GCS Wild Flight Launched with two Eco-Schools in South Africa

The 13th of March has proven to be a very important day for the Amur Falcon in South Africa in 2019 and 2020.

In 2019, the 13th of March was marked as the start of a big rescue and rehabilitation operation of the Amur Falcon after a terrible hailstorm injured more than 1 000 of them in the Midlands area of Kwazulu Natal (KZN), South Africa.

On the 13th of March 2020, the WESSA Eco-Schools programme launched a project to learn more about and initiate ways to protect these migratory birds, Amur Falcon, when they are in South Africa. This project is called the Global Citizenship for Sustainability’s Wild Flight and is in partnership with Eco-Schools in India (Centre for Environmental Education) and Mongolia (FEE Mongolia).    

Two of the WESSA Eco-Schools, Treverton Preparatory School and College and King’s School, in the KZN Midlands area were selected to take part in this project because they are located close to a few roosting sites of the Amur Falcon. Along with WESSA, these two schools have formed a task team on learning and sharing important facts and stories about the Amur Falcon.

At the launch of the project in South Africa, Cindy-Lee Cloete (WESSA Eco-Schools) facilitated a process of organizing creative ideas for action conservation projects on the Amur Falcon in South Africa, and specifically the Midlands area in KZN. Kristi Garland from BirdLife South Africa gave the task team a good overview of the Amur Falcon in South Africa and also made a generous donation of 7 binoculars and 7 bird identification guides to the project.

As the South African Amur Falcon team, we are very excited to work with the Indian and Mongolian task teams to learn more about how schools from different countries can work together to advance sustainability.

Nicole Andreou, International Eco-Schools Coordinator, Selected as EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grantee

Nicole Andreou was chosen for her work to develop EE professional development opportunities

Washington, D.C., United States, March 9, 2020 – Nicole Andreou, International Eco-Schools Coordinator at the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), was selected as an EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker grantee by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). She will join a cohort of thirteen leaders from eight countries, receiving small grants and technical support to implement environmental education projects that build low-carbon economies, create resilient communities, and protect and restore ecosystems.

Nicole’s grant project will provide EE professional development opportunities for National Operators of the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Eco-Schools programme across 68 countries.

“This project involves different aspects of learning and transferring knowledge that ultimately help build my capacity as an educator and will support many in the FEE network with the right knowledge, tools and skills to implement work with environmental education more effectively,” said Nicole Andreou. Her project will be implemented in collaboration with experts within the global FEE network.

“Wells Fargo understands the urgency of accelerating a just transition to a low-carbon economy and helping communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change – that’s why we collaborated with NAAEE to support these inspiring Changemakers. Through their passion, innovation, and perseverance, these young leaders are helping to shape the communities of the future,” says CaSondra Devine, Enterprise Sustainability Leader at Wells Fargo.  

EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker grantees will lead their projects over the course of 10 months, and in addition to seed funding will receive professional development support, including the opportunity to present about their work at NAAEE’s 49th international conference in Tucson, AZ, in October 2020.

Says Judy Braus, Executive Director of NAAEE, “Our EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker grantees exemplify the very best in environmental education and inspire us to think boldly about how we can tackle the tough issues we face. NAAEE is so proud to collaborate with Wells Fargo on this initiative, and to be able to provide these leaders with the support they need to shape healthier and more sustainable communities.”

In 2019, Nicole Andreou was recognized through NAAEE’s global EE 30 Under 30 program, which annually recognizes exemplary leaders under the age of 30 who are harnessing the power of education to create a more sustainable future. To learn more, visit naaee.org/ee30under30.

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About NAAEE

For nearly five decades, the North American Association for Environmental Education has led efforts to use the power of education to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement and create a more equitable and sustainable future. NAAEE supports a network of more than 20,000 educators and 56 state, regional and provincial affiliate organizations working in environmental education in more than 30 countries. 

Contact Name: Nina Hamilton | Contact Email: nina@naaee.org | Contact Phone: (202) 419-0412

Eco-Schools´ students in Mexico show Global Citizenship

Green Oaks College, located in Mexican Veracruz State, is working to obtain already its third Green Flag.

This academic year is the Eco-School running again the Global Citizen theme, which includes various activities and mini-projects promoting the values of solidarity and sustainability.

The Global Citizen theme is operated at the Green Oaks College through The Commission for Support for the Community, which is in place since 2011 and involves the students, teachers, parents in giving direction to the collective actions. The aim is to raise the students to become committed citizens within their society, ensuring that the new generations develop a strong social consciousness, support the most needed and promote students' participation in social life, policymaking, economy and culture of Mexico.

One of the activities organized was the visit of Green Oaks College students in “Boquenitos” Kinder Garden in January 2020. During their visit, students of secondary school spend their day and played with the children from this center.  Through social service, the students are to become more sensitive to social issues and strengthen their values such as tolerance, empathy, respect and social inclusion. The activity was also designed to ferment the social service spirit in them and help them understand and be grateful for what they own in their lives.

Green Oaks College, under the Global Citizen theme, organizes among other activities also the annual clothes collection, a Thanksgiving or a Green Night, all aiming to sensitize the students to social issues and bringing a benefit for the community. As another example could serve the Green Paw Project, which took for its goal that the “Bocana community” will become the first one without stray animals.

We at Eco-Schools are happy to see such initiatives and wish Green Oaks College and its students all the best luck!

GCS Wild Flight launched in India at the 13th COP of the CMS

Credits Derek Keats fromJohannesburg, South Africa

GCS Wild Flight – Connecting Eco-Schools on the flight path of Amur Falcon (Mongolia, India and South Africa) launched at the 13th COP of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

Six Eco-Schools in the three countries along the Amur Falcon´s migratory route will collaborate and learn about sustainability challenges.

““The project will provide a more “holistic” approach to an understanding about migration in the context of both ecosystems and how it impacts society in terms of sustainable livelihoods.” ”

— Chong ShimrayDepartment of Education in Science and Mathematics, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi

Foundation for Environmental Education’s members implementing Eco-Schools in India, Mongolia and Siuth Africa are collaborating on the innovative project. The initiative is being led by the Centre for Environment Education in partnership with the Information and Training Centre for Nature and Environment in Mongolia and Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) in South Africa. The pilot initiative “GCS Wild Flight” with the focus on the Amur Falcon was launched at the 13th COP of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) organized by UN Environment, which was held 15-22nd of February in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.

“The GCS Wildflight initiative goes to the heart of what CMS is all about as it connects schools in different countries over the migratory path of the Amur Falcon”

— Kartikeya Sarabhai, Director of Centre for Environment Education in India

The Amur Falcons are fascinating migratory raptors that make the 22,000 km voyage from breeding grounds in Mongolia, Russia, and China across India to winter in Southern Africa (read more). However, a lot remains to be discovered about this species. GCS Wild Flight initiative aims to address this issue and involve two Eco-Schools each from the three countries in the process of discovering and learning about these interesting birds, their migratory pattern, life cycles, conservation challenges and stories associated with them. This will be all possible also thanks to the E-Twinning using the technology and webinar of the Eco-Schools.

Amur Falcon. Credits: Bernard DUPONT

“Falcon is a traditional and historical symbol of Mongolia. The initiative is a good way to connect with natural and cultural heritage”

— Shinesetseg Erdenebayar, National Operator for Mongolia

The school-communities in the three countries embarked on a common journey of learning, building communication and facilitating exchange. GCS Wild Flight follows the Eco-Schools´ 7 Steps methodology that will enable the students to be involved in the whole process, from exploring issues to finding solutions and taking local action.

Map by Jillian Ditner; source: BirdLife International Data Zone. See larger image.

