Watchful European Young Environmentalists Erasmus Project

Project Title

Watchful European Young Environmentalists

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Natural sciences; Environment and climate change; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills

Project Summary

In 2050, we live well, within the planet’s ecological limits. Our prosperity and healthy environment stem from an innovative, circular economy where nothing is wasted and where natural resources are managed sustainably, and biodiversity is protected, valued and restored in ways that enhance our society’s resilience. Even if thirty years ago this was a mere dream, now it is a reality due to a number of social initiatives which were put into practice, empowering teens to do something about the imminent destruction of the planet, and to create the bright future we now enjoy.
To make this dream reality, The Watchful EYEs is such a social initiative. We aim to raise awareness about todays environmental issues in today’s teens, who are actually the ones who can still do something to stop this destructive tendency. With globalization; our planet is faced with destruction as a result of not only materialist politics of the countries but also insensible attitudes of people towards nature. Nowadays, as technology and industry develops, problems of the environment increase and natural resources will soon run out. Concordantly, some species have become extinct and some are faced with danger of extinction, as well. We may be late for our losses but protecting the remains must be our privileged response.The aim of the Watchful EYEs is to increase our student’s attention to science and ecology by developing their lifelong learning skills that will allow all of them to be critical and conscious about European challenges. Italy is the coordinator country, Turkey, Lithuania, Romania, and Portugal are partner countries. Our target group is especially students who are weak and lack motivation in science aged 12-18. There are two main activities that will be recurrent over the 24 months calendar, and four LTTs. The children will set up and care for a garden around the premises of the school, and they will keep an environmental diary. The LTTs with focus on an environmental issue each, i.e. climate change, waste management, green power, and balanced eco-systems. We will do project activities both in our own schools and partner schools’ workshops, performance halls, classrooms and nature according to the 24 months’ calendar. With The Watchful EYEs, students will do creative workshop activities, raise awareness to protect the ecological balance, create fashion shows, participate in nature activities with their peers. Besides, they will design vegetable patches, and smart life areas. With these activities, the students’ foreign language communication skills, tolerance, spirit of collaboration will improve and they will discover cultural similarities and diversities. Our schools will have a chance to do international activities, our teachers will become proud as they grow sensible and creative generations on ecology and science. They will have a chance to observe different teaching methods in different countries and share their opinions with their colleagues. The joint international work will enable teachers to understand one another’s educational systems, to adopt well tried methods to increase efficiency and fairness of education in childhood, experience other cultures and get to know one another as individuals rather than national stereotypes. This will equip them to challenge racism and xenophobia, and it will give them a sense of being an active part in their own education, thus combating the phenomenon of early school leaving.
All in all, we believe that The Watchful EYEs scheme will be the beginning of a change in attitude in our schools, with tremendous benefits for all those involved: students, teachers, parents, the community at large, and definitely our environment.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 138132 Eur

Project Coordinator

Istituto d’Istruzione Superiore Mandralisca & Country: IT

Project Partners

• LICEUL TEORETIC “GRIGORE MOISIL”
• ESCOLA SECUNDÁRIA DE EMÍDIO NAVARRO
• SKUODO RAJONO YLAKIU GIMNAZIJA
• ÖZEL AYDINKENT FEN LISESI