Stories & News — Eco Schools

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Lan Yu Tan

FEE Education Awards: Apply now!

 

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is excited to announce the launch of its new FEE Education Awards, created to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of teachers and educators who are leading the way in environmental education. The awards aim to highlight outstanding efforts that inspire students to become environmentally conscious citizens and promote sustainable development.

The FEE Education Awards include two categories:

FEE Teachers Award: This award honours teachers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to integrating environmental education into their classrooms and communities. These educators inspire their students to take action and lead by example, fostering a deeper understanding of environmental challenges.

Lesson Plan Competition: This competition invites educators to submit innovative lesson plans that incorporate environmental themes and engage students in creative, hands-on learning. Winning lesson plans will be featured as best practices on FEE’s platforms, providing inspiration for other educators worldwide.

If you are passionate about environmental education and have made a significant impact, we encourage you to apply! This is an incredible opportunity to showcase your work and inspire others to join the movement for a greener future.

Applications are now open! For more information on how to apply, visit FEE’s Education Awards page.

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New partnership ensures funding for new Eco-School educational materials

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and PPG have announced a two-year collaboration to expand climate education and empower future environmental leaders

Through this collaboration, PPG (NYSE: PPG) will provide a $150,000 community engagement grant to enhance FEE’s efforts in promoting climate change education as part of UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership (GEP).

This generous grant from PPG will support FEE’s mission to address the urgent need for climate change education in schools around the world. As part of PPG's broader commitment to invest $5 million in environmental sustainability education by 2030, this partnership will help expand FEE’s reach and impact in classrooms globally.

The funding will facilitate the creation of new educational materials, including Eco-Schools handbooks, instructional videos, online courses, and teacher training materials. These resources will be made available in multiple languages—including English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, and French—to ensure global accessibility and impact.

For more information, read the full press release on FEE’s website.

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ISSD NGO launches Eco-Schools programme in Armenia

The Foundation for Environmental Education’s (FEE) member organisation in Armenia, “ISSD” Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Development of Communities” NGO is launching Eco-Schools programme thanks to the financial support of Synopsys, Inc.

On March 28, 2024, ISSD announced the official launch of the programme during its 7th anniversary celebration organized in Yerevan, Armenia, which was attended by the representatives of the government, donor organizations, local and international partners, schools and others. During the official launch, the co-founder of ISSD and the programme manager of Eco-Schools programme Irina Mkrtchyan, presented the programme, its mission and purpose, as well as the benefits the programme will bring to Armenia. As the team starts the establishment and growth of the Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation programme in Armenia, it has targeted 50 schools in Armavir region and the capital city – Yerevan that will undergo a set of trainings and other activities.

ISSD has also started raising awareness about the programme, and organized an introductory presentation of the programme during the launch of its environmental game, developed in partnership with School #194, during which the programme coordinator presented the benefits of the programme and planned actions for 2024.

The mission of ISSD NGO is to promote sustainable development through innovative projects in waste management, agriculture, education, circular economy, business, and women empowerment. ISSD was established in 2017 and since its operation the organization has implemented over 20 projects across the country serving over 310,000 people and partnering with over 800 organizations and educational institutions. ISSD follows these values in its everyday activities:

  • Environmental Care: We prioritize preserving Armenia's environment.

  • Education & Empowerment: We educate and empower for change.

  • Innovation for Impact: We innovate to solve environmental, social and economic challenges.

  • Community Collaboration: We unite communities for a bigger impact.

  • Accountability & Transparency: We're responsible governors of the resources.

  • Equality & Inclusion: We promote gender equality and inclusion.

  • Sustainability Focus: We work for long-lasting impact.

ISSD is working in 4 main domains:

·        Environment and Agriculture

·        Education and Capacity Building

·        Financial Facilitation

·        Community Development & Citizen participation

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Eco-Schools Conference in Prague - Let’s change the climate!

Earlier this year, TEREZA (FEE member in Czech Republic) held their annual Eco-Schools Conference with 100 young people joining in person and even more following online. The conference targeted key shortcomings of traditional education and its approach to climate education.

Six young people each had 8 minutes to explain the things they are doing for the climate, how are they dealing with frustrations, and how they overcome obstacles. This was followed by a interactive panel discussion and participants had lots of opportunity to talk to the speakers and each other during long breaks.

Reflecting on the importance of these kind of youth events, the team at TEREZA highlight that:

“Talking directly to young generations about climate change is valuable: it allows us to transfer respect, validation and information we want to give them. That is why we focused our conference directly on young audiences aged 12–19 instead of teachers. Very soon we realised that this will be done best if young people participate in the organisation as well. Who else will more authentically speak the language of a 19-year-old and be more credible to them, than another teenager?”

