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Description
Food waste in schools and kindergartens is a significant issue, especially the lack of awareness regarding its harmful environmental impacts. This issue affects not just educational institutions but also the broader community. Schools and kindergartens generate substantial amounts of food waste, but there is insufficient knowledge on how to reduce waste generation or practice recycling. This is a challenge for both educational systems and the local population''s sustainability practices.
In response to this problem, the partnering Bulgarian participants, together with the Norwegian partner IDN, will work together to introduce an innovative model for a "school without food waste." The project will involve implementing key strategies aimed at reducing food waste in schools, using Norway''s successful waste reduction practices as model.
One important milestone of the project is obtaining the "Green Flag" certification. The Green Flag certification is an international environmental award granted to schools that meet sustainability and waste management standards. The schools will undertake steps to achieve this certification, which will be an essential recognition of their commitment to reducing food waste and promoting environmental responsibility. To achieve this, the project will incorporate several interactive and engaging activities such as games, competitions, and workshops. These activities are designed to raise awareness among students and educators about the importance of reducing food waste. Games and competitions involve challenges where students compete to reduce food waste or create sustainable waste management solutions. Workshops will provide opportunity for students to learn about waste separation, composting, and food sustainability practices.
By promoting these practices in schools, the project supports a sustainable, circular approach to managing food waste and also encourages students to implement these practices in their homes and communities.
Summary of project results
The key issues and challenges that the project aimed to address were related to waste management and sustainability in the municipality of Dupnitsa and Kraynitsi, particularly in educational institutions. These challenges were the focal points the project sought to address through education, awareness-raising, and the implementation of sustainable practices in schools and the community.
The project undertook several key activities to address the challenges related to waste management, resource use, and environmental sustainability. The activities and outputs include the development and implementation of 7 educational programs across 3 schools to teach students about resource management, recycling, and the circular economy.
Also, 7 information campaigns were organized to raise awareness about sustainable practices such as waste separation, recycling, and composting among educational institutions and the local population in Dupnitsa and Kraynitsi.
The participating edicational institutions established an open-air training site to educate students and the community about the circular economy through practical, hands-on learning experiences. A system for separate waste collection was also introduced in the three partner schools to encourage proper sorting and recycling of waste.
Various competitions (such as drawing and essay contests) ,open to students from different schools in Dupnitsa, were organized to further engage the community in environmental awareness. Furthermore, students from the partner schools conducted annual training sessions for local kindergarten children to ensure the sustainability of the project’s results by educating younger generations on waste reduction and environmental protection.
A study visit to Norway was organized to learn about successful practices in outdoor learning, sustainability, and waste management. This provided inspiration for the local implementation of these practices.
The project achieved significant outcomes and impacts in terms of environmental education, waste management, and community engagement. These results directly benefited several groups, including students, teachers, local residents, and the broader community in Dupnitsa region.
Through the development and implementation of educational programs and campaigns, students in primary and secondary schools became more knowledgeable about circular economy concepts, waste separation, recycling, and sustainability. The project helped instill good environmental practices that students could carry with them into their homes and communities.
Teachers at the three partner schools were educated and trained to incorporate sustainability principles into their curricula and daily practices. They also benefited from exposure to international best practices through the study visit to Norway.
By involving students from the three schools in training local kindergarten children, the project ensured that younger generations were also introduced to basic environmental principles from an early age.
Summary of bilateral results
Sustainable development and environmental protection are an important part of the framework plan for kindergartens and schools in Norway. This is why the shared Norwegian experience was of key significante to successfully achive the project objectives related to raising awareness about sustainable practices, introduced effective waste management systems, and provided long-term solutions to ensure the continued education of students and the wider community on environmental sustainability.Also, the shared good practices from the Norwegian partner on obtaining and working under the Green Flag initiative were essential for the Bulgarian experts to find ways of helping children and young people to discover that the local community is committed to protecting the environment by helping to create a more sustainable future through local environmental initiatives led by them