Starting from December 2022, the International Integrity Foundation is also participating in the Erasmus+ funded project “EcoPodcasts: Students Podcasts on Eco-Conscious and Sustainable Living“.
The aim of this project is to drive primary and secondary school education to adopt innovative and interactive learning methods, while at the same time support students to explore new ways to adopt environmentally friendly habits, become conscientious future citizens and true agents of the fight against climate change.
Specifically, the project will include podcasts developed by students not only for their classmates, but also for their families and other adults who want to adopt alternative and sustainable habits in a fun and truthful way, through the eyes of children.
Over a period of 30 months, the project will be implemented by 7 partner organisations from 6 different European countries: “Geo Milev” English Language Secondary School (Bulgaria), University of Macedonia and 1o Dimotiko Sxoleio Alexandrias (Greece), REACH Innovation Consultancy (Austria), Agrupamento de Escolas Camilo Castelo Branco (Portugal), University of Salento (Italy) and International Integrity Foundation (Malta).
The project rationale:
The effects of climate change are being felt stronger and stronger, in every corner of the world, from unprecedented wildfires across the United States to the extreme heat of Siberia. It is now obvious that climate change impact has global dimensions and opportunities to put society on a greener path are highly sought for, across a range of scales and dimensions.
One of these is education, which has largely moved to the digital world. This change has both negative and positive elements, the most important being that children are losing interaction and socialization with others. On the other hand, we can build on the
circumstances and the renewed awareness that we can only raise by lifting others, in a systemic vision.
Target groups:
The EcoPodcasts project is therefore proposing to harness digital opportunities for the adoption of a social-ecologically conscious and sustainable daily life for and through students, as future citizens and agents of positive change.
Moreover, the other important project’s target group is teachers who will gain valuable tools and guidance on how to put in place environmental education practices through podcasts, storytelling and activity-based learning with the aim to influence behavioral change both for students and their families. Thus, through innovative educational resources, teachers will be able to interact with students and local communities and shape a more sustainable future all together.
The main activities and results of the EcoPodcasts project will revolve around developing a holistic, innovative and highly engaging educational programme for primary and secondary schools wishing to implement environmental education and cultivate active citizens. Specifically:
- an Educational Curriculum and related training programs;
- a web podcasts platform;
- a resource hub; and
- an appropriate network to promote the planned environmental education.
For further details on the project, partners and the results as they are being finalised, see the dedicated project website http://www.ecopodcasts.eu