resource and opportunity for all partners. The project training activities will be dedicated for teachers and educators, who are practically working with secondary school pupils, and are willing to involve education for sustainable development into their teaching methods. The project team strongly believes that the project "Jump into sustainable lifestyle" will have a great value in improving the quality of education for sustainable development in the Baltic states.