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Description
Education is one of the very important tools for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The goal of our project is to create support for active education. We want to support the public in becoming interested in the issue of climate change, its manifestations and impacts at the local level. As part of the project, we will organize two nationwide conferences. The aim of these conferences is to introduce new teaching methods. The new methods will subsequently be used in workshops and seminars. Educational videos, methodological publications and websites will also be part of the project''s outputs.
Summary of project results
Our project focused on empowering teachers, educators, and pupils to take action on climate protection through place-based learning and participatory methods. As educators, we play a crucial role in shaping the minds and attitudes of future generations. By equipping ourselves with the right knowledge and skills, we can effectively teach our pupils about climate change and guide them in taking meaningful steps to mitigate its effects.
Place-based learning—connecting education to the community and environment around us—is a powerful tool in climate education. It allows young people to see their surroundings through a fresh lens, understand the local impacts of climate change, and connect with decision-makers. Most importantly, it inspires them to become agents of change, showing them that they too can drive the necessary transformations in their own communities.
Our objectives are clear:
- To educate and provide methodological support to key educators on how to teach climate change using place-based and participatory approaches.
- To engage young people, through these empowered educators, in exploring the causes, impacts, and solutions to climate change in their own communities.
We hosted two national conferences, "Educating (Ourselves) for Climate" and "Five Pathways to Wellbeing through Place-Based Learning." These events introduced educators to climate education tools and participatory methods. We also conducted 17 workshops for more than 200 educators, focusing on place-based learning, climate action mapping, and community engagement.
We created 9 mini-lessons and tools like "Locally Embedded Cards" and "Collaborating with the Community" to support educators in climate education. These resources have been downloaded 3,000 times, with 1,000 printed copies distributed.
We provided ongoing support to schools, helping to deliver 78 mini-lessons, reaching over 1,500 young people since September 2022.
Our "Youth Changing Place" campaign, including videos and articles, engaged almost 14,000 people, encouraging youth to become active citizens and drive change in their communities.
Through our training events and mini-lessons, we’ve empowered educators to better teach topics related to climate change with a focus on local community and environment. Educators now have free access to additional resources and know they can seek ongoing support in this area.
Feedback from educators has been overwhelmingly positive:
- "The lesson helped students connect with their surroundings and appreciate the little details. They loved slowing down and exploring with their senses." (Primary School teacher)
- "Our geology walk was enhanced by insights from a local official, making it a memorable learning experience." (Primary School teacher)
- "The hands-on experiment engaged the students deeply, sparking curiosity about organic matter." (Primary School teacher)
At our conferences, we introduced new ideas and inspired educators to link climate change with place-based learning, wellbeing, and active participation. These events sparked interest in educational workshops and facilitated the sharing of best practices. As one participant noted, “Connecting where we live with how we feel has a profound impact, and it’s encouraging to see how this can be integrated into teaching.”
Through the project, we engaged over 1,500 young people in learning about local climate change impacts and sustainability. Many of them went on to organize awareness campaigns in their communities, and content they created will continue to inspire active youth citizenship.
We also produced methodological materials, technical articles, and three videos to support and spread the word about climate education and local solutions. These resources will be shared widely through online channels.
Our project significantly boosted climate change awareness in local communities. Educators, young people, and community members gained a deeper understanding of its impacts on their environment. Through an awareness campaign, meetings, and web videos, our message reached a wide audience. This increased awareness is vital for making informed decisions and actively engaging in climate solutions.
We equipped educators and young people with the knowledge, skills, and tools to address climate change and connect with their communities. Educators received training and methodological support, while young people were empowered to become informed, active contributors to climate action.
In the project we emphasized a participatory approach, engaging young people in exploring their local environment and finding sustainable solutions. This hands-on involvement is crucial for long-term development.
Thanks to our project’s success we’ve created lasting effects. Educators will continue to integrate these new approaches into their teaching, and at least some of the young people we’ve empowered will become long-term advocates for sustainability, inspiring others to follow their lead.