Exploring Green STEM through the Alcoa Warming-Waste-Water-Watts-Wildlife (Alcoa W5) Project

12  December 2022, Copenhagen: The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is pleased to announce the continuation of the Alcoa Warming-Waste-Water-Watts-Wildlife (Alcoa W5) Project, funded by Alcoa Foundation. Launched in 2016, the Alcoa W5 project is now entering its fifth phase and will be implemented in the United States (U.S.) and Norway by FEE’s members, the National Wildlife Federation and FEE Norway respectively.

This new phase of the Alcoa W5 project will engage 20 Eco-Schools in the U.S. (New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana) and Norway in focusing on one or more of the following themes: Warming (Climate Change), Waste, Water, Watts (Energy), and Wildlife (Biodiversity). The Alcoa W5 project is an opportunity for students and educators to improve their environmental literacy, connect their teaching and learning to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and decrease the environmental impact of the school.

Furthermore, the project places an emphasis on fostering environment-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, also known as Green STEM. The curriculum and activities of the Eco-Schools program offers the ideal framework to immerse students in practical, real-life experiences that are easily connected to their communities and the world at large, preparing them to enter an emerging and innovative workforce, where technology prevails. It allows for new and creative ways to engage students in mathematics, reading, science, and critical thinking through the lens of sustainability.

 
 

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to see thousands of students over the years not only develop their environmental literacy skills through the Alcoa W5 project, but also apply these skills to tackle topics in STEM. The Alcoa W5 project perfectly illustrates the value of the Eco-Schools programme - that the Seven Steps framework allows for environmental education to be embedded in a holistic way through various disciplines and is not restricted to just a single class or subject, “says Daniel Schaffer, CEO of the Foundation for Environmental Education.

The impacts of the Alcoa W5 project also extend beyond the classroom. Marit Kjellesvik of FEE Norway shared that, “We are delighted to be part of yet another cycle of the Alcoa W5 project. FEE Norway has been a partner in this project since 2016, which has given us the opportunity to support and inspire many schools, and now the latest years kindergartens close to the two Alcoa sites in Norway, in Farsund and Mosjøen. With the support of Alcoa Foundation, a wide range of innovative, important, and inspiring projects and activities have been carried out, and students of all ages have been involved, learned and been able to influence in matters related to sustainability in their local community.”

“In the U.S., the Alcoa W5 project has served to support both teachers and students in exploring issues of sustainability at their schools, as well as in their local communities.  This program has allowed students to develop important leadership skills, enabling them to take informed action on key issues such as climate, biodiversity and waste.  NWF is excited to continue this collaboration with the Alcoa Foundation and our partners and look forward to the stories of success over the coming year,” stated Elizabeth Soper, NWF Senior Director of K-12 Education.

“Alcoa Foundation is proud to support another cycle of the Alcoa W5 project that allows students in communities where Alcoa operates to develop skills to address key sustainability challenges. This project is one more step to advance the Alcoa Foundation mission to invest where Alcoa has a presence, partnering with communities to address local needs in a sustainable manner We thank our partners for their continued collaboration and look forwarding to hearing stories from classrooms,” stated Rosa Garcia Pineiro, President of Alcoa Foundation.   

About Alcoa Foundation: Alcoa Foundation invests where Alcoa has a presence, partnering with communities to address local needs in a sustainable manner. With our nonprofit partners, we contribute to programs that protect and preserve the environment and promote equitable access to education and skills-building opportunities. https://www.alcoa.com/foundation/en

About the Foundation for Environmental Education and the Eco-Schools Programme: Established in 1981, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is one of the world's largest environmental education organisations, with over 100 member organisations in 81 countries. The internationally recognized Eco-Schools programme developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) engages young people in quality environmental education and meaningful action. Through a simple, seven-step framework, pupils are empowered and motivated to drive change and improve environmental awareness in their school, local community and beyond. www.fee.global | www.ecoschools.global

Eco-School with 4 Pupils Awarded the Green Flag

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is represented in Australia by Keep Australia Beautiful (KAB) who runs the Eco-Schools network nationally, as part of the international network of members implementing FEE’s programmes in 80 countries worldwide. Last week KAB announced the of newly awarded Green Flag Eco-Schools, in recognition of their work towards the Seven Steps Methodology through actions and focusing on environmental themes. Included in this list was Belltrees Public School, with a total of just 4 highly-motivated students in New South Wales, Australia!

You can read the Press Release from Keep Australia Beautiful below

SMALLEST AUSSIE SCHOOL YET ACHIEVES PRESTIGIOUS GREEN FLAG ACCREDITATION!

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 28 NOVEMBER 2022

Keep Australia Beautiful (KAB) is thrilled to announce the smallest school to achieve Green Flag Accreditation through Eco-Schools Australia, Belltrees Public School, NSW. The Green Flag is an international accreditation that has recognised and rewarded young people’s outstanding environmental actions for over 25 years.

Belltrees Public School is a rural school, located just west of the Barrington Tops National Park in the Upper Hunter Shire, NSW. The school currently consists of four students, one full-time principal, four p/t teaching staff, and three p/t support staff. The school is the 5th in Australia to be awarded Green Flag Status, an inspiring example proving that size and geographical location are no barrier to what can be achieved.