Learn more about the event on TEREZA’s website here.

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Celebrating the Winners of Eco-School Estonia's International Photo Competition!

In the autumn of 2023, the Estonian EcoSchools programme held an international photo competition. The competition was organised in cooperation with the “Growing with Your Food” project which is part of the activities of the 2024 European Capital of Culture Tartu.

The competition was open to children, youth and adults, and invited people to capture moments in the garden, to show others the magic and the pain of growing food. Individual photos and photo essays from educational and community gardens, as well as home gardens, were welcome. More than 1,100 photos were submitted from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Georgia, Montenegro and Wales.

The gallery of the winning photos can be found HERE.

During the project, two guidebooks have also been created for Estonian schools and kindergartens. The first guidebook "From Autumn to Autumn - How to Create a Learning Garden" is a step-by-step guide on practical gardening in all areas, including for example composting. Currently only available in Estonian, we’ve included it here as a source of inspiration. The other guidebook is a methodological collection of gardening games, creative and laboratory tasks and practical materials which to use in a classroom. It can be viewed in Estonian here.

Congratulations to all the winners and this fantastic initiative!

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Launching the Second Edition of the FEE Teacher Award!

On Thursday 5th October, we will be opening the FEE Teacher Award application window to educators from across the globe who deliver on our Eco-Schools, EcoCampus, YRE or LEAF programmes.

The FEE Teacher Award is the perfect opportunity for educators to showcase and celebrate on a global platform, the work they are doing to support young people become environmental advocates of the future. We are very keen to see in applications, evidence for how educators are ensuring a lasting impact from the work they deliver on any of our FEE Education Programmes. This could include but not be limited to: positive changes to their school’s sustainable footprint, improved attendance or academic performance of Eco-Committee members or Young Reporters, young people feeling more confident to take part in climate action or even students progressing on to further studies or careers in the sustainability sector.

For details on how you as an educator can submit your FEE Global Teacher Award application, eligibility requirements to apply and the award evaluation process please visit (and share with your network) this link:

 
 
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Green Flag for Terra Moyo International School, Kenya

We are honored to share that Terra Moyo International School has become the newest school in Kenya to be awarded the prestigious Green Flag! Sustainability initiatives form part of the school’s soul, with the name ‘Terra’ derived from Latin to mean ‘earth’ and ‘Moyo’ is a Swahili word meaning ‘heart’.

The school’s main focus is on biodiversity protection and reducing pollution. Situated next to the famous Karura forest (one of the main legacies of Africa’s first female Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai), the school radiates hope and a vision of hope that sees students walking in the footsteps of one of the greatest environmentalists of our time.

The school buildings themselves are not permanently constructed and outdoor walking pathways have not been paved, all ensuring minimum disturbance to the soil and living organisms. Classrooms have large open windows to maximize the use of natural light and allow students to experience biodiversity and the nearby forests from inside their classrooms.

Terra Moyo International School embraces both creativity and community in their environmental initiatives, contributing to acquisition of their Green Flag. One such initiative is their unique alternative to regular paint! To keep the students’ creativity flowing and the school’s waste to a minimum, local restaurants supply the school with flowers, from which the students and teachers squeeze out color to use for painting. Making the most of the nearby Karura Forest, the school also has a partnership with the Kenya Forest Service, giving each class the opportunity to spend one lesson in the forest, allowing the students to find meaning in the beauty of forest ecosystems and in the need for their conservation.

Congratulations to Terra Moyo International School on receiving the Green Flag!

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Green Flag for Olginskyj Lyceum (Ukraine)

There is hope even in the darkest time 

It has been a challenging school year for Ukrainian schools. Air-ride sirens, missile strikes, drones, and electricity cuts have interrupted everyday life and study processes in the country. It has now become almost normal for students and their teachers to have lessons taking place in shelters, or to run to a shelter during the day. However, it was essential to show the light at the end of the tunnel, which is why Olginskyj Lyceum and Kindergarten “Rozumka” worked hard to implement projects related to a better future. The implementation of the Eco-Schools programme became one of such positive outlook projects. Well-deservedly, on the 2nd of June, 2023, Olginskyj Lyceum received a Green Flag from the Ukrainian Eco-Schools Programme National Operator, Modest Aleyev, as a recognition of their inspiring achievements.  

