Adolescentes por el Medioambiente (Green Teens)

Environmental education and healthy lifestyle are key aspects of 21st century education. These principles are addressed in the Agenda 21 and Millenium Development Development Goals. The former is ...

Environmental education and healthy lifestyle are key aspects of 21st century education. These principles are addressed in the Agenda 21 and Millenium Development Development Goals. The former is a comprehensive set of actions to analyse human impact on the environment. The latter tries to ensure environmental sustainability as well as good health and well being, zero hunger, responsible consumption and production, climate action, affordable and clean energy, etc. We realise our students have studied this theoretical framework but sometimes are unaware of taking responsible action in defense of the environment. This is even more noticeable if we analyse the aspects of physical and mental health and well being, since healthy habits have been jeapardised after the Pandemic, not to mention the increasing use of technology and the decline in developing outdoors activities. Green Teens was conceived as an integral project in which all members of the school community can take an active role. The main objective was to develop, through cooperation, the so-called "green talent" in our students, that is, the importance of taking responsible decisions towards their life and environment, greening their school and their area.

We collaborated with our partners to design activities that would address the common goal of raising awareness towards the creation of sustainable habits as well as promote entrepeneur and volunteering abilities. Partners were chosen according to a specific characteristic that would help build up the activities and eventually achieve the common goal. The Schools of Mangualde are eco-schools and the Institute of Monte Sarchio has national awards on the research of organic food, sustainable cooking methods and healthy eating habits. Grefa is a non-government organisation that promotes the value and defense of Iberian wildlife. In each of the mobilities students did some activities together and students and teachers shared experiences and came up with ideas to fully implement other activities in their schools as well as integrate them in their national curriculum. Among these activities were: - The establishment of a school radio to disseminate research on climate change and solutions - Greening the school to make it a more sustainable place (inspired by the values of the New European Bauhaus) and promoting the school garden - Enhancing healthy habits in an Eco-recipe book and create a digital newspaper and articles

We believe we succedeed in making students more aware of the power they have to make good choices in favour of a sustainable lifestyle. This was completely integrated in all school subjects taught at the schools and other after school and complementary activities. Thus, the number of minor activities is very large. Students have grown an interest in environment, cultural and social processes, which they analysed critically. Students, families and teachers have developed civil and social abilities to embrace healthy lifestyles, positive thinking, respect of the environment in a European globalised context. Among the most remarkable results of the project are: The creation of huge murals in the Torrente Ballester High School walls facing the playground area. The walls had been vandalised and the students designed some nature-related pictures to cover graffiti and make a statement. Planting trees, herbs and other crops in all three schools to value the impact of plants for environmental, medicinal, ornamental and culinary purposes Podcasts and articles addressing Millenial Goals. Dissemination of specific actions on social media and other formats Research on Iberian wildlife. Design vertical gardens and bird houses for the school