The final objective is to promote the development of artistic and scientific skills in children and young people, so that they can use them to become responsible leaders of the 21st century and address key global issues, such as climate change and equality. The primary goal is to provide teachers with an innovative interdisciplinary educational model, offering a methodology, training, and practical examples to integrate STEAM education and civic education of children. The project pursued the following specific objectives: 1. to design an innovative L4CA educational model and toolkit for teachers, co-created by partner schools; 2. to implement the L4CA in schools across Europe to develop artistic & scientific skills of students, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci - an artistic and scientific genius who used creativity to solve the problems of his time; 3. to organize workshops and events creating a solidarity link between children and young people that can help face together the challenges of increasing climate change and inequalities; 4. to use the L4CA model as a tool to address policy-makers at EU, national and local level on the importance of STEAM education to foster civic and citizenship education in schools.
We proposed the innovative “Leonardo 4 Children Academy” (L4CA) to empower teachers to foster students’ creativity and address global challenges such as climate change and equality. The project responded to the need for pedagogical tools that combine artistic and scientific competencies, helping students interpret and propose solutions to global issues. Many educators lack resources to implement project-based and STEAM practices; the project bridges this gap with a holistic model that promotes creativity, interdisciplinarity, critical thinking, and teamwork. The “Leonardo 4 Children" non-profit initiative and Awards developed since 2019 showed strong interest from teachers and students in climate action and equality. Children and teenagers can thrive when both artistic and scientific skills are nurtured through suitable methods and receive the appropriate stimulus from teachers. The project’s international scope, involving both primary and secondary schools in five EU countries, enables exchange of practices and the creation of a shared methodology supported by case studies. The model and practical examples can inspire other teachers, and the link with the broader initiative promote long-term impact and sustainability.