The main project objective was to support social inclusion and lifelong learning of people with mental disabilities by developing their environmental skills and competencies, shaping their environmental attitudes and environmental responsibilities through education based on international experiences. The project specifically focused on supporting and developing international cooperation between the partners, and on the building and strengthening partners' networks and facilitating the professionalisation of organizations. We considered necessary to share good experiences among national and international experts in the field of environmental education of people with mental disabilities, to jointly develop innovative environmental education, to develop key ecological skills of citizens with mental disabilities shaping their values and positive attitudes towards protecting and creating the environment especially by involving them in educational activities. At same time, through our education tool, we wanted to contribute to the development of other important competencies such as problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, cooperation, teamwork, and digital skills, which facilitate environmental awareness and active citizenship.
Currently a great emphasis is placed on building a positive relationship with the environment. Environmental skills and competences are necessary for all citizens, including disadvantaged groups of people with mental disabilities. It is important that they can actively and fully contribute to sustainable environmental development in their personal, family, work, and civic life. Inclusive education is increasingly important in today's fast-changing world. In the preparatory phase of the project, we observed that in all partner countries, environmental edification, upbringing, and education take place mainly within formal education. Informal education in this area is available mainly for kindergarten children and students of primary and secondary schools. The needs analysis pointed out that ecological education for adult citizens with mental disabilities is provided only occasionally by the respective NGOs, and that their participation in lifelong learning is low. At the same time, there is a lack of comprehensive educational materials focusing on developing ecological skills and competences of people with mental disabilities. 4 partner organizations from three countries - Slovakia, Hungary and Romania - were involved in project.