EcoGenius: Green the Future Now

With this project, common environmental education goals were determined in three countries and the following concrete goals were determined according to the priorities of each country: In the Net...

With this project, common environmental education goals were determined in three countries and the following concrete goals were determined according to the priorities of each country: In the Netherlands, it was aimed for students to learn recycling processes in practice, experience compost fertilizer production and develop creative approaches to the environment by producing works of art from waste. It was also aimed for teachers to integrate sustainable development-based education methods into their lessons. In Italy, it was aimed for students to interact with nature, gain awareness of sustainable life and increase environmental awareness with recycling-based art works. The sense of environmental responsibility was developed with practical activities on compost production and energy efficiency. In Türkiye, it was aimed for young people to establish zero waste awareness, realize their impact on the environment by calculating their carbon footprint and gain green entrepreneurship skills. It was also aimed to strengthen sustainability awareness at the social level by ensuring the active participation of teachers and families in environmental awareness processes.

During the project, a total of three transnational events were organized in three countries. Each activity was planned to provide tangible gains in environmental awareness and sustainability: In the Netherlands, students received recycling training, participated in 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) workshops, created artworks from waste and opened an environmentally themed exhibition in the event titled “Green Future”. In addition, carbon footprint calculation, “Education for Sustainable Development” workshop for teachers and local environmental cleaning events were held. In Italy, students participated in nature walks, compost fertilizer production, energy efficiency, environmentally friendly art works and sustainable living seminars. In Turkey, students participated in environmental cleaning, zero waste and energy efficiency workshops in the event titled “Step to a Green Future”. Recycling-based entrepreneurship projects were developed, nature protection seminars were given and a general evaluation meeting of the project was held.

As a result of our project, measurable outputs and effects were achieved at the student, teacher and society levels. After each country activity, practices and products that increased environmental awareness were put forward. Concrete outputs are as follows: Recycling and environmentally themed art exhibitions held in 3 different countries established a connection between students' creativity and environmental awareness. Compost fertilizer production within the scope of each activity enabled students to understand the recyclability of organic waste. In order to raise awareness in their own countries, students prepared short environmentally themed videos and published them on social media sites. Educational materials were prepared for teachers and started to be used in institutions as sustainable development-based teaching content. Carbon footprint calculation studies increased individual awareness. During the partnership, each country carried out dissemination, monitoring and evaluation studies under its own responsibility. Thanks to these outputs, environmental awareness did not remain only at the student level, but also reached teachers, parents and local communities.