iGO ECO – Respect and Care about the Earth! Erasmus Project

Project Title

iGO ECO – Respect and Care about the Earth!

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 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Environment and climate change; Energy and resources

Project Summary

CONTEXT
Through this project, 6 partner schools will work together to raise students’ awareness about the environmental problems that are produced and perpetuated by humans and have negative long-term effects on our planet. We want them to boost their ecological ego, become active and responsible citizens and work towards the goal of leaving a safe and clean world for future generations. Our intention is to make our schools GREEN and to do so we will develop common environmental policies that will be applied and respected by us all. Last but not least, we want to make the project activities visible and multiply their effects, so as to set a model for our communities and determine other schools to take action in the field of ecology.
In order to reach these goals, we have established this European partnership which involves 6 different European schools that will observe one another, learn together and from each other, analyse and draw conclusions about the differences between us in terms of environmental problems and ‘eco’ attitudes. We will put students at the core of all activities as our main goal is to change their attitudes. By being active participants, students will become more responsible and active in respecting and caring for the environment.

OBJECTIVES
O1. To develop sts’ ecological knowledge in subjects such as energy, landscapes, air, water, natural resources and wildlife (min. 80%)
O2. To familiarize students with environmental issues, make them more aware of concepts like eco-centrism, sustainable development, renewable sources of energy (min. 70%)
O3. To develop a sense of responsibility for the environment and active citizenship among students (min. 60%)
O4. To develop plans and a common strategy for turning our schools into green schools (6 plans, 1 strategy)
O5. To boost students’ self-efficacy, independent and pro-active thinking (min. 65%)
O6. To develop critical thinking, data collection and manipulation skills (min. 80%)
O7. To develop students’ soft skills (min. 85%)
O8. To improve students’ command of English in concrete, real-life contexts (min. 60%)

PARTICIPANTS
The target group is made up of approximately 1500 students aged 15-17 in our schools. We will have a special focus on giving equal opportunities to all students facing disadvantage, from a mixture of economic and social backgrounds, high and low achievers, students from rural and urban areas. This aspect will provide a stronger sense of diversity and unity in diversity.
10% of these students will be selected for exchanges (20+5 reserves/country and 25+5 in Turkey).
In C6, 15 teachers will act as participants. They are language teachers, principals and geography/ecology teachers selected from each school.

MAIN ACTIVITIES
We plan 6 transnational activities:
C1 –My breath, my earth (air pollution, air quality) – PL
C2 –Not ‘ego’ but ECO-ENERGY (global warming issues and renewable energy for sustainable development) – IT
C3 –Go Green and keep it clean (recycling, littering, waste management) – RO
C4 –Save water, save life – (transdisciplinary approach, water as a source of life, water shortage, pollution) – GR
C5 –Green schools, green future (RACE for green campaigns) – ES
C6 – Environmental ethics (conclusions, setting the basic values of the project, creating a sustainability plan) – TR (joint-staff training event)

METHODOLOGY
After each exchange, sending institutions will replicate the activities in their schools and will then meet online do discuss and present the results. In this way, we will ensure full commitment on the part of the partners and also a better multiplication of results.

RESULTS AND IMPACT
We plan the following concrete results: eTwinning project space, project website, Facebook and Instagram accounts, project spaces in schools, 6 partnerships with local NGOs, min. 6 environmental campaigns done at local level, newsletters, workshop materials and presentations, students’ STEM projects, WeGO ECO strategy for schools, evaluation instruments – self assessment, observation sheets, feedback forms, exchange reports, videos made by students in exchanges, pictures and testimonials.
The project is expected to result in several positive changes at the level of all partner schools.
– the relationship between teachers and students improves
– students and teachers become more motivated to collaborate in extracurricular activities
– closer connection between the school and the parents, who will get more actively involved in school life and education
– schools become more environmentally friendly and promote respect for the environment, which brings direct benefits on the members and indirect benefits on the image of the school
– students become more active in their school, producing changes and promoting a healthy approach to the environment.
– the schools increase their collaboration with local institutions and improve or boost their image in the community.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 193230 Eur

Project Coordinator

I Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace im. Leona Kruczkowskiego & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Institut Teresa Pàmies
• Sifnos high school
• SAIR ABAY KONANBAY ANADOLU LISESI
• I.I.S. TITO SARROCCHI
• Colegiul National “Vasile Alecsandri”, Bacau