The Lan Association from Bihać is implementing the project “Early education for sustainable development” within the project NAGE – Networking and Advocacy for Green Economy implemented by the Rural Development Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This project is funded by the European Union.
The project will be implemented in the period from March 1 – June 30, 2021 in the city of Bihać. Partners of the project “Early education for sustainable development” are the Catholic School Center “John Paul II” and kindergartens Fili and Pinokio.
The concept of sustainable development is most often associated with environmental protection, social development planning, environmental, economic and political issues. Sustainable development combines the care for the living world on planet Earth and for the preservation of the capacity of natural resources with the social and environmental challenges facing every society, state and humanity as a whole. Sustainable development is a process towards achieving a balance between environmental, economic and social factors in order to meet the needs of present and future generations. Only active and citizens who are aware of the current challenges can help change the world for the better. This is achieved through upbringing and education.
Education for sustainable development is a long and difficult process aimed at developing critical thinking and the ability to behave responsibly. One of the components of education for sustainable development is education for environmental protection, the aim of which is to create environmentally conscious people who, when necessary, will strive to preserve the environment.
The overall goal of the project is to develop children’s sensitivity and understanding of natural processes and their interdependence, building attitudes and a positive attitude towards the environment and sustainable development.
Specific objectives:
- Increasing children’s knowledge of environmental issues, nurturing positive attitudes towards the environment and developing environmental skills
- Development of competencies of educators and primary school teachers needed for the implementation of education for sustainable development (set of competencies of the head, heart and hands)
- Ensuring the visibility of project activities in the local community.
The target groups of the project are children from two preschool institutions, children of early school age and educators and teachers from preschool institutions and schools that are partners of the project.
Preschool children and children of early school age through educational workshops, in accordance with their age capabilities, will acquire certain knowledge, skills and abilities to act on the preservation of the natural environment. Through two-day training, educators and primary school teachers will acquire additional competencies for education for sustainable development.
Our idea and the main problem we want to solve with this project is that education on the importance of sustainable development starts from the youngest children, because they are the most willing to learn and through the process of education become active and responsible citizens, aware that we have one planet that can only survive with a change in our attitudes.