During the year, the members of the Eco-Committee did their best to involve their whole school in biodiversity protection activities, recycling waste, and other important activities related to the Eco-Schools programme. Teachers of Olginskyj Lyceum’s Gymnasium A+ and Primary School A+ were among the first teachers to re-establish the study process in severe conditions a year ago and re-started the Eco-Schools programme this school year. Additionally, Kindergarten “Rozumka” is successfully developing biodiversity, health, and well-being themes at their school. Gymnasium A+, Primary school A+, and Kindergarten “Rozumka” are in the final stages of their Green Flag award application.   

 
 
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Eco-Schools highlighted as essential to achieving goal of the UN Greening Education Partnership

Yesterday, May 3rd 2023, the first webinar of the UNESCO-UNFCCC series, Climate change education for social transformation: Whole-institution approach to greening every school, took place to discuss the question “What is a Green School?”

The webinar highlighted the United Arab Emirates strong commitment to reaching the ambitious goal of Pillar 1 of the Greening Education Partnership, calling to have at least 50% of all schools, colleges, and universities registered with a green accreditation scheme by 2030.

With its long-standing expertise within Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and its extensive network of schools across more than 90 countries, Eco-Schools has been recognised as one of the key ESD programmes to reach this goal. Out of the 50 member states already committed to the partnership, the UAE is one of early movers, spearheading the Green School movement leading up to COP28 in Dubai and beyond.

“Going forward, we hope to continue to register and certify schools to become Eco-Schools under the model of FEE”.
- H.E. Dr. Amna AlDahak Alshamsi, UAE Ministry of Education

 
 

The Greening Education Partnership aims to “prepare every learner to acquire the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to tackle climate change and to promote sustainable development.” The contribution of Ms Kaelyn, an Eco-Schools student from Malaysia, highlighted the positive impact that the programme has had on her:

“Being part of the Green Squad has helped me improve my communication, leadership and academic skills”

- Ms Kaelyn, Student, Convent Butterworth High School

Over the next year, UNESCO will work on a Green School Quality Standard in consultation with Green Schools Working Group members. The standard aims to provide a progressive, context-relevant minimum quality standard for green schools. As a supporting member of the Greening Education Partnership and the co-lead of GEP Pillar 1 on Greening Schools, Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is looking forward to supporting this work. 

Webinar Panelists:

  • H.E. Dr. Amna AlDahak Alshamsi, Assistant Undersecretary, Care and Capacity Building Sector, Ministry of Education, UAE

  • Dr Pramod Kumar Sharma, Senior Director of Education, The Foundation for Environmental Education, co-coordinator of Pillar 1 on Greening Schools of the Greening Education Partnership

  • Ms Kaelyn, Student from Convent Butterworth High School, Eco-Schools, Malaysia

The recording of the webinar is available n English, French and Spanish

 
 

About Eco-Schools

Launched in 1994, Eco-Schools is a globally recognized programme within the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) implemented in over 90 countries worldwide. Using a Seven Step project-based learning framework and a whole-school approach, students engage in hands-on, active learning to drive positive environmental change in their school and local community.

As an accreditation scheme, the Eco-Schools programme recognizes the progressive changes made by educational institutions through the Seven Steps. The prestigious Green Flag is awarded when significant environmental and educational improvements have been achieved. The Green Flag is renewed periodically to ensure continuous positive development.

On a tertiary level, the programme is called FEE EcoCampus.

 

Click on the image to download the leaflet

 

About Foundation for Environmental Education

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.  Eco-Schools is one out of five programmes coordinated internationally by FEE.

FEE is a supporting member of the Greening Education Partnership and the co-lead of GEP Pillar 1 on Greening Schools. 

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Greening with Protective Forest Belts in Uzbekistan

The lack of green spaces and an increase of air pollution are creating major environmental issues for those living in Uzbekistan. According to the United Nations, deforestation, and wind- and water erosion, resulting in biodiversity loss, are some of the most serious environmental problems threatening Uzbekistan’s natural environment. Forests play a crucial role in protecting surrounding land, combatting desertification, and preventing erosion. Deforestation in Uzbekistan therefore not only impacts the biodiversity in forest, but also that of numerous fragile ecosystems, such as river basins. Furthermore, Uzbekistan is facing extremely high levels of air pollution, especially in the Tashkent region, which also contribute to ecosystem degradation through the acidification of water and soil.  

Tackling these growing environmental problems is the Zamin Foundation, which implements several projects focused on restoring ecosystems and ecology in Uzbekistan. One such project is the Yashil Zamin project (which translates to Green Land). Yashil Zamin aims at greening cities and creating forest belts, which have numerous benefits for their surrounding ecosystems. Forest belts help protect ecosystems, and therefore biodiversity, from wind and dust, as well as helping neighboring agricultural land combat drought, and wind and water-erosion, which contributes to more stable and high crop yields. Forest belts also help protect against atmospheric and noise pollution.

