Our goal was to raise our students’ ecological awareness, strengthen their civic skills, equip them with the tools to become real agents of climate change in their communities, and develop their critical thinking. We wanted to help our students understand the importance of protecting the environment and show them that they have a role to play. Many young people feel powerless in the face of climate change; through this project, we aimed to prove to them that they can act, even at their own level, and that their everyday choices have a real impact. We sought to raise their ecological awareness by helping them better understand climate change, its causes, and its consequences. We wanted to strengthen their civic skills, such as expressing themselves clearly, listening to others, and sharing their ideas. We viewed digital technology as a key learning tool, with the aim of developing strong digital skills among our students. Finally, we aimed to open students to cultural diversity and European realities in order to enhance their understanding, tolerance, and spirit of cooperation.
From the very beginning of our project, the idea of developing and implementing innovative activities to raise students’ awareness of the need to act against climate change and to enable them to interact with their peers was our main motivation. We aimed to unite them in their diversity and help them understand the challenges of tomorrow by providing them with better knowledge of the tools available to them. It was essential to expose them to different environmental realities, introduce them to various eco-friendly practices, and offer them an intercultural exchange space where everyone could share ideas, experiences, and solutions. Indeed, we observed a lack of concrete engagement among young people when it comes to climate challenges often due to a lack of information, motivation, or confidence in their ability to make a difference. This project responded to a crucial educational need: to develop a generation that is aware, critical, and committed capable of understanding, analyzing, and taking action on climate issues, while also developing intercultural skills that foster coexistence and cooperation among European youth.