Logic of ecology

Description

The aim of the project is to engage 600 young people, vocational schools'' students in the Mazovian and Lublin provinces, in shaping local environmental protection programmes. Groups of young people develop solutions to local environmental problems and present them as prototypes, models and concepts, which will be later showcast during public presentations and meetings to summarise the project. The solutions developed by young people will be recommended for use in local environmental protection programmes. The problem addressed by the project is the insufficient knowledge and environmental awareness of young people. They learn about environmental problems and needs primarily through original programmes, competitions, social campaigns or various environmental events. Our experience shows that young people understand the need for pro-environmental actions and behaviours, but lack the ability of their critical evaluation. For example, they are able to come up with alternative methods of charging their phone, but the solutions they create turn out to be much more energy-consuming. Young people often lack the ability to think critically about ecology and a sense of responsibility for the impact that human activity has on the environment. This is why we are also conducting educational activities as part of the project in the form of a series of workshops on environmental awareness, climate responsibility and democratic tools for public participation. The project involves building teams that are ready for the challenges of the future. We use an interdisciplinary approach, involve different audiences (young people, educators, local governments, NGOs) and focus on finding solutions in a creative way.

Summary of project results

The project aimed to increase the social involvement of young people in acting for the common good and managing public affairs, through the implementation of activities in the field of ecology and environmental protection. Young people often lack the ability to think broadly and critically about ecology. Examples indicate a frequent lack of thinking about the fact that we are responsible for the effects of our activities, the way goods and services are produced and their impact on the natural environment. There are also systemic conditions that make there is no room for rational ecological education. Young people and teachers who took part in other PFDiM programs drew attention to the lack of allies for implementing the solutions they proposed for environmental protection. They tried to find partners among farmers, beekeepers, huntin

g clubs, among others. The "Logic of Ecology" program was planned in such a way as to create opportunities for young people to search for allies and establish cooperation with them. When preparing the diagnosis, PFDiM conducted consultations with young people and teachers from vocational education schools in the Mazovian and Lublin provinces. They show, among other things: that students have less and less willingness to cooperate and collaborate year by year; egoistic and opportunistic attitudes are becoming more established among students; they are characterized by an excess of ambition and declared skills over those they actually possess, a low level of social competences and low awareness of the importance of social activity and volunteering. In addition, the level of social activity of high school students is relatively high (30%-60%), and is definitely the lowest in first-degree vocational schools (0-3%). Young people from vocational schools also lack cooperation with environmental organizations.

During the implementation of the project, 43 groups of young people (a total of 770 people) were formed from vocational schools, from the Mazowieckie and Lublin provinces. Each group was led by a trainer prepared as part of the project. The project assumed both the development of knowledge in the field of responsible civic attitudes regarding conscious consumption and responsibility for the natural environment, as well as the development of practical skills in project work and social involvement of young people, during the implementation of initiatives concerning ecology and environmental protection. A set of educational materials containing a set of scenarios was developed. The workshops concerned consumer education and the impact of attitudes related to excessive consumption on the environment. The next classes concerned strengthening civic attitudes, especially in the context of responsibility for the natural environment and teaching the skills of rational thinking. There were also meetings of groups of young people with representatives of local government. Thanks to this, young participants of the project could learn about activities concerning environmental protection carried out locally, present proposals for their own solutions. Information meetings and a visit of the Norwegian partner were prepared. A visit of the Norwegian partner and preparatory training for trainers took place. Two cycles of activities with young people were carried out (workshops, cooperation with local governments, preparation of solutions and prototypes, mentoring. At the end of each cycle of project work, summary meetings were held in each province, during which young people presented the developed models/prototypes/projects. As part of bilateral cooperation, a study visit of Polish trainers to Oslo also took place. The implementation of the project also influenced the institutional development of the foundation, both in terms of the program (program guidelines and new work tools) and improving the functionality of the premises.

770 young people were involved, studying in technical schools and first-level vocational schools in the Mazowieckie (excluding Warsaw) and Lublin provinces. During the series of workshops, the project participants learned how to think rationally about ecology, developed critical thinking skills, and familiarized themselves with global and local challenges related to environmental protection and ecology. During the workshops, and above all during the development of solutions for local environmental protection problems, they also learned how to work using the project method and developed the ability to work in a group, which helped them to undertake their own social initiatives and contributed to the growth of social participation. A major achievement of the "Logic of Ecology" project is that approx. 85 percent of the young people who took part in the series of workshops decided to continue and further engage in project activities and, as volunteers, conducted their own initiatives for environmental protection, searching for appropriate solutions to existing problems. Thanks to working in a group on developing their own solutions, they also developed important key skills, including social ones, i.a. responsibility, communication or planning skills. One of the tasks of the project participants was to meet with local government representatives and provide recommendations regarding environmental protection along with a proposal for specific postulates or solutions. Thanks to this activity, conditions were created for the youth to develop their involvement in solving local problems.

Summary of bilateral results

The partner of the Polish Children and Youth Foundation in the “Logic of Ecology” project was NewSchool from Oslo (NS). NS is an agency dealing with education design. It was established in 2015. It specializes in designing processes of development and learning of young people, educating trainers and coaches of creative and interdisciplinary education. The “Logic of Ecology” project adopted a similar method of work to that used by the Norwegian partner in its programs. In the first stage, the focus was on preparing trainers and coaches, who then work with groups of young people. The Norwegian partner describes its work method as the so-called “open education”. It is based primarily on the assumption that in the educational process the trainer not only transfers knowledge, but also leads the group process. The lesson plans developed in the first period of the project implementation take into account a similar assumption. In addition, NewSchool programs often emphasize interdisciplinarity and the relationship of the developed solutions with local challenges. This aspect of the NS work methodology was also reflected in “Logic of Ecology”. Projects, solutions, prototypes developed by the project participants concerned local problems in the field of environmental protection and ecology and required prior observation, analysis, or interview. Study visits were held: NS and Poland and Polish trainers in Oslo. The program prepared by the Norwegian partner, NewSchool, included, among others, a visit to a vocational school, a presentation of the vocational education system in Norway, a workshop on the so-called natural education and a design thinking workshop.