 

Green Barrier planted by the Zamin Foundation (source: Zamin Foundation)

 

The Yashil Zamin project combines numerous different activities, with a common aim of greening urban spaces. In the Syrdarya region, one of the project activities consisted of planting forest belts to create a green border. The efforts of the volunteers have resulted in the planting of 175km of forest belts in the region. North of the Syrdarya region, in the capital city of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, 11,500 local varieties of trees and shrubs have been planted. The project has covered an area of over 19 hectares, and there are plans to plant more trees, covering an even greater land extension.

 

Children participating in tree planting activities (source: Zamin Foundation)

 

The Yashil Zamin project is, however, not only a planting project but also aims to support the future of greening in Uzbekistan. The Zamin Foundation contributes to this goal by digitally monitoring the planted trees, logging the type, age, trunk, and height of each tree. Education also plays a key role. The project also works to educate those in the field of gardening and landscaping, in the hopes of raising awareness about the value of urban green spaces, trees and forests.

The Zamin Foundation is also educating an environmentally responsible generation through the implementation of the Eco-Schools programme. Students in the 41 Eco-Schools of Uzbekistan participate in several of the Zamin Foundation’s projects, gaining practical skills by taking care of their schools’ greenhouses, where they learn about tree planting, biodiversity, and ecosystems. They then offer seminars to other schools about tree planting, sharing their knowledge on greening with others.

Lastly, through the implementation of Yashil Zamin, the Zamin Foundation further hopes to draw the attention of the public and authorities to the pollution environmental problems and the value of ecosystem restoration in Uzbekistan.

The greening of urban spaces is incredibly important to local biodiversity and ecosystems. Projects such as Yashil Zamin promote the introduction and restoration of ecosystems in areas where human activities have caused severe habitat fragmentation and a significant decline in local biodiversity, altering many ecosystem services. These projects show how humans can nurture surrounding ecosystems and how vital these ecosystems are in combatting air pollution, wind- and water erosion, and mitigating climate change. By working intensely on restoring local ecosystems, projects such as Yashil Zamin align with the objectives of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

If you would like to learn more about the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and how you can get involved, please visit the following link.

This article is part of our UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration series which highlights the projects and activities of FEE members that contribute to the UN Decade.

 
 

Building Playgrounds with a Future in Flanders, Belgium

The ‘Playground with a Future’ Poster

Green school playgrounds offer endless advantages; from climate education opportunities to becoming local biodiversity steppingstones, as well as local air temperature and air quality regulation. In many urban areas, however, playgrounds are often made of grey concrete, turning their back on local biodiversity while also being uninspiring places for children to play. Tasked with solving the problem of lifeless areas, a partnership between the government of Flanders, five Flemish provinces, and the VGC in Brussels (Dutch-speaking schools) was formed, leading to the start of "Playgrounds with a Future" (Een Speelplaats met Toekomst in Dutch).

MOS Vlaanderen, a Belgian member organization of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), got involved in the project back in 2018 when they joined the "Movement for Friendly and Shared School Playgrounds" focus group along with GoodPlanet and the Flemish Government. They worked together to develop a shared vision for the design of greener, more environmentally friendly, and inspiring playgrounds and school environments. The efforts of the focus group later evolved into the current "Playgrounds with a Future" network and the subsequent design of the “Playground with a Future” poster which integrates the common vision of the network stakeholders. On the ground, using the vision set out by Playgrounds with a Future as a guide, MOS continues to actively support school greening initiatives by providing guidance on how to improve playgrounds so they become areas where students can learn from, about, and in nature. This is done through offering grants, coaching about education for sustainable development (ESD), and providing support to schools willing to undertake the schoolyard greening process. The partnership still exists and comes together to discuss the steps required to provide schools with as much support as possible.

The "Playgrounds with a Future" vision also advocates for green spaces to be handled in an environmentally friendly manner, avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides. These environmentally friendly practices make the school playgrounds inviting spaces for local biodiversity and help combat habitat loss and fragmentation in urbanised areas. “Playgrounds with a Future” are therefore outdoor spaces with living nature, giving children a chance to spend time outdoors, discover and learn about their local biodiversity, and develop a connection with the natural world. All these are vital skills which allow the students to acquire nature preservation and conservation values.

