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Description
In this project we deal with the environmental degradation caused by the region''s economic development. The problem is due to a low level of ecological knowledge among the Podlasie residents, which results in a lack of pro-ecological attitudes. According to the Podlaskie Province Strategic Diagnosis (2020), the sense of inhabitants’ influence on the state of the natural environment is getting stronger, but their motivations for pro-ecological activities are mainly financial. The ‘Zero waste’ style, ecological shopping or resource saving habits are extremely rare phenomena. Local authorities make decisions regarding area development and infrastructure without consulting the inhabitants, which results in social conflicts. In the Podlaskie Province, public participation in environmental protection is the lowest in the whole country. Local institutions and businesses implement green projects on a very small scale. This diagnosis is confirmed by a survey conducted among the project participants. This is why the main aim of the project is to create the Academic Centre of Ecological Education and Practices and to include in the curriculum of the faculties of management, finance, accounting and administration a new subject: ecological empathy. We will develop the programme of study, create the Ecological Empathy Students Club, conduct classes and student internships in the Knyszyn Forest. The Eco-influencers film studio will be founded, and a training camp for nature educators and a civic monitoring training on climate change will be held. We will organize two open events: 1st Championships of Plogging in the Knyszyn Forest and the Festival for Mother Earth. On the basis of our experience and in cooperation with partners from Norway we will elaborate a manual for nature educators and the ''Eco-leader Knowledge Bank'' e-platform.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project was to create the first Academic Center for Ecological Education and Practice in Poland, permanently introducing the basics of the subject entitled: Ecological Empathy.
In addition, the aim was to: stimulate pro-ecological attitudes among the inhabitants of the city and region, create new patterns of pro-ecological behavior in the local community and present good practices in this area.
1.products:
- Ecological Empathy subject program (3 Modules: Eco-Leader, Eco-Influencer, Ecological Practice, introduced into the study program at WANS, in all fields of study,
- Training camp for nature educators,
- Scientific Club of Ecological Empathy (together with a laboratory),
- 2 editions of the competition for young people from the province. Podlasie and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship - Become a Leader of Eco-Changes,
- I Love Nature photo competition,
- The Second Life of a Tie campaign ended with a charity auction,
- Social Campaign Exchange of Small Electronics and Household Appliances,
- Help the Four Paws campaign,
- Eko-Influencer Film/Media Studio
- 22 Eco-Diploma works - pro-eco films,
- Citizen monitoring report with a Map of Eco-positive Interventions (electronic PDF format),
- 1st Plogging Championship,
- Festival for Mother Earth,
-2nd Plogging Championships in Białystok,
- publication titled Handbook for Eco-Change Leaders. About how to get involved in ecology and climate protection (electronic form in Polish and English),
- Eko-Lidera Knowledge Bank (e-learning platform) on the internet subpage. project
- int subpage project at www.wans.edu.pl,
- Facebook project profile,
- YouTube channel with project videos,
2.services:
- conducting 160 hours of training, workshops and internships in the subject of Ecological Empathy,
- conducting a 48-hour training camp for educators.
Thanks to the implementation of project activities:
- there was an increase in knowledge and competences in the field of pro-environmental activity among 243 people participating through training, internships, training and educational campaign - direct recipients of the project, i.e. people participating in the Ecological Empathy Course and 5,469 people receiving content shared on the project''s Facebook and YouTube profiles.
- the skills of 20 people acting as nature educators increased in the tools of involving citizens in activities for the proper management of their natural resources, through the Nature Educators Camp,
- there was involvement in the activities of 21 Eco-Leaders - students and participants in the Scientific Club of Ecological Empathy,
- 22 entities were involved as Partners: institutions, companies, social organizations and experts operating in the field of ecology and climate protection.
Summary of bilateral results
During project implementation following activities were carried out and settled:- regular meetings of the project team,- organizing and conducting a study visit to Norway,- ongoing cooperation and meetings regarding the development of the publication of the Manual.- the content of the manual was developed jointly - ICN''s Norwegian Partner developed and edited 30 pages of input for publication in English, the content was edited and translated into Polish.- on May 30 - June 2, a study visit of 2 representatives of the Norwegian partner to Poland was carried out,- working meetings on bilateral cooperation were held on: March 15, 2023, March 28, 2023, April 17, 2023, June 1, 2023, and September 6, 2023.- in addition, representatives from Poland participated in the international conference of the Norwegian Partner on September 5-7, 2023 in Warsaw, where a decision was made to continue cooperation and start work on a new international project with the Team of 8 countries of the Baltic Sea Region.