To be awarded the Green Flag, schools must “go beyond short-term environmental projects and entrench sustainability into the school culture, through democratic youth-led eco-councils, curriculum built around sustainability and working closely with the local community” says the National Eco-schools Program Manager for KAB, Hailey Durham. This is achieved by meeting seven criteria which must also tackle multiple environmental themes.

Belltrees have done just that with their extensive range of initiatives, from building their own orchard, farm, and veggie garden to the installation of solar panels and powerpoint timers, just to name a few. “We get to work with livestock every day and learn about how animals help the environment.” Says Belltrees student Angus, “One of my jobs is to help move the sheep around so that their poop goes into the ground to give the earth nutrients and make the soil better.”

One of the schools’ major projects is their “Ponds System” which was created to alleviate the issue of top-soil erosion run-off into the Hunter River which causes blue-green algae accumulation. Excess Blue-green algae reduce oxygen levels in the water affecting wildlife and means livestock are unable to drink the water.

Belltrees tackled the issue by diverting run-off to the school’s pond where they planted grasses, ferns, and reeds, which have welcomed back frogs, birds, and rich bug life. Once the water runs through the pond, it travels over their orchard for further processing and through “leaky weirs”, which slow the flow of water allowing the system to process chemical build-up and capture vital topsoil before returning the water to the Hunter River.

The school has also been proactively involved with the local community including conducting excursions with regenerative agriculture farms and running field days to pass on their knowledge. “We have done a project called GAIA, which stands for Green Annual Innovation Award. We find problems in our school and make videos with solutions to show what we can do to help the environment” shares Renzy, a Belltrees student, “In March we went on an excursion to visit 7 farms and they introduced us to their ways of helping the environment. At a farm called Taylors Run, they used trees to fence off the sheep to stop them escaping, rather than needing an actual fence and we were able to recreate this idea in our own school”

“I swell with pride about how our students are leading the challenge to become environmentally conscious citizens. Their will and enthusiasm to apply learned concepts, experiment to improve and seek further understanding about problems faced, is inspiring.” – Shane Roberts, Belltrees School Principal.

The Green Flag presentation will take place on Tuesday 6th December 2022 with the Mayor, Cr Collison in attendance. Belltrees aim is to be “the greenest little school in Australia” and hopes to shortly achieve net-zero emissions. We congratulate them on their amazing efforts and know they will continue to achieve wonderful things on their sustainability journey.

“The Green Flag initiative allows us to recognise and reward the efforts of every teacher and pupil who strive to become more sustainable, connecting to their community. We hope this announcement highlights that all schools, big or small, can achieve the Green Flag, inspires others, and leads us all to a greener more sustainable future.” David Carter, Executive Board KAB.

Click here to find out more about the Eco-Schools Australia program

Apply for the FEE Teacher Award Today!

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) aims to recognize the efforts of outstanding teachers from the global network who promote and integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in their schools and communities.

This year is the launch of the first edition of FEE Teacher Award. This award intends to highlight the personal excellence of teachers in FEE educational programmes, celebrate the teachers’ achievements, and spread their inspirational stories throughout the entire FEE network.

This is not a competition with an award for a select few, but a recognition of all teachers’ efforts and a celebration of their work and the impact they have had in their schools and communities.

Applications are open from now until 15 December and teachers from any FEE educational programme (Eco-Schools/EcoCampus/LEAF/YRE) can apply. For all the details and to apply click the button below!

There are some eligibility requirements:

-          The teacher must have been involved in any of FEE educational programmes (Eco-School/FEE EcoCampus/LEAF/YRE) for at least 5 years

-          The institution in which the teacher works has received either a Green Flag Award, LEAF Award or produced a YRE competition finalist/winner at the national level.

More details, application forms, and the submission area can be found here.

UPCOMING WEBINAR: Universalization of Quality Climate Education

Where are we and where do we go from here? 

#HelpUsGetThere

10th October I 15:00-16:30 CEST

We are Running Out of Time.

Quality climate education is critical if we are to equip people of all ages with the knowledge and skills necessary to build a future in which all can thrive. 

Young people need to be recognised as leaders, placed at the forefront of the conversation about climate change and empowered through education. 

We are calling on the world’s leaders to provide us with the skills and training to build a sustainable world. 

Our world is warming and to keep the increase to 1.5 degrees, we need forward thinking, consistent policies and funding to help us reach Net Zero Emissions. 

We are committed to help build a future that is inclusive and sustainable for all. 

Show by your actions, not just words, that you are too. 

Help us get there! 

This is the message that will be sealed in the Running Out of Time baton on the 30th of September in Glasgow, Scotland and carried by thousands of runners, cyclists, and sailors through 18 countries to decision-makers at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.  

In this webinar, you will hear from leading organisations and departments in the field of climate change education, including UN agencies, ministries, and global NGOs. You will learn about the many efforts already being taken to secure universal climate education – and the obstacles we still need to overcome. 

Registration 

Climate change affects us all, meaning that this webinar is relevant to everyone! 500 people will be able to join online. Secure your spot here:  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The webinar will also be livestreamed on YouTube. 

