European Schools for a Living Planet
- Taking action together for Europe’s environment -
School environment initiative of WWF Austria and WWF Danube-Carpathian ProgrammeRomania in cooperation with ERSTE Foundation
For further information please contact Lisa Simon, WWF Austria press officer, phone +43-1-488 17 215, mobile +43 676 83 488 215, e-mail:
„European Schools for a Living Planet” in the school year 2013/2014
School classes from eleven European countries implement nature conservation projects addressing the topics
- Danube – Europe’s lifeline
- Ecological Footprint – use of the earth’s resources
KEY DATA:
- 33 school classes
- 11 participating countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine
- Pupils aged 13 to 16
EVENTS:
- Pupil-teacher academy kick-off event
WHEN: 27th September - 2nd October 2013
WHERE: Illmitz/Austria (national park Neusiedler See-Seewinkel, south-eastern of Vienna).
- Continuous exchange of information and regular reporting of project progress via the weblog module
- Concluding event: project presentation and exchange of experiences
WHEN: June 2014
WHERE: nature park in Romania
- Joint cross-border eco action
WHEN: autumn 2014
WHERE: in all participating countries
The main focus of „European Schools for a Living Planet”, a school environment initiative of WWF and ERSTE Foundation, is on bringing together teachers and pupils, encouraging them to assume responsibility for Europe’s environment and nature and to take joint action to shape the future of Europe in a sustainable way.
For further information please contact Lisa Simon, WWF Austria press officer, phone +43-1-488 17 215, mobile +43 676 83 488 215, e-mail:
The aim is to teach children and young people about sustainability, about the most precious habitats of our planet and about a socially and ecologically compatible lifestyle. It is particularly important that they learn how to apply this knowledge and use it to create a future worth living in.
The initiative places emphasis on fostering solidarity between geographic regions and societies, rather than on political borders. Pupils and teachers from the entire Danube-Carpathian region gather to address three topics, crucial at both local and global level:
- The Danube, its significance as Europe’s artery, and the threats it faces;
- The „Ecological Footprint” and the many ways in which each of us can contribute to the sustainable use of the earth’s resources;
- „Active Citizenship” – Mobilising and Motivating: How can I express and hold my opinion in public and how can I motivate others to take action.
Elements of the initiative
- Pupil-teacher academy: One teacher and one pupil from each class will attend the kick-off event held in and around the „Hotel Nationalpark” in Burgenland’s Seewinkel region in Austria. During the one-week academy, WWF eco-pedagogues and nature conservation experts will introduce them via workshops and outdoor action to the three topics „Danube”, „Ecological Footprint” and „Active Citizenship”. Furthermore they will be given project management and communication tools, helping them to implement their nature conservation projects. Each class may freely choose the approach to the issue of nature conservation they consider most appropriate. Activities may range from street theatre performances, exhibitions and installations to newspaper series and action plans for schools.
- Weblog : During the entire course of the project, school classes can present their projects in a publicly accessible weblog created exclusively for the purpose and check to see what their competitors are up to. The weblog has many interactive features; pupils can keep a project diary, post pictures and videos about their projects, and comment on everything that is happening – as can anyone visiting the site.
- Concluding event: Having worked on their eco-projects for eight months, one teacher and one pupil from each class will again gather in Romania. They will present their nature conservation activities in a project bazaar, share their experiences with each other and develop ideas for a joint cross-border eco action in autumn 2014.
- Joint cross-border eco action: In autumn 2014 the pupils will arrange a joint eco action on a subject of their choice – at the same time in all participating countries. The action further encourages the pupils’ intercultural exchange and demonstrates that environmental protection doesn't know man-made boundaries. The aim is building up a cross-national network of nature conservation active young people.
For further information please contact Lisa Simon, WWF Austria press officer, phone +43-1-488 17 215, mobile +43 676 83 488 215, e-mail:
„European Schools for a Living Planet” in retrospect
The school environment initiative „European Schools for a Living Planet” was held for the first time in the school year of 2008/2009. Until now 150 school classes from eleven European countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldavia, Rumania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine) responded to the call of WWF to campaign for the protection of nature and the future of Europe. That way, around 4.000 pupils aged 13 to 16 put their individual eco-projects into action. Activities resulting from these efforts included “pupils-teach-pupils” campaigns, theatre plays, exhibitions, installations, information events, surveys, street events, self-build school gardens, recycling action days together with municipalities, “slow food” events, websites and appearances/reports on TV, radio and in newspapers and magazines.
For further information please contact Lisa Simon, WWF Austria press officer, phone +43-1-488 17 215, mobile +43 676 83 488 215, e-mail: