PROJECT SUMMARY

Project Summary

Summary of the project

The start of the “Fridays for Future” movement two years ago where students around Europe demanded faster action on climate change on a governmental level raised the awareness around the world for climate protection. Students from the six participating schools from

•          the Czech Republic,
•          England,
•          Germany,
•          Greece,
•          Portugal, and
•          Spain

have been actively involved in those walks and demonstrations to protest the lack of effective climate legislation.

The aim of the project “Think globally, act locally! - Let's live greener! “  is

•          to demand climate protection on a big scale
•          rather raise awareness and knowledge about the importance of our way of living and its impact on the environment.

 We, as global citizens, have to

1.         the sustainable development,
2.          the energy saving,
3.          the waste reduction,
4.          the choice of food, etc.

are global concepts to be tackled locally and individually. As active citizens, we contribute to combating climate change through stepwise local actions.  The idea is that every single person can make a difference and those effects can be enhanced by cooperating.

1.     All participating schools are or plan to become Eco-Schools in their country and thus are very keen on the topic of environmental education.
2.   As responsible teachers, we have to help students realize how global warming resulting from climate change impacts Earth and encourage them to take immediate action to make the world a better place.

Immediate objectives of the project are

                ·        to establish a recycling and disposal system in classrooms,

                ·         reduce waste (plastic) in general as well as create awareness for reusing

                       products (Upcycling),

                  ·         implement knowledge for healthy and regional food,

                  ·         save energy and water as well as

                  ·          using eco-friendly transportation.

Students in the age range from 12 to 15 years (mainly grade 8) do take part in home-based projects as well as Learning and Teaching Training Activities. As the project work is tackled during lessons, environmental topics are already included in or will be added to the curricula of the corresponding subjects.

Each of the planned activities focuses on one specific field and is highly practical, done mostly outside the classroom. According to the topic,

1.          different workshops and field trips are organized to get a better understanding of         the impact on the environment.
2.          Participants of Learning and Teaching Training  Activities,  function as Eco-                     ambassadors of their schools to promote and spread the knowledge gained at the         following activities:

 

1.         Germany: RECYCLING

Development and implementation of a recycling and disposal system/waste reduction (consumerism) / incineration plants/recycling depot

2.         England: FARMING

Knowledge about regional and seasonal food and products (food production/ food chains/ influence of and on climate change)

3.         Greece: BIOGAS

Knowledge of alternative energies (Biogas)/ Knowledge and actions to save energy at home as well as in schools

4.         Czech Republic: WATER

Knowledge about the water ecosystem (groundwater, pollution, influence of climate change on water balance) and measures against water wastage (reduce consumption of resources like water)

5.         Spain: AIR

Knowledge about air pollution/ CO2 emissions/ Knowledge and implementation of alternative means of transportation

6.         Portugal: UPCYCLING

Knowledge, development, and implementation of reusing products (reuse, repair, refurbish, and/or re-purposing things)

 Each activity contributes to the realization of the concrete results –

·         to produce leaflets and/or a booklet - that inform and encourage students as well as their households about measures each individual can undertake to contribute to decreasing their environmental footprint.

·         The school community as well as the wider local community, including parents, family members, neighborhoods, will be involved and influenced by the implementation and execution of measures and activities to combat climate change.

We are highly motivated to take action locally at our schools to help European students to put the concept of “think globally, act locally” into practice and spread their knowledge into their households and neighborhoods and therewith becoming major changing forces in their communities throughout Europe for potential long term benefits.

T