Project Result 1: Best Practices of Environmental and Sustainable Living Education (Webinar Style)

Overview:

In the first phase of our project, we successfully curated and disseminated a wealth of Best Practices in Environmental and Sustainable Living Education through engaging webinar-style presentations. Through meticulous research, planning, hosting, and editing, we have meticulously documented these innovative approaches that foster responsible living.

Division of Work and Methodology:

Throughout the course of this project, each partner played a pivotal role in every stage of Intellectual Output 1 (IO1). The leading partner, Plan Be Cyprus, masterfully coordinated communication and collated the insights from each webinar into a final, accessible PDF publication. Our consortium members collaborated seamlessly, contacting organizations and hosting insightful webinars that brought forth remarkable practices. These practices were carefully distilled into the concise PDF publication. Additionally, Smart Idea Slovenia contributed their expertise, creating visually engaging graphic recordings and aggregating user feedback for technical enhancements.

Expected Impact:

Internally, the outcomes of this result have significantly enriched our consortium partners, youth workers, and young individuals alike. The lessons and insights garnered from these practices have enhanced the quality of educational opportunities and deepened the expertise of our staff. Externally, this repository of knowledge is freely accessible to youth organizations, program managers, decision-makers, and policy influencers across the globe. It's a dynamic tool for positive change, fostering a collective commitment to sustainable living.

Transferability:

The culmination of our efforts is now readily available to everyone interested in innovative approaches to education and sustainable living. The meticulously edited webinar recordings and the insightful PDF publication are accessible online. These invaluable resources, which spotlight the best practices we've gathered, are now accessible for free. We encourage you to explore, learn, and implement these practices within your own educational context.

As our project completes, we invite you to delve into the wealth of knowledge we've gathered. Access the full range of our results, downloadable and ready for application, on our project website. These outcomes are more than just a culmination of our work – they are a catalyst for change. Embrace the opportunity to learn and lead with sustainable living at the forefront of education.

Manual of Good Practices:

Good Practices Final. Donwload Here!

Video 1 - ”HERE AND NOW! Think globally, act locally” by Zavod Aspira, Slovenia

The aim of the project is to raise the level of awareness of these topics in the environment and the role of each individuao l in achieving a better and more sustainable future for young people and local communities. Inside of the project they are presenting examples of good practices that are already working in the world.

Video 2 - “Obleka naredi človeka” by Ekologi brez meja, Slovenia

Ecologists Without Borders is committed to a world without waste, which it seeks to achieve by raising awareness, mobilising and, above all, connecting individuals, decision-makers and organisations. Their mission is to identify new issues and provide data to influence changes in policies and habits. They are opinion leaders in the field of waste, focusing their efforts on waste prevention.

Video 3 - “Save your Hood” by Initiative in Cyprus

Save Your hood is an initiative that came from young people who wanted to make a change in their lives. They started cleaning their neighbourhoods as a group of friends and then they expanded their network in other neighbourhoods, municipalities, and cities. Starting on a local level they managed to enter the educational system and with different actions, they visited schools to educate youngsters on environmental problems and solutions.

Video 4 - “Zero Food Waste Cyprus” by Initiative in Cyprus

Zero Food Waste Cyprus is an initiative of young volunteers aimed at reducing food waste by collecting “waste food” from local markets and re-distributing it to anyone in need. By attending local fruit and vegetable markets across Cyprus, we collect food that would have been thrown away and we then donate it to anyone in need. Through hosting events they aim to raise awareness about eliminating food waste and how this supports the cyclical economy.

Video 5 - “Green governance of organisations, inspired by Eco-schools” by Life 4 you

Eco-Escolas is an international program of the “Foundation for Environmental Education”, developed in Portugal since 1996 by ABAE. It intends to encourage actions and recognize the quality work developed by the school, within the scope of Environmental Education for Sustainability.

Video 6 - “Give the Forest a Hand” by The Navigator Company

"Give the Forest a Hand" is a Social and Environmental Responsibility project by The Navigator Company. Launched for the first time in the International Year of the Forest, which was celebrated in 2011, this project has been growing from year to year, contributing to the environmental education of more and more children and putting them in contact with the wonderful world of the forest.

Video 7 - “L’EcoVigilessa Vanessa” by Cultural Association H2O+

C.R.E.E.P (Creative Recycling - Eco Education Program) and Earth Week festival - through the educational project called Creative Recycling Eco Educational programme there was created a guide for youth workers and teachers on how to lead children and youth to creative recycling.

Video 8 - “Eco-Village Moldova” by Project - Initiative

Eco-Village Moldova is a community of like-minded people who live and work at the same place. Through permaculture principles, they promote sustainable and organic agricultural practices in a Moldovan context. Advocating for eco-construction through the use of energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable resources and practices is yet another focus of theirs at Eco-Village Moldova. Lastly, they also provide training sessions on a variety of topics — from all of the aforementioned topics to cooking, solar fruit drying, recycling/upcycling, and many more — at their Eco-Training Center.

Video 9 - “Permaculture Farm” by Boskanter, Belgium

The aim of Boskanter is to facilitate the transition to a society that is fair and is organized in such a way that it is easy or at least possible to live within the limits of the ecosystem.We do this by giving people the opportunity to try something else on our two experiential permaculture farms and to then share this experience

Video 10 - “Cultivation with traditional varieties” by SITO, Greece

Biodiversity is at the heart of what SITO Seed Network does. It is an umbrella organisation in Greece, fostering connection and exchange of knowledge among groups and individuals working with traditional seed varieties (farmer’s varieties). It aims at the regeneration of common seed heritage, promoting the value of traditional seed varieties, cultivating and distributing seeds for free and also documenting and sharing traditional seed-keeping knowledge and practices.

