About the project

Project Title: Implementation of Activity-based education concept in tackling of Urban air and water pollution challenge

Project Acronym: Young Eco Inspectors

Start Date: 01-11-2022 End Date: 31-10-2024

Total Duration: 24 months

Project Reference №: 2022-1-BG01-KA220-SCH-000087846

EU Grant: 250 000,00 €

Young Eco Inspectors started at the end of 2022 with a duration of 2 years, and it is co-funded by the EU Programme ERASMUS+. The partnership includes 8 partners from Bulgaria (3), Greece (3), and North Macedonia (2).

Summary

The project addresses the pressing concerns of air and water pollution, recognizing the lack of public awareness and engagement in tackling these issues. It aims to develop a multidisciplinary environmental education program using technology, field activities, data analysis, and critical thinking to empower secondary school students as proactive agents of change. Focusing on urban pollution challenges, the project not only enhances STEM education but also promotes sustainable practices that align with the broader fight against climate change. Collaborating with educational institutions, local authorities, energy agencies, public utilities, and NGOs, the project fosters a comprehensive and sustainable approach to address local environmental issues, while also advancing digital skills and transnational cooperation through OER and eTwinning.

By implementing innovative pedagogies, fostering critical thinking, and emphasizing teamwork and communication, the project equips students and educators with tools to understand and tackle air and water pollution effectively. This holistic approach not only enhances environmental consciousness but also contributes to broader sustainability efforts. Through partnerships and transnational collaboration, the project enables STEM teachers to enhance their digital skills and competences while building a network of educators dedicated to addressing environmental challenges on a global scale.

Objectives

Project main objective, is development, implementation and promotion of the Activity-based educational concept for secondary school students in tackling of environmental challenges that communities in regions of Pazardzhik – Bulgaria, Kochani – North Macedonia and Larissa – Greece are facing.
The project offers an interdisciplinary educational approach suitable for any topics from community interest, with high transferability potential for implementation in any educational institution.

Activities

The following activities will be implemented in the frame of the project lifetime:
1. Project Management and Implementation activities
2. 3 Trainings events, 1 long-term Teaching/learning event and 1 blended mobility event
3. 3 Executive/Operational meetings & working sessions
4. Activities related with creation of 4 Project Intellectual Outputs/Results
5. Communication/Promotion activities

Impact

Expected project’s outcomes/results are:
– Four IOs created
– Successfully implemented „Activity-based“ educational concept in three secondary schools
– Established teachers network on eTwinning platform (with min 42 STEM teachers from 3 secondary schools)
– Minimum 72 students with increased skills for team work, implementation of critical thinking as well as a competences in successful performance of researching and finding the best solutions on environmental challenges from community interest

Partners

From Bulgaria:

  • Municipality of Pazardzhik as Applicant Partner
  • High School “Ivan Sergeevich Aksakov”, Pazardzhik – Pilot school
  • Regional Energy Agency of Pazardzhik (REAP) – Technical Partner

From North Macedonia:

  • Communal Public Enterprise Vodovod, Kochani – Public utility
  • High School “Ljupco Santov”, Kochani – Pilot school
  • Association for Support of Economic Development – Local Action Group – Kochani (NGO LAG) – Technical Partner

From Greece:

  • 1st Experimental Lyceum of Larisa – Pilot School
  • Alternative Innovative Development – NGO AID – Technical Partner