With 366 greening projects currently underway around Flanders and Brussels, the “Playground with a Future” project has thus far been a success, but the work doesn't stop here. Every year in May, an Open School Garden Day is held to further encourage schools to take on this schoolyard greening process. The Open School Garden Day gives schools an opportunity to exchange ideas and recommendations about their own greening experiences, including how to adequately maintain the outdoor green spaces, the observed advantages, which the greener playgrounds bring to students and local biodiversity, and how the playgrounds can help promote outdoor education. To provide further support and encouragement, MOS has released also a set of good practices in order to offer additional direction and inspiration to schools, as well as offering vital training sessions to schools that already have taken part in school garden maintenance.

 
 

In addition to the local benefits for wildlife, air quality and air temperature improvements green "Playgrounds of the Future" also give future generations a chance to connect with the natural environment. Exposing students to nature provides opportunities to increase awareness and knowledge of climate and biodiversity education. Thus, projects like "Playgrounds with a Future" play a crucial role in educating future generations who have a lot to say about the future of our planet.  The purposes of initiatives like "Playgrounds with a Future" aid in promoting and restoring local ecosystems in urban areas, which aligns with the objectives of the ongoing UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

If you would like to learn more about the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and how you can get involved, please visit the following link.

This article is part of our UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration series which highlights the projects and activities of FEE members that contribute to the UN Decade.

 
 

Overseas School of Colombo becomes the first school in Sri Lanka to achieve the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award

The Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) is situated in the Western province of Sri Lanka and has become the first International School in the country to achieve the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award.

Despite being a tropical island with lavish biodiversity and home to many endangered species, Sri Lanka faces considerable environmental challenges. The country suffers from a myriad of ecological impediments; poor solid waste management, air pollution due to serious traffic, significant habitat loss, and the burning of plastic to name a few.

OSC decided to address these environmental issues and find active solutions for the broader ecological problems that are prevalent, and so their Eco-School journey began in November 2020, with a group of passionate students, teachers, parents, and other representatives of the OSC community. The debut meeting drew the interest of 65 attendees and students started meeting weekly in early morning sessions before school. This soon became the basis of OSC’s Eco-Schools Committee which now consists of students, teachers, parents, operations staff, and the wider OSC community.

The Eco-Committee carried out a school-wide audit following the Eco-Schools Seven Steps Methodology and selected three themes that would be the school’s focus: Biodiversity, Climate Change and Pollution. These themes would be exploring how to drastically reduce the school and its community’s environmental impact, enhance biodiversity, reduce and omit pollution and waste, and implement actionable initiatives to tackle climate change.

Below are just a few highlights from OSC’s Eco-Schools journey:

Students from OSC examined the flora and fauna present on the school grounds and focused on discovering ways to increase the levels of biodiversity around the school while raising students’ awareness of local biodiversity and nature. To improve biodiversity, students proposed building several gardens around the school. They considered the best locations for the gardens and considered factors like sunlight and rain, tree coverage, shade and proximity to the school’s cafeteria and compost system.

The gardens project is a great example of students working together. Students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 have different roles. Different groups of students have designed, built, and planted garden beds within the school grounds. OSC students are also in charge of maintaining and fertilising the gardens with fertilizer from the school’s biogas plant and compost system. The different garden beds are used to grow vegetables and herbs to be used by the school canteen and reduce the need for acquiring these from outside the school, helping to reduce carbon emissions.

Students also examined the impact of waste on the environment and explored actions to minimize the amount of waste that the local community at large produces and disposes of daily. Students carried out ‘street sweeps’ around the school and in local wetland areas to remove plastic from the environment. OSC students also introduced themselves to their local neighbours and discussed the delicate topic of burning plastic waste in the area. Since the community-building work began, students haven’t seen any plastic burning around the school.

Waste management initiatives were also carried out through actions associated with the school biogas plant, compost system & worm farm and the very active Recycling & Sustainability Service Group. The OSC Biogas Plant is an initiative where the food waste from the cafeteria (amounting 2kg to 5kg per day) is utilised in the plant and converted to biogas. The students test the potency and quality of the biogas, which allows students to cook yummy popcorn and make delicious hot chocolate for everyone to enjoy!  

Eloise Golding, a Diploma Programme student who leads the Eco-Schools Committee, explains what the Green Flag Award means to the school:

“It's important to us to cherish what we have left of nature and to take care of it to the best of our abilities. Being part of Eco-Schools helps to push us towards those goals, keeping us motivated to stay on track. Getting this award has created a stronger feeling of community.”

In November this year, OSC students organised a school relay as part of the Running Out of Time Global Schools Action Day. As shown in the video below the whole school joined efforts to collectively demand quality climate education.

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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!

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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.

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