Our Green Flag Journey: Jerudong International School, Brunei Darussalam

Green Flag Awarded To Jerudong International School

Post written by Jerudong International School, Brunei

Setting ourselves the goal of being as sustainable as possible in terms of our campus, our community, and our curriculum here at Jerudong International School has been challenging. Our 120-acre school campus is very large and our student population covers a wide age range, from pre-kindy to sixth form. However, the Seven Steps set out by Global Eco-Schools have provided us with a valuable framework to help guide us in our endeavours. Following these steps has called for creative thinking on the part of our Education for Sustainable Development team, and required plenty of goodwill, support, and encouragement from students, staff, and our wider community.  We have had highs and lows in our journey, but we are very proud of many of the new initiatives that have resulted and have certainly learned a lot along the way. 

Our House Forest Levels Award encourages all of our 16 Houses to have Eco-Reps and Eco-Committees who in turn encourage the students in their respective Houses to get involved in various activities from in-school recycling, to running House Green Businesses and volunteering for events such as beach cleans and tree planting. We work closely with the school maintenance staff and are delighted that our purchasing department now buys toilet paper from the local company that receives our waste paper for recycling.

Students also play an important role in the development of our Outdoor Discovery Centre, a 1-hectare site within our school grounds which acts as an outdoor classroom showcasing student-led projects such as rewilding, fruit and vegetable gardens, rainwater harvesting, and eco-art. Our annual Earth Week events are held here, including workshops run by our student leaders and invited guests from local organisations.

All of these activities tie in with the Eco-Schools Themes and the wider Sustainable Development Goals, which are publicised through a range of different platforms, such as assemblies and social media sites, and are encapsulated in our School’s Sustainability Logo. 

Environmental Reviews are carried out each year, to help track our progress, drawing on the help of different groups across the school. For example, the Year 7 Geographers start their year with a unit called ‘Our Sustainable School’ in which they learn about the Green Flag Award and investigate themes such as Energy, Food, and Waste. Whilst the ODC team carries out reviews on Biodiversity, Climate Change, and School Grounds. The review findings and discussion summaries are then passed to our central EfSD team, based in our school’s Sustainable Development Hub, who help to coordinate action plans in selected areas based on this feedback.

Although we are now able to fly the Green flag over our school with pride, we know that our journey is not over. We are keen to develop the key initiatives that we now have in place, and we will do our best to act on the recommendations provided by Global Eco-Schools assessors to help us progress further over the coming months.

Joint Eco-Schools Project Awarded by the Estonian Education and Youth Agency

Joint Eco-Schools project awarded! 

The Estonian Education and Youth Agency awarded Hob’s Adventure Handbook, a co-operation project between Eco-Schools from Estonia, Iceland, Latvia and Slovenia, the Annual Best General Education Project Award Kuldõun (Golden Apple). Hob’s Adventure was presented at the Eco-School’s National Operators Meeting (NOM) 2020 in the Netherlands. It has come a long way and is now invited to compete for the European Innovative Teaching Award (EITA)!

The compiled handbook aims to teach biodiversity to 5-9-year-old students and has been translated into English, Estonian, Icelandic, Latvian and Slovenian. It has found new life in projects in several countries and also in everyday school use. The activities incorporate innovative methods such as hands-on learning, digital tools, project-based learning, and outdoor learning.

Celebrating World Environment Day with Lessons from Teachers in Biodiversity Education

 
 

On the occasion of World Environment Day 2022, we are happy to announce the results of the GAIA’s 20:30 Biodiversity Lesson Plan Competition. These lesson plans will help teachers with activities to engage the youth in biodiversity conservation actions.

As part of the GAIA 20:30 Biodiversity Campaign, teachers from all over the world were invited to develop, test, and submit Biodiversity Lesson Plans with a focus on: 

  • Promoting sustainable management of the coastal zone. 

  • Preserving existing and creating new forests or natural areas. 

  • Combating pollinator and insect loss. 

  • Raising awareness of and supporting actions to remove invasive alien species.

 

Teachers from 15 countries submitted the Lesson Plans!

The shortlisted lesson plans promoting active learning on the topic of biodiversity were assessed by a jury of experts. Scroll below to discover the four awarded GAIA 20:30 Biodiversity Lesson Plans.

Let’s Protect Our Seas and Coasts - Lesson Plan created by Gülgün Çakmak, Turkey

This lesson plan aims to help the students realise the importance of rich coastal biodiversity and its role in sustainable coastal ecosystem management. The lesson equips the learners in identifying the threats to biodiversity in coastal areas and understanding the impact of climate change and human activity.

Forest Domino - Lesson Plan created by Sanita Leja, Latvia

With this lesson plan, students will expand their familiarity with forest biodiversity and implement their observations to create content for an environmental game.

Inviting Pollinators to the Schoolyard - Lesson Plan created by Vitor Martins and Maria José Araújo, Portugal

The goal of this lesson plan is to enable students to identify the factors necessary for pollinators and plants to survive. They also better understand the importance of pollination for the preservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of ecosystems.

#GreenHeart - Lesson Plan created by Jens Hepper, Germany

The Lesson Plan focuses on teaching about natural succession, the importance of making space for biodiversity to thrive by itself and the utility of hedges to further ecosystems.

Congratulations to the winners for their Lesson Plans!  

FEE is very thankful for the well-constructed educational materials that will help teachers around the world. Keep an eye on the publication that will collate all the shortlisted lesson plans and get inspired to transform the youth for Biodiversity Conservation!

PRESS RELEASE: Litter Less Campaign Phase V

Litter Less Campaign 

The longest-running school campaign on litter continues.

Over 3.6 million students from more than 6000 schools across the world have participated in the Litter Less Campaign for the past 11 years. Over the years, the campaign has given students, teachers, parents, and local communities the key to better understanding and addressing the issue of litter and waste. 

The Litter Less Campaign, which was launched in 2011, has just entered its fifth phase and will be implemented in 7 Eco-Schools and 4 YRE countries until 2025. The campaign is a joint initiative between the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and the Mars Wrigley Foundation, which educates children and youth on the issue of litter and gives them the opportunity to engage their local communities in awareness-raising activities.  The newest phase of the Litter Less Campaign will also be implemented in partnership with UNESCO ASPnet and the World Organisation of Scouts Movement (WOSM). 

Through the Eco-Schools and Young Reporters for the Environment programmes, students will carry out litter action plans and media campaigns that aim to address specific litter and waste issues. These issues will be carefully selected by the schools together with their National Operators in order to achieve the biggest and most relevant impact in their local communities. 

“The environmental code of conduct has been drawn up and reformed. The LLC has served to put more care and respect for the environment on the lips of our educational community. The development and implementation of the project was a big strength: advertising, collaboration in the campaign of local companies, promotion of sustainable local commerce.”, an Eco-School teacher from CEIP Tierra de Pinares (Spain). 

Litter Less Campaign - Scotland - Phase IV

A campaign with a new approach  

Unlike previous years, Phase V of the Litter Less Campaign is taking a new approach to litter and waste.  This new phase will focus on tackling gender inequalities, engaging new partners, building the capacities of stakeholders to take action on litter and waste, and monitoring and evaluation of progress by gathering data from schools through an online platform. Experience from teachers implementing the LLC provides valuable insight into the campaign’s effects on students learning.  

“YRE and Eco-Schools have afforded the pupils more opportunities to engage in outdoor activities. They have been essential in opening pupils’ eyes and minds to issues regarding the environment in their area. They have empowered young people to take action and recognize that they can be part of the solution.” -Teacher from St. Mary’s CBGS school (Northern Ireland). 

Litter Less Campaign - Kenya - Phase III

Monitoring and evaluation of the campaign conducted over the past four years demonstrated positive impact on students’ knowledge, attitude, and opinion leadership with respect to littering and waste management. The data shows that students who participate in the campaign know more about waste management, conserve more resources, and are less likely to litter compared with students who do not participate in the campaign. In the next three years, a more thorough evaluation will be implemented in order to bring a more in-depth understanding of the campaign’s effect on students. 

FEE is committed to strive for excellence in its programmes and campaign. Through the evaluation of the Litter Less Campaign, we not only gain insights on how to improve in promoting ESD but also demonstrate to our sponsor, our member organizations and to the teachers themselves how their efforts contribute to improvements in student’s waste literacy as well as to a healthier and cleaner environment. 

“The main aim of this assessment is to demonstrate impact on a large scale, it relies mostly on quantitative data analysis. However, qualitative data in form of case studies and statements from teachers implementing the campaign was also included. The case studies show how students bring about a change in the awareness for waste issues in their community during the LLC that is more difficult to capture through a global quantitative survey,” says Shimon Ginzburg, Project Evaluation Officer at the FEE Head Office.    

Litter Less Campaign - England - Phase III

About the Foundation for Environmental Education 

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is the world's largest environmental education organization with members in 77 countries. Through five ground-breaking programs, FEE empowers people to take meaningful and purposeful action to help create a more sustainable world. 

 About the Mars Wrigley Foundation 

The Mars Wrigley Foundation partners with organizations around the world to help people and communities flourish. Founded in 1987, the Foundation works to provide oral health education and care, improve lives in mint- and cocoa-growing regions, prevent litter and waste, and create vibrant communities.

Resources to help the people of Ukraine

Resources to Help Ukraine

Here is a list of organizations helping the people of Ukraine during this crisis. As always, when deciding where to give, be sure to research the organization and consider checking out Charity Navigator, which evaluates nonprofits and recommends credible organizations.

Project C.U.R.E.
Project C.U.R.E. will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine and will be on standby to assist with any requests for medical supplies and equipment.
projectcure.org

International Committee of the Red Cross
The Red Cross’ humanitarian work aims to help people rebuild their lives and cope with the wider consequences of conflict.
icrc.org

UNICEF
UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children appeal helps provide conflict- and disaster-affected children with access to water, sanitation, nutrition, health and safety services.
unicef.org

CARE

CARE is an international organization that fights global poverty with emergency response and long-term development projects. It is raising money for its Ukraine Crisis Fund, which will provide immediate aid including food, water, hygiene kits, support services, and direct cash assistance. The humanitarian organisaton aims to raise $20 million and help at least 4 million Ukrainians. It says it will prioritize women and girls, families, and the elderly
care.org

Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders

MSF runs a range of activities in Ukraine working with local volunteers, organisations, health care professionals and authorities to help people travel to health care facilities and access prescribed medications.

Ukraine | How to Help & FAQs | Doctors Without Borders

Project Hope
Project HOPE is actively shipping essential medicines and medical supplies to affected areas in Ukraine.
projecthope.org

Save the Children
At least 7.5 million children in Ukraine are in grave danger of physical harm, severe emotional distress and displacement following an escalation in hostilities overnight. Save the Children is urgently calling on all parties to the conflict to agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities to reduce the risk to children’s lives and wellbeing.
savethechildren.org

UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency)
UNHCR has stepped up operations and capacity in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Your support can help ensure that Ukrainians forced to flee their homes are sheltered and safe.
www.unhcr.org

Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UN)

The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund is one of the UN's country-based pooled funds. Contributions are collected into a single, unearmarked fund and managed locally under UN leadership. As crises evolve, funds are made directly and immediately available to a wide range of partner organizations at the front lines of response. This way, funding reaches the people most in need when they need it.

https://crisisrelief.un.org/t/ukraine

Teaching about conflicts in other countries

A good set of free resources can be found in this blog post by Stacie Pierpoint: https://naaee.org/eepro/blog/resources-teaching-about-russia-ukraine

The Children for Children Campaign: One Year Later

In January 2021, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), in partnership with Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) wrapped up the Children for Children Campaign after successfully raising over $6000 for the recovery of 12 Eco-Schools in The Bahamas that had been seriously damaged by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

Source: Our News Bahamas

One year later - and delayed due to Covid-19 protocols and travel challenges - BREEF and their partners on Grand Bahama and Abaco were able to present each of the 12 affected Eco-Schools with letters and cheques in person during December 2021.

Source: Our News Bahamas

The official disbursement of the letters and cheques to the five Eco-Schools on Grand Bahama was carried out by Ms. Olethea Gardiner from Keep Grand Bahama Clean, who is also a member of the Eco-Schools Bahamas (ESB) Steering Committee. To watch the official news clip of this celebratory moment, go here.

To read the full press release from BREEF, our member in The Bahamas, go here.

Many thanks to those who supported the Children for Children Campaign and make moments like this one possible, despite global challenges.

Eco-Schools has been selected in the HundrED Hall of Fame!

 
 

We are proud to announce that the Eco-Schools programme has been included in the HundrED Hall of Fame collection! The HundrED Hall of Fame is a new category within the HundrED Global Collection that gives special recognition to education innovations that have demonstrated sustained growth of impact and scalability. 

The HundrED Research Team has stated why Eco-Schools has been selected: 

“The innovation is scalable and has already demonstrated its effectiveness to many countries. The Seven-step methodology is a series of carefully engineered measures to help schools maximise the success of their Eco-School ambitions. This method involves a wide diversity of individuals from the school community - with students playing a primary role in the process”. 

As a Selected HundrED Innovator, Eco-Schools is seen as an inspiring example of the power and potential of innovations in education. As a Hall of Fame innovator, Eco-Schools has demonstrated sustained growth of impact and scalability in the last five years. The programme implements leading education solutions that are currently at the top of the practices used globally and has shown evidence of being responsive to the current needs in education worldwide. 

Watch the video below to learn more about the Eco-Schools selection:

Youth Eco Hub - Eco-Schools of the Baltic sea region for sustainable future

2021 has been a challenging year forcing most people to adapt to the new reality. The most effective keyword to connect with this period of time and our project Youth Eco Hub is a “challenge”. A challenge that brought us an opportunity to use our time wisely, to grow our capabilities and expand our perspectives.

This project was conducted with young people and their mentors from four countries: Finland, Estonia, Russia, Latvia. Youngsters were taking online courses to live more sustainably, even though it was meant for us to meet in person, we were glad to be there with them on our computer screens.

“It was especially valuable that all project participants were able to communicate and actively discuss, online communication did not become an obstacle for this, the initiatives of all project groups. In the process of communication, the children were able to expand their understanding of the interests and hobbies of their peers from different countries, as well as come to an understanding of the contribution of youth activities to reduce climate change on the path to sustainable development.” Tatjana, a mentor from Russia.

To achieve their goals,  youngsters and mentors were given a different methodology and offered a theoretical perspective to understand which method, set of methods, or best practices can be applied to the research. This methodology material was translated into five  languages so it could be used for any needs applied. These methods have already been introduced and used in NGO sectors and schools.

Now we have twenty breakthrough ideas that came to life earlier this year – all  dedicated to these three topics: biodiversity, climate change and the circular economy, depending on the problems of each country – planning, running and taking part in a biochar making workshops as well as making bokashi compost for the first time, planting trees, flowers and other herbs to support insects in their natural habitats by building them “hotels” and other sculpture-like environmental objects. Also making discussions to raise awareness of how tiny plastic particles are polluting our soil and water reservoirs, modelling informative materials and model of the mechanism of how to turn organic waste into the gas and how to prevent stubble burning and so on. 

“This project gave me experience in creating and implementing an initiative that allowed me to meet new people. But in wider meaning raised awareness of climate issues, experience in living a more environmentally friendly and healthier lifestyle.” Annija, a youngster from Latvia.

“The students who took part in the project definitely gained knowledge about pollinating insects, their meaning, needs and how to help them. Pupils got an idea of ​​participating in projects, how to plan, how to set goals, how to implement them and how to work together.” Ieva, a mentor from Latvia.

During summer, youngsters had a chance to meet for a learning experience. Each team went on an excursion to search for some objects related to the project topics. They visited the solar collector park, zero-waste restaurant, landfill, national park trails and protected areas, etc. Again, they were planning, running and taking part in different workshops showing all the skills they had acquired during the initiative, such as setting up beehives and seed balls with biennial plant seeds, making paper from scratch, etc. Of course, there were activities that united and encouraged them to make friends and upheld communication - cooperative games, music nights, sitting by the bonfire, obstacle course, hiking etc. During the mission youngsters had to think of different ways to involve the local communities in their activities, for example, youngsters from Russia developed a set of ideas on how to improve the walking trail in the national park to make it more attractive to eco-tourists. In the autumn, teams from all four countries united again in an online meeting and shared their experiences during the trip, thus gaining the international experience and information exchange provided by the project.

The feedback from the participants was very positive. Upon completing their participation in the project, participants claimed that they have improved their language skills as well as active listening, communication and working in group skills. Also, they claimed that they have widened their view on important issues related to their surrounding environment.

“We have learned more about important environmental issues and created a useful initiative for society.” Domenika, a youngster from Latvia.

In addition, the local municipalities were involved in the working progress of this project, a part of which included public involvement at the local level. Youngsters felt that they can influence the decision-making process in environmental and social topics which affects their local community. Some activities of this project were made to reach a wider audience which was done by informative activities, workshops, ecotourism tools etc. We believe that this experience gives a long-term alliance between our organizations and involves even more people who will share their ideas and skills in order to achieve a common goal.

The project “Empowering youth and teacher network of the Eco-Schools programme for the Sustainable Baltic Sea region” (Nr. 1020460) funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

This project aims to empower cooperation between Eco-Schools of the Baltic Sea region that are interested in raising awareness of climate change, biodiversity and circular economy. The final product of the project is a new Baltic Sea region cooperation of organisations, educators and young people and methodology for initiative realization.  

Introduction to the Mini Litter Less Campaign: October 18 – 28, 2021

The Litter Less Campaign (LLC) is a joint project between Mars Wrigley Foundation and Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Running for 10 consecutive years (Phase I, II, III and IV) all around the globe, it underlines tangibly the importance of dealing with the issue of litter and waste.

The LLC aims to engage and educate students on the issues of litter and waste, encourage students to reduce their negative impact on the environment and raise awareness of litter and waste issues within their communities.

Find out more about the LLC here: About the Campaign — Young Reporters for the Environment (yre.global)

Starting from September 2021 all countries from the FEE network and organisations not members of FEE are invited to join activities, use the Treasure earth App and planned actions, share case stories on social media with the hashtag #litterlesscampaign, participate in the mini-competition and win prizes if there entries are submitted through FEE member organizations.

Online Launch Of Campaign

The campaign will be introduced to students, teachers and National Operators through a launch webinar on 21st September at 2-3pm CEST. During the webinar, we will introduce participants to the campaign, competition and share some interesting case stories from schools and students participating in the campaign.

Register for the launch here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81900893639

About the Campaign

The mini Litter Less L campaign  (#litterlesscampaign) is designed as a 10-days campaign in which seven actions promoting sustainable behaviour change of litter and waste need to be completed. The actions are easy to fulfil, short and can be adaptable to any context (e.g. as a lesson in school or activity in a youth group meeting). We generally recommend completing one action per school day from the 19th to the 27th, however, teachers and youth guides can freely adapt the number of actions completed per day to the context they work in.  

Find all actions and Help notes on this page: Mini Litter Less Campaign 2021 — Young Reporters for the Environment (yre.global)

Partnership with Now.Here and sharing on Social Media

FEE has partnered with Now.Here, a Singapore based company, who developed the Treasure Earth app. The values promoted by Now.here are aligned with the FEE’s values and the app allows teachers and students with access to the internet an easy way of carrying out the actions either individually or as a group. The app releases only one action per day but you will be able to find them on our social media as well.

Download the app on your phone!!

The activities require participants to post their thoughts, emotions, photos and videos (max 1 minute) in social media and/or in the Treasure Earth app. We strongly request that any posts carried out by participants will use the hashtag #litterlesscampaign!

Mini Litter Less Campaign Competition

The most challenging action is the ’Zero-waste Day’ (Action 5) where students try to live a whole day without producing waste at all. i.e. they can separate their waste but not produce new waste that goes to incineration or landfill. Students can have the opportunity to submit their ’Zero-waste’ 1-minute videos as entries to a Litter Less Mini competition also if they are not enrolled in the LEAF, YRE and Eco-Schools network.

Find out more about the competition and more by following the link: Mini Litter Less Campaign 2021 — Young Reporters for the Environment (yre.global)

A One Week International Seminar on Climate Change Education at OCE!

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The Office for Climate Education (OCE) is hosting a one week International seminar on Climate Change Education in Paris, from 17 to 21 January 2022, in partnership with the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

This seminar aims to promote the development of climate change education in national curricula by facilitating dialogue and cross collaboration between different countries and stakeholders (scientists, educational officers, teachers, etc.). Therefore, this event is intended for around 50 decision-makers, teacher trainers, and teachers of foreign (non French) educational systems, wishing to discover and get acquainted with the latest trends, methodologies and tools on climate change education (CCE).

The OCE would like to invite interested policy-makers, educators and teacher- trainers from the same country to apply together as a pair.

There are no application fees and all seminar related costs and accommodation will be covered by the OCE. However, travel costs to France and visa fees are at the expense of participants.


Find out more and register here before the 30th of September 2021.

Eco-Schools across four countries will engage with Green STEM and the SDGs through Alcoa W5 project

Contact: Kristina Madsen, International Coordinator of Education -  kristina@fee.global

Copenhagen, Denmark (2 June 2021) – The Alcoa W5 project supported by the Alcoa Foundation and delivered through the Eco-Schools programme has officially started its fourth year of implementation. Over the next 14 months, thousands of students in 33 schools across four countries will participate in hands-on actions around the themes of waste, water, energy (watts), climate change (warming) and biodiversity (wildlife). 

The Alcoa W5 project will increase teachers’ knowledge of Green STEM – looking at the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines through an environmental lens – and its implementation in their indoor and outdoor classrooms. Green STEM provides students with opportunities to work with real-world sustainability issues where their learning outcomes help solve concrete problems in their school and local community through collaboration and critical thinking.

This year, schools in the project will also be working closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - 17 interlinked and ambitious global goals that are intended to ensure a sustainable world by 2030. Teachers and students will be connecting their learning and activities with the SDGs to help accelerate the achievement of the goals.

On a national level, National Wildlife Federation in the USA, FEE Norway in Norway, Keep Australia Beautiful in Australia and EcoSchools Canada in Canada will provide teacher training, develop resources, and support Alcoa volunteer opportunities. Canada is a new country in the project.

Lindsay Bunce, Executive Director of EcoSchools Canada, says, "EcoSchools Canada is thrilled to be a partner on the Alcoa W5 Project. In Canada, we will be working with nine schools in the province of Quebec to deepen environmental literacy and community action. By exploring issues that are pertinent to each community, focused on warming, water, watts, wildlife, and waste, schools will be inspired to launch meaningful projects and awareness-building campaigns. These include planting pollinator gardens, reducing single-use plastic waste, and planting trees. Over the next 14 months, EcoSchools is excited to support each unique school to take meaningful action for their community and the planet."

Daniel Schaffer, CEO of the Foundation for Environmental Education, says “Schools around the world have had a very challenging past year due to COVID-19. They have had to adapt and re-think their way of teaching and learning. The importance of Green STEM has been highlighted again during the pandemic. This creates opportunity for a project like this and the continued support from the Alcoa Foundation is vital in such challenging times. To support the programme, we will also focus on training of teachers through FEE Academy, an online teaching and learning platform.”

Rosa Garcia Pineiro, President of the Alcoa Foundation, says “Alcoa Foundation is proud to continue to support green STEM education and environmental literacy efforts in collaboration with our Alcoa W5 partners. We appreciate the opportunity to explore issues unique to each community and equip the next generation of leaders with better knowledge and tools to support our communities to be more resilient. We are also pleased the program will be aligned with the global Sustainable Development Goals in this year’s implementation, providing an opportunity to show communities´ support to a better planet. We thank our partners for their continued dedication and creativity as they implement this program in the midst of the global pandemic.”

Learn more about the Alcoa W5 project at https://www.ecoschools.global/alcoaw5

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About the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and Eco-Schools

With members in 79 countries, FEE is the world’s largest environmental education organisation. Through five ground breaking programmes FEE helps communities realise the benefits of sustainable living. FEE is recognised by UNESCO as a world leader within the fields of Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development.

Eco-Schools is the world’s largest sustainable schools programme, providing a framework for Quality Education through experiential learning, sustainability leadership and the development of cognitive and non-cognitive skills. It reaches 19 million students and 1.3 million teachers in over 56.000 schools in 70 countries globally. The programme aims to provide every child with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable future by integrating priority sustainable development issues and learning.

Website: http://www.ecoschools.global

About the Alcoa Foundation

The Alcoa Foundation invests where Alcoa Corporation has a presence, providing grants that contribute to environmental excellence around the world, particularly in the areas of biodiversity conservation and climate change research. Learn more at alcoafoundation.com and follow @AlcoaFoundation on Twitter.

Website: http://www.alcoafoundation.com

Twitter: @AlcoaFoundation

New Course of FEE Academy!

Strategies to Advance Circular Economy
 

We are happy to launch the course - Strategies to Advance Circular Economy course. The course is designed to give a basic understanding of the concept of Circular Economy and its principles. The course outlines some examples that use the principles to advance the Circular Economy and encourages learners to be design thinkers to advance the circular economy. The course is suitable for the age of 16 and above.

Enroll in the course: Strategies to Advance Circular Economy

Start date - 5th May 2021
End date - 14th June 2021
Total no. of hours - 15

You still have two weeks to take part in this course!

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Trash Hack Campaign Winners Announced!

The Trash Hack Campaign in collaboration with UNESCO is now finished and we received almost 500 entries from FEE programmes around the world! We want to thank everyone involved, this would not have been possible without our amazing network of active National Operators, teachers and students.

Since the campaign was in collaboration with UNESCO ASPnet, some of the best Trash Hacks will be featured on their website and be part of the global Trash Hack celebrations in May 2021 for the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development!

Our National Operators were invited to assess the entries and these are the results…

1st Place:

Pack your packages away!   
Portugal, Escola Profissional Amar Terra Verde

2nd Place:

Juice boxes used for lunch turned into waste bins       
Ghana, St K Michael’s School

3rd Place:

# TRASH HACK CAMPAIGN  
India, Delhi Public School Jamnagar

Special Mentions:

Based on our National Operators votes, we would also like to highlight these entries:

Green campaign Trash Hack              
China, Utahloy International School Guangzhou

Little ecologists   
România, Grădinița cu Program Prelungit ”Toldi” Salonta           

FROM OLD RUBBER TO GARDEN SETS          
Montenegro, Elementary school "Narodni heroj Savo Ilić" Kotor    

Keep Trash Hacking!

UNESCO is inviting everyone involved in the campaign to the 11 May 2021 Webinar “Celebrate Your Trash Hacks: Webinar for sharing, inspiring and calling for change”, together with the Foundation for Environmental Education.

This online event presents an opportunity for everyone involved in the campaign to come together and celebrate their Trash Hacks, share some good practice examples and encourage others to act.

The online event will take place on 11 May 2021 from 1.30-3.00pm CET (see your local time here).

Simultaneous translation between English – French – Spanish will be provided.

REGISTER HERE

Here are some pictures from students’ Trash Hacks:

Global Action Days #MyActionsMatter

Let's celebrate Earth Day together by starting a 21-day journey of compassionate actions!

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The Global Action Days 2021, in partnership with Now.Here., will mobilise youth and adults from all over the world to take small positive actions that have a great impact on our own and our Earth’s wellbeing. The campaign is divided into three weeks, each with an important overarching goal:

  • Week 1 - Protect Global Biodiversity

  • Week 2 - Reduce Environmental Pollution

  • Week 3 - Empower Climate Action

Learn more about the campaign here.

Would you like to start your journey today?
Action 1: Nature Dipping

Take a 10-minute walk in a green space. It can be a nearby forest, park, beach, or even your own garden/under a tree. For 30 seconds, close your eyes, stand or sit still, relax, breathe, and just listen to your surroundings. 

Open your eyes and look around for a flower, plant, bird, or insect that you find beautiful or interesting. Take a photo of it and share it on Facebook/Instagram with a caption that shares two things that you appreciate about the plant or animal in the photo. Remember to add the hashtag #MyActionsMatter.  

To learn more, watch this Canadian video on Biodiversity 101. 

Kristina Madsen and Pramod Kumar Sharma from the FEE Head Office have already been out "Nature Dipping" in Copenhagen. "I chose to take a photo of this small blue flower that is very common this time of year in Denmark. I love it for it's colour and the fact that it's a sign of spring! Also, I just learnt that it's called 'Glory of the Snow' - quite a name!", Kristina says.

Switzerland: An Eco-school project mobilizing the whole school community at the International School Basel

“The world is in our hands. We have responsibility for it and we choose what to do with it. So as individuals, as ISB we can do something to keep our world healthy. ”
— Iason, Grade 4 student

In 2019, the International School Basel (ISB) in Switzerland embarked on a journey to promote environmental sustainability as a whole school community. To give structure to this commitment and engage with like-minded schools, ISB joined the Eco-Schools programme shortly afterwards. As waste pollution touches the hearts of many students, ISB focused on the theme of Litter and Waste in its first Eco-Schools project.

The ISB Eco-Committee coordinated the project across the school’s three campuses. It gathered student, teacher, faculty and parent representatives and worked closely with the campus-specific student sustainability groups and the sustainability team of parents and staff.

“I am proud that ISB listens to the needs of our planet and the voices of our students and takes real action to become ever more sustainable in its processes and messages, thereby inspiring and empowering our ISB community to live more sustainably at school and home.”
— Sarah, Parent and Eco-Committee member

With great collaboration, the school community engaged in cross-campus and campus-specific initiatives to improve recycling, reduce waste and foster stewardship towards the environment. Initiatives included: greening school events (reducing waste by up to 75 per cent per event), setting up stations for used office supplies, disseminating student-prepared awareness raising material (for example on the Sustainability@ISB website), visiting recycling centers, and participating in the national Clean Up Day with the local community.

In February 2021, ISB was awarded the Green Flag. The award gives recognition to the school's great achievements and serves as a springboard for its continuing commitment to sustainable development.

“We are not working with an end in mind but with a genuine conviction that we can change attitudes and behaviors towards sustainability at our school.”
— Luz Maria, Eco-Schools coordinator

More information about this project please visit: https://ecoschools-ch.org/en/resource/international-school-basel/