“We plan to link the schools with an organisation which worked with Amur Falcon last year when a large number of them were affected due to unseasonal hail storm, one of the impacts of climate change. ”

— Cindy-Lee Cloete, Internation Schools Programme Manager for WESSA

Each partner and national operator involved in the project brings specific local knowledge and engages their community. The initiative is also exploring the possibility of further partnerships with wildlife and education experts, who have worked on this species. Each school involved in the programme will make a presentation to other countries through a webinar while the bird is visiting their country.

This exciting project has been already launched in India and Mongolia; South Africa will officially commence on the 13th of March.

“The pilot project will provide us with a template to connect children with issues beyond their countries and develop an understanding that we all live on One Earth.”

— Pramod Kumar Sharma, Senior Director of Education, FEE

Keep Britain Tidy celebrates 25 years of Eco-Schools with National Award Ceremony

Author: Nora Schuh

On 12th December 2019, 160 Eco-Schools students, teachers and supporters gathered at the world famous Etihad Stadium in Manchester for Eco-Schools England’s first ever National Award Ceremony. The evening was hosted by Keep Britain Tidy and presided over by famous adventurer, television presenter and author Steve Backshall. Marking 25 years of the Eco-Schools programme in England, the event was a celebration of the amazing work undertaken by a generation of Eco-Schools across the country.

“The purpose of the event was to recognize the hard work and determination of Eco Schools, Eco-Committees, Eco-Coordinators and Green Flag Assessors who have made the programme as successful as it is in England - without them we would not be the largest educational programme. ”

— Lee Wray-Davies, Eco-Schools Manager, England

Sixteen schools and individuals were honoured with awards for excellence in the Eco-Schools programme. Over 70 students aged 6-17 from award-winning schools attended the ceremony, along with their teachers and Eco-Coordinators. A number of local authorities and corporate partners who have supported the programme over the years also joined in the festivities.

The evening culminated with the presentation of the Eco-Schools Lifetime Achievement Award to Cannon Burrows Church of England Primary School. In 1998, Cannon Burrows became the first school in England to earn a Green Flag. The school has since achieved 10 Green Flags and has been frequently recognised for excellence in environmental education. One of the Cannon Burrows teachers in attendance at the award ceremony was also a student on the school’s first Eco-Committee in 1994, proving that Cannon Burrows has been educating young people about the environment for a generation.

All of the awarded schools and individuals have gone above and beyond to achieve Eco-Schools excellence. You can find out more about the award winners here: Award Winner Biographies

All photos by Martin Birchall

The Eco-Schools National Award Ceremony was made possible by the Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Vienna International School Global Action Day

This text was adapted from Vienna International School

In November 2019, Vienna International School (VIS) celebrated two important events: the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and joining many schools around the world to engage in Global Action Day.

Since 2017, VIS has been part of the important mission to take action to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefrom, the school has been committed to provide education for sustainable development to the students in their journey to become responsible global citizens who adopt their lifestyles and way of thinking towards building a sustainable planet.

Through education for sustainable development, Vienna International School teaches students about the world and encourages them to become active participants in their communities. VIS believes that learning about the UN goals helps students develop insights into issues around the world and understand the unique challenges facing communities all over the world, and later figure out how they can contribute towards making the world a better place. By learning about the Sustainable Development Goals, it is VIS’ belief that students and teachers will be inspired to take action and make positive changes in big and small ways. At VIS, they already see the effects thereof daily – from high school students raising awareness about climate change to first graders conserving water or planting lavender to encourage pollination. VIS finds that students in any grade level can learn about the SDGs in age-appropriate ways through classroom activities and later apply the learning in ways they find meaningful.

The VIS Global Action Day was a special event for raising awareness and inspiring action towards making a better environment for all. The event was a celebration of the learning that took place across the school about the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the area of the school’s environment. When coming to the school in the morning, the community was welcomed with a very special treat. The Ambassador of Slovenia (Mag. Ksenija Skrilec) and her staff hosted the European Honey Breakfast, an event to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy breakfast for children. As part of the event, staff, students, and parents received an apple, honey sandwiches, and delicious potica – the traditional Slovenian cake while listening to the talented Primary School Orchestra.

Throughout the school day, the students took part in The World’s Largest Lesson and took time to inquire about each of the SDGs to build their knowledge of the goal, the related issues associated with it, and ways they could take action in their own lives to help achieve that goal. Following the Global Action Day, the Grade 5 students staged a series of dramatic climate action shows, to create a variety of riveting theatrical scenes raising collective awareness of how climate change will impact our world and inspire an urgent call to action.

Congratulations to the Green Teams of students, teachers, and parents for putting together this big event to take the school community on a journey from awareness to consciousness about the SDGs and for their endless endeavors towards a more peaceful, healthy and equitable world.

Flea market in Eco-School in Thailand

Story provided by Wanvipa Ratthanapilom, Wat Bangna Nai School

Wat Bangna Nai School held a flea market to prevent waste. There, students set up stations where they sold belongings that they no longer needed, such as clothes and toys, instead of throwing it out.

The Eco Committee found it problematic that many students throw away their personal belongings when they are no longer needed or used, even though they still function. Focusing on the theme of waste management, the Eco Committee decided to arrange a flea market, where the students could sell their personal belongings so they could be reused.

As many of the students come from middle or low incomes families, acquiring new clothes, toys, etc. for one’s children can be a costly matter for a family. A flea market could therefore also be a great opportunity for people to buy cheaper products.

The Eco Committee promoted the activity and the possibility for all students to register as vendors, using all the channels available at the school – school boards, the school radio and by visiting every classroom to spread the message in person. This resulted with 45 students registering as vendors.

After two months of planning, promoting and coordinating, the flea market was held on the 15 August 2019 with approximately 900 students and teachers participating. During the morning, some parents and other community members also visited the flea market.

Overall, the project was a great success, with several expressing the wish for having a flea market again.

“Many students were very excited and came to school early to set up their stalls. There were many affordable items that I would not be able to buy if it was new; Dolls, clothes, stationary and lots of toys, that got a lot of attention and were sold out in no time. Even though we opened the market for a day, many people were so impressed with it that they want us to run it again next year.”

— Veerasak, Eco Committee member from year 9

Lucart and Eco-Schools initiates Project Advancing Circular Economy

“Teaching sustainability, circular economy will help to overcome environmental challenges in the future and schools are the perfect starting place to drive changes, improving our future.”

Eco-Schools in Slovenia and Latvia are taking part in a two-year pilot project to prepare the younger generation with the knowledge of the Circular Economy and to empower them to take actions for advancing circular economy.

Eco-Schools Project for Advancing Circular Economy (E-SPACE) is a pilot being initiated in the Eco-Schools of Slovenia and Latvia with support from LUCART Professional.

The circular economy is a new and emerging sustainability perspective. The perspective is built on the natural world where there is no concept of waste and everything is a resource for the next level step in the cycle of dependence.

E-SPACE is an attempt to capture the concepts of circular economy and present it to the stakeholders in the school system for education to develop the literacy that will help in advancing the demand for circular economy.

The main objectives of the project include:

• Develop a curricular framework for school education on circular economy

• Develop exemplary educational kit on circular economy

• Training of teachers on teaching circular economy through the Eco-Schools Seven step framework of project-based learning

• Raise awareness amongst stakeholders on the production cycle, from the raw material to the final product, its use, ways to reuse, reduce, recycle/upcycle – in other words, an understanding of circular economy

“This project as a ‘whole school’ programme promotes critical thinking of how a school can model the concepts and principles of the circular economy to strengthen the literacy toward the vision of a sustainable world.”

