International/EU/National policies related to climate change are hardly credible if the change and the appropriate attitude are not initiated at the very base of society, our children and thus our future, hopefully ecology-aware, citizens. Therefore, teachers should be trained to: o Introduce affordable ecology training in the existing curriculums (e.g. could be added to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses, or provide it as extra-curricular activity) o Engage the youth of today to protect the climate of tomorrow o Ensure young people have the power to be the change for sustainability that our world needs by engaging them in fun, action-orientated and socially responsible learning Neither teachers nor schools obtain the necessary training or financial means to become eco-friendly organisations. While schools may be asked to invest in wind turbines, solar panels, or even ecological design principles, these products focus on the consumption solely and could open up a future divided between initiatives who will have access to cheap renewable energy due to privately owned solar panels etc. and the others who are trapped into oil intensive lifestyles because they cannot afford to switch. Our project aims to prepare schools to become eco-schools and make students ecology resilient, but this time via a workable and affordable manner, and by involving also the community. Hence, a network of ecological projects is developed across 4 countries, becoming a mosaic of activities that can range from food growing, to upcycling (reusing materials instead of recycling them), to developing skill sharing pools, but also becoming aware of affordable solar energy solutions. Doing so, we ensure that students become resilient, who’s adjacent possible is so vast that they have a seemingly unlimited number of paths. Over the course of their education (formal or otherwise), this student gathered so many ideas, concepts, and experiences that the see their future as abundant. As pointed out by educational theorist Sir Ken Robinson, we are preparing students for a future that we do not really know; the resilient student is one who’s adjacent possible is the widest. Target groups: - School teachers of primary education - School networks of primary education Beneficiaries: - Students of primary education - Student bodies of primary education - Society as a whole Main activities: - Consolidate links with organisations that already work in the field of affordable ecology and bring them together so as to contribute to the training of the target groups outlined above. - development of a body of user-led research with the target groups so that they are driving the process for how affordable ecology should be developed. - A solid body of evidence identifying the needs and priorities of target community groups in relation to Affordable Ecology. - Initiate ABC Guide towards small scale projects that will coalesce into a city wide mosaic of activities. Some examples of affordable ecological projects: o Ecological waste management o Energy (not only generating but also saving is required, they have to learn how to sustainably use the energy in their school and subsequently in the society, they have to know the importance of energy resources’ management) - Develop from the grassroots the basis for a transitional local economy, where a mosaic of small scale affordable ecology in-house school projects are set up and interact through a school/community network. Main outcomes (IOs) be: - IO1: Affordable ecology benchmarking methodology and tools for schools - IO2: ABC guide and training material towards: - IO3: “Affordable ecology” portal with interactive teaching tools, as well as tool to generate an own project idea, including a video library with “best tips towards affordable school ecology”. - IO4: Smart app with 25 ecology related affordable best and good practices illustrated via range of attractive 3D animations/videos in following domains that aim at engaging youngsters: o Planet destruction- Human competitiveness o Excessive fishing o Excessive logging o Excessive mining o Public transport o GMO Genetic modified food o Pesticides o Recycling o Nuclear power o Waste management o Water consumption o Electricity consumption o Animal’s furs o Arsonist o Water pollution o Arms race o Excessive car use o Air pollution o Food management o Extinction of species The partnership includes 7 partners from four countries (Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Slovenia) and combines university in forestry (P1), two mainstream schools (P3 & P7), two ecology SMEs (P2 & P4), teachers' training provider (P6) and interactive 3D animation educational developer (P5).
International/EU/National policies related to climate change will not succeed if the change and the appropriate attitude is not initiated at the very base level of society - our children, which should become ecology-aware citizens. This process started at 45 schools all over Europe (Bulgaria, Slovenia, Turkey, Greece), where teachers were trained to introduce affordable ecology training in the existing curriculums (as part of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) or provided as extra-curricular activity). We have engaged 745 students/ youth to protect the climate and ensured that young people have the understanding that they are the power of change for sustainability that our world needs. We have engaged them in fun and action-oriented activities, which overall was covered under our organised socially responsible learning. Our project prepared 45 schools to become eco-schools and make students ecology resilient via a workable and affordable manner. We have involved also their parents and the community in Bulgaria (Plovdiv, Sofia, Zlatograd, Smolyan, Russe), Slovenia (Maribor and Ljubljana), Greece (Chios, Athens, Karditsa) and Turkey (Istanbul). Over the course of the project activities, these students gathered many ideas, concepts, and experiences. Target groups involved: - School teachers of primary education - School networks of primary education Beneficiaries: - Students of primary education - Student bodies of primary education - Parents and Parent's NGOs - Society as a whole The partnership included 7 partners from four countries (Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Slovenia) and combines university in forestry (P1), two mainstream schools (P3 & P7), two ecology SMEs (P2 & P4), teachers' training provider (P6) and interactive 3D animation educational developer (P5). Main activities implemented during the project were: - Consolidated links with organisations that already work in the field of affordable ecology and bring them together so as to contribute to the training of the target groups outlined above. - Development of a body of user-led research with the target groups so that they drive the process of how affordable ecology should be developed. - Development of solid body of evidence identifying the needs and priorities of target community groups in relation to Affordable Ecology. - Development of ABC Guide towards small scale projects which can initiate a wide mosaic of activities. - Development from the grassroots the basis for a transitional local economy, where a mosaic of small scale affordable ecology in-house school projects were set up and interacted through a school/community network. Main outcomes (IOs) are: - IO1: Affordable ecology benchmarking methodology and tools for schools (produced from the Project management and implementation budget). - IO2: ABC guide and training material towards: - IO3: “Affordable ecology” portal with interactive teaching tools, as well as a tool to generate an own project idea, including a video library with “best tips towards affordable school ecology”. - IO4: Smart apps (for Android and iOS mobile devices) with 24 ecology related affordable best and good practices illustrated via a range of attractive 3D animated videos (also available via https://ecoschooltraining.eu/videos/) in following domains that aim at engaging youngsters: Excessive logging - cutting trees, deforestation, aforestation; Excessive mining - water pollution; Public transport - to stimulate its use; GMO Genetic modified food; No pesticides or use organic pesticides; Recycling - use of recyclable paper, how to recycle products; Excessive fishing; Waste of food; Water consumption - waste of water; Electricity consumption - waste of energy; Animal’s furs; Excessive car use - take bicycle; Air pollution; Plastic waste; Rise in water level; Global warming - as a result of human activities; Save water; Save electricity - paper waste; Water pollution; Ground pollution; Extinction of species. These videos were used as additional training material for further development of knowledge, skills and competences of teachers and students. They are covering the learning gap in terms of lack of provision of training materials in the field and can be used as a wider promotive material for youth and trainers. As additional material, the partners created also livebooks: https://ecoschooltraining.eu/livebook/mobile/index.html The mobile app for Android access via: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.raest.mobile The mobile app for iOS access via: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/raest/id1547794349 The outputs are available in English, Bulgarian, Greek, Slovenian and Turkish languages at https://ecoschooltraining.eu/intellectual-outputs/ Access to learning platform: https://ecoschooltraining.eu/elearning/