Description
The project addresses the inadequate and insufficient ecological studies in secondary schools in Pleven District. The project aims at greater involvement of secondary school students with biodiversity through photography. First, the project will be presented to 11 local secondary schools, the teachers, students, parents and the media. Second, a group of 22 students interested in environment and photography will be set up. Third, the students will have 2 online courses in ecology and photography of 40 classes each. In addition, they will have open-air classes and meetings with green organizations and other stakeholders. Fourth, the students will take photos of biodiversity, prepare a biodiversity map and take part in a photography exhibition in the cities of Pleven, Cherven Bryag and Levsky. The project will benefit the students involved, their teachers, parents, schools, green organizations and the local community in general.
Summary of project results
The education in ecology and biodiversity offered at school is not sufficient and is not practical. For that purpose 'We are Discovering the Environment' project trained 22 secondary school students from Pleven District as a main target group in biodiversity and photography as means of expression to transfer their knowledge to at least 500 young people. The project aimed at helping students develop an active position so that they might be actively involved with their own education, environment protection and the civil society. The students had to prepare a biodiversity map and the photos were used in exhibition in three municipalities. A video on biodiversity, natural sites and protected areas was created. The video was disseminated and promoted among young people and the public. The project relied on its cumulative effect. The 22 students from secondary schools in Pleven District who were trained during extracurricular classes taught by the relevant specialists in ecology, biodiversity and photography first checked their knowledge in practice in the outdoor lessons and in practical tasks and then prepared a biodiversity map of Pleven District with practical advice from experts. Finally they presented their work to their classmates in 14 schools in the District and to more than 700 young people. The map developed under the project can be uploaded on the websites of NGOs, municipalities and mayor’s offices, tour operators and travel agencies in Pleven District. The map, the video and the photo exhibition of biodiversity in Pleven District were prepared from young people to young people. One of the goals was to use the map and the video in the learning process as a teaching aid for teachers. The e-map uploaded on different websites and the exhibition held in three municipal cities in the district promote the natural wealth of the region. The project outputs can be used as information materials for tourism after the end of the project and after the reporting of the achieved results.
Summary of bilateral results