Our goal was to reduce educational inequalities by creating the conditions for students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and students with special educational needs to develop key competencies for responsible and sustainable living in the 21st century. We worked to strengthen an inclusive school culture and student participation through approaches that connect art, sustainability, and digital technologies. At the teacher level, our aim was to build pedagogical capacity, a shared professional language, and stronger professional networks — especially for working with diverse groups of students — through international exchange and collaborative learning. At the community level, we sought to encourage a culture of sustainability and responsible consumption, engage families, and connect schools with local partners. We defined these goals in line with the horizontal priorities of Erasmus+ (inclusion and the green transition) and with the principle of “think global, act local,” with the intention of bringing these approaches into everyday school practice and supporting their sustainability beyond the end of the project.
We submitted the application in response to growing inequalities in education and increasing environmental challenges that directly affect our school communities. We recognized the need to systematically strengthen the inclusion of students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and students with special educational needs, and to help them develop key competencies for responsible and sustainable living in the 21st century. We see a persistent lack of inclusive, hands-on approaches that connect art, sustainability, and digital skills while meaningfully supporting these learners. Teachers also need stronger methodological support, more opportunities to share good practice, and space for cross-border collaboration. In our local context, there is a clear need to systematically build critical thinking, environmental literacy, and a culture of responsible consumption; at the same time, we aim to strengthen the involvement of families and the wider community in school life. Because these are shared regional challenges, we seek solutions aligned with European priorities on inclusion and the green transition, and we work to bring these principles into the everyday practice of schools.