Video 11 - “Annual festival - Sharing plants” by Sporites Rodopi , Greece

The main purpose of the team is the rescue, preservation and free dissemination of traditional seeds from unprocessed varieties of open fertilisation. The goal is also the rebirth of our common heritage and the preservation of our plant biodiversity. They aim to help our local community to know these seeds, learn how to produce their own seedlings, grow them in their garden and most importantly KEEP them.

Project Result 2 - Green Badges and Practical Guide Book on Use of Green Badges

Overview:

We are thrilled to showcase the culmination of our efforts in Intellectual Output 2 (IO2), where we developed the innovative Green Badges and a comprehensive Practical Guide Book on their application. These achievements stand as a testament to our commitment to fostering responsible living through engaging learning experiences.

Development Process:

The journey of crafting the Green Badges and the Practical Guide Book was an enlightening process. We meticulously developed a narrative and visual identity for each badge, infusing them with unique backgrounds and statistics on various environmental issues. The badges, totaling between 12 to 22, were not only technically tested but also evaluated as a recognition method during local eco-labs. These badges have now evolved into a robust recognition tool that resonates within the framework of Erasmus+ and Non-Formal Education activities.

Impact and Accessibility:

Internally, this outcome has been a transformative force. Our consortium partners, youth workers, and educators have gained a remarkable set of resources to enhance their educational approaches. Externally, the Green Badges and the Guide Book are valuable resources that have the potential to drive meaningful change. We extend an open invitation to youth organizations, institutions, and individuals worldwide to access and utilize these results freely.

Long-Term Perspective:

The impact of this outcome resonates far beyond the immediate project. By integrating the Green Badges into Erasmus+ activities, we are fostering an environmentally conscious approach to learning. Both the Green Badges and the Guide Book offer an adaptable framework for peer institutions and young individuals alike to harness and replicate.

Call to Action:

As we proudly present the culmination of our work, we encourage you to explore and utilize the Green Badges and the Practical Guide Book. These resources are a testament to the potential of youth-driven sustainable change. Unlock the power of responsible living and embark on a journey of positive transformation.

Join us in accessing the Green Badges through the Cities of Learning Platform and the Practical Guide Book, available now and for free! Let's make responsible living a cornerstone of education together.

Eco-Tips Collection:

As part of this result, we gathered an impressive collection of 101 easy-to-implement "eco-tips." Each tip offers a simple yet impactful way to contribute to global efforts against climate change. These eco-tips have been compiled into a catalogue, which finds its place in the User’s Guide – an essential resource for anyone striving to make a difference.

Eco tips collection:

Eco Tips Collection. Donwload Here!

Practical Guide Book:

The Practical Guide Book stands as a beacon of practicality and innovation. It serves as a compass for utilizing the Green Badges effectively within educational contexts. The Guide Book's comprehensive insights, ideas, and tools are now readily available for educators, organizations, and youth workers.

Document for download:

Document for download. Donwload Here!

Eco-labs and Green Badges Pathways

Each partner implemented locally the Eco-labs that aimed to educate young people about sustainability and eco-living using an interactive approach with Green Badges. Here are the links to all the activities and playlists:

Project Result 3 - Learning pathways/playlists for Citiesoflearning on Environmental and sustainable living

Overview:

We are excited to unveil the impactful achievements of Intellectual Output 3 (IO3), where we designed, tested, and implemented innovative learning pathways within the framework of Cities and Regions of Learning. These pathways empower learners to explore and engage with Environmental and Sustainable Living education through digital technology and interactive experiences.

Impact and Accessibility

Internally, this result has enabled our consortium partners and youth participants to benefit from new opportunities to validate skills and recognize achievements. Our dedicated staff members integrated digital technology into their educational programs, creating impactful experiences. Externally, this output offers a wealth of examples to youth organizations, program managers, decision-makers, and policy influencers. These pathways are now accessible on the Cities of Learning platform, and available for exploration.

Unlocking Learning Pathways:

As we present the culmination of our efforts, we extend an open invitation to you. Access and explore the designed, tested, and implemented learning pathways centered around Environmental and Sustainable Living education. These pathways, enriched with interactive content and engaging activities, offer a unique approach to fostering responsible living.

Guidelines and Support:

The lead partner of IO3, Badgecraft, has meticulously developed guidelines to support the creation of unique validation and learning pathways. With the expertise garnered from previous engagements, Badgecraft Ireland extended online support to our partners throughout the design, testing, and implementation phases. The result is a collection of learning journeys that inspire, inform, and empower.

Design Methodology:

Our approach to designing these pathways followed the design thinking methodology, encompassing research, ideation, prototyping, and implementation. Through this method, we ensured that the pathways resonated with the needs of young individuals while supporting staff in delivering high-quality youth education programs. Leveraging the Learning Playlist methodology, each pathway became a curated collection of learning activities, both online and offline, culminating in the issuance of digital open badges.

Accessible Recognition:

The Digital Open Badges served as a remarkable tool for validation and recognition. Each badge symbolized the completion of specific tasks related to the content of youth education programs. These badges could be self-approved, peer-reviewed, or confirmed by organizers. Learners could proudly exhibit their earned badges in their digital portfolio, enhancing their online presence and CV.

Embrace the Future:

As we invite you to explore and access the downloadable learning pathways, we encourage you to envision a future where responsible living and environmental consciousness are seamlessly integrated into educational experiences. Join us in embracing these innovative learning journeys, available now on our project website. Let's inspire positive change and contribute to a sustainable future together.

Learn about Cities of Learning platform: