Food and water waste are another critical focus of our initiative. We highlight the ethical and environmental implications of these issues, including the global disparity in resource distribution and the inefficiencies in food production and consumption. By examining statistics and discussing potential solutions, students learn to appreciate the value of resources and understand the importance of reducing waste. The students learned how they can work together to be more conscious of food and water consumption.
Paper recycling is also a crucial component of our workshops. We introduce students to the recycling process, debate between the benefits and drawbacks of digital versus paper formats in the scope of suitability, and emphasize the importance of reducing paper waste while being conscious about their digital consumption. Through interactive activities, students gain a practical understanding of the lifecycle of paper and its environmental footprint of using paper in their day to day life.
In our Recycling and Upcycling workshop, students explore the differences between recycling, downcycling and upcycling. Activities include a competitive game where students identify recyclable versus upcycled items, nesting a practical understanding of these concepts and encouraging creative solutions for repurposing materials and giving them a fresher view for the objects surrounding them.
The Renewable Energy workshop provides insights into various types of renewable energy, their sources, and their role in achieving sustainability goals. Students engage in group activities to categorize renewable energy sources by their prevalence in the EU, enhancing their knowledge and teamwork skills. This session equips students with a better understanding of how renewable energy can contribute to reducing our ecological footprint. In the workshop students get to know where the EU stands when it comes to renewable energy and how far along we went and how much further we need to go.
The final workshop, Online Campaign, focuses on applying the knowledge gained from previous sessions to create social media campaigns. Students wrote and created posts and stories to advocate for environmental issues, using their creativity to communicate key messages. This activity reinforces their learning and empowers them to engage their communities in environmental advocacy.
The student involvement did go beyond the workshops. They had the opportunity to have a tour in EFdeN, the most sustainable house in Romania, learning more about how they can apply what they learned and see real world examples of sustainable practices. Using a sustainability bingo the students engaged with each other discovering more about how they can make a difference in their own lifes while understanding more about the community around them. Finally they had a simulation led by the team in EFdeN that put the students in the driver seat as change makers in a world summit.
Methodology
Our methodology is grounded in non-formal education taking inspiration from the GreenComp “The European sustainability competence framework” making sure it covers most of the Competence highlighted there, which emphasizes interactive and participatory methods outside traditional classroom settings. Our main method is engaging students in games, debates, and creative projects that account for experiential learning. By prioritizing student engagement and participation, we help them enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and public speaking skills. Feedback from students at the end of each workshop allows us to adapt our approach and ensure the content remains relevant and impactful, while also helping students feel valued and promoting their critical thinking.
The Eco-Echo workshops are innovative in their approach to environmental education. The creative use of non-formal education methods, such as interactive games and social media campaigns, enhances the learning experience and underscores the importance of sustainability. The impact of our initiative is evident in increased environmental awareness among students which we can see through the feedback we get at the end of the workshops, demonstrating a greater understanding of environmental issues and a stronger sense of responsibility. Many students have taken the initiative to apply what they’ve learned by starting their own sustainability projects or participating in community activities, reflecting the effectiveness of our approach.
During the last workshops and even after it we got testimonials from students that showed us the changes we hope and aim for. Students saying that they will stop buying new clothes and start shopping second hand when they need, won’t leave their phone charging overnight, start sorting their waste and various testimonials that show change in the mindset of the students towards a more sustainable one.
The Eco-Echo workshops contribute significantly to global education by addressing pressing global challenges and promoting sustainable practices. Our initiative is within the scope of the goals of global education by focusing on critical environmental issues with global repercussions, advocating sustainable practices, and empowering youth to lead and influence their communities.
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