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Description
The issues related to environmental protection and climate change are growing every year and the proposed solutions rarely meet broad public consensus and have practical application. School curricula introduce to pupils these issues in a superficial manner and their main goal is making pupils more sensitive to these issues. School children are left with the impression that environmental protection and climate change issues cannot be solved or that the solutions are not within their reach or their business. However, this is not true. Everyone can contribute as long as they know how to. That is why four NGOs drawing on their diverse expertise have united their efforts to create an innovative learning programme for children aged 13-19 in order to raise public awareness about environmental protection and climate change. The programme will be implemented in at least 6 schools in the cities of Sofia, Haskovo and Vratsa in the course of two years and the students taking part in it, supported by mentors from the scientific circles, will find solutions to environmental problems that directly involve their city. In the long term, the programme will be disseminated among schools across the country together with ways to finance its application. Each partner plays a very important role in the project. Sci-High Foundation is specialized in the development and implementation of training curricula for the practical application of a scientific approach/development of scientific literacy in school. HALO team have experience with carrying out environmental protection activities and campaigns. Vratsa Software Community has great experience with introducing new technologies in practice and creating digital solutions and Change the World have implemented such learning programmes in Norway, Chile and Columbia and will share their experience and expertise in the development and implementation of the programme.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the "Eco Champions" project was to increase the awareness on environment and climate change by implementing educational activities in Sofia, Vratsa, Kozloduy, Knezha and Haskovo in order to engage a wider circle of representatives of the local communities.
A total of 114 students took part in the implementation of the program against a target of 60 children. The students’ teams worked on 20 different topics. A total of 1049 people took part in the science festivals held for the end of the project. The Norwegian partner Change the world held a one-week training course in Vratsa to address some of the most pressing issues related to environmental protection and climate change at global level.
Some of the most active students'' teams managed to engage the local authorities and expand their activities. For instance, in Knezha, a massive waste management campaign was organised together with the Municipality in all local kindergartens and schools. In Haskovo, the team proposed a plan for bike lanes, which was partially included in the Plan for sustainable city mobility for 2023-2024. A century old tree in the area was secured and signalised properly. And many more.
The Bulgarian partners ensured that the project was carried out in different towns with the same quality. Vratza Software Society helped a lot with the website development and reducing the paper printing and usage. And the Norwegian partner took part in the project management and the development of the educational program. They had a valuable input attracting even more participants to the project.
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian partner Change the World held a one-week training course in Vratsa to address some of the most pressing issues related to environmental protection and climate change at global level.