FEE Senior Education Director Pramod Kumar Sharma

The pilot will run till the end of March 2021 and after there are plans to extend the E-SPACE to the Eco-Schools network of over 52,000 schools in 67 countries.

“This project is the result of the strong cooperation among Lucart and FEE sharing the same vision in the cultural field. Teachers' guidance is fundamental for young learners to develop their skills and to drive their actions. Teaching sustainability, circular economy will help to overcome environmental challenges in the future and schools are the perfect starting place to drive changes, improving our future.

We, Lucart, try to be among the pioneers with the Natural project, and we are sure that when this process is finalized, our way of living will quickly follow. We want to bring the culture of sustainability into schools since we believe that the development of a sustainable society can only be accomplished if businesses and citizens collaborate actively. We want to inspire new generations in adopting a sustainable lifestyle.“  

Lorenzo Vaira, International Trade Marketing Manager, Lucart

LUCART, a leading company in Europe in the production and development of tissue paper products, air-laid products, MG paper and dispensing solutions, was founded in 1953 by the Pasquini Family. Lucart's production capacity exceeds 395,000 tonnes/year of paper on 12 continuous machines and 65 converting lines. Its consolidated turnover amounts to more than €484 million, with more than 1,500 employees in ten production plants (five in Italy, one in France, one in Hungary and three in Spain) and a logistic center. The company's production activities are distributed over 3 Business Units (Business to Business, Away from Home and Consumer). Lucart Professional is the major brand of Lucart in AFH sector. Lucart Professional offers a new approach to improving business performance without compromising the environment. A combination of cutting-edge technology and real sustainability to deliver profitable and effective solutions whilst reducing the impact on our planet. With Lucart Professional every activity can make a tangible difference through sustainable innovation.

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Eco-Schools Platinum Certificate for Flower Valley in South-Africa

Eco-Schools International would like to congratulate the Flower Valley Early Learning Centre in South-Africa on renewing their Green Flag 8 times. Congrats and keep up the good work!!

Green Key and Eco-Schools partner up for the World Days of Action

FEE Portugal launched a challenge for the Portuguese Green Key Hotels to take part in the Eco-Schools World Days of Action.

At the annual Eco-Schools Teacher seminar (23-24-25 January) in Janeiro, Portugal, three teachers were awarded with a voucher of 1-2 nights at a Green Key Hotel for the work they have been doing to make their school more sustainable. FEE Portugal launched the idea of a prize to the Green Key hotels, and it was taken up by a large group of hotels wanting, not only to offer that prize, but also willing to take part in the WDA.  It was generally very positively accepted, and the hotels will also now be involving guests and staff with the schools activities from 20 - 24 April. The goal of the prize is to keep motivating the teachers that are leading really good projects in schools.

The World Days of Action is a project implemented among Eco-Schools by FEE International, the biggest ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) programme in the world, and it is being highlighted in Portugal through a partnership between schools and hotels, who are joining forces to work towards more and better sustainability and social responsibility.

Stay tuned to see the actions at the next WDA and find out who wins the next couple of nights generously offered by the following hotels: Herdade do Vau, Real Abadia, Hilton, Neya, Melo e Alvim, Tradicampo, Pestana, Porto Novo, Hotel Orca Praia, and Vila Baleira.

Eco-Schools South-Africa wins United Nations Award

A joint water project initiated by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and WESSA Eco-Schools has won a United Nations-Water “Water for Life” Best Practices Award.

The annual “Water for Life” Best Practices Award aims to acknowledge and promote efforts to meet international commitments made on water and related issues by 2015. The award recognises outstanding projects that are working to ensure sustainable long-term management of water resources and to help achieve the water and sanitation targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.  The theme of the awards for this year was “Water and Sustainable Development”.  

The DWS/WESSA Eco-Schools Water Project was awarded in the category “Best participatory, communication, awareness-raising and education practices” and shares the award with Project India.

Congratulations to Eco-Schools South-Africa!!