An Erasmus Journey through chance, to create change.
When I was asked to attend an Erasmus Project meeting on behalf of a friend, I thought it would be a two day adventure in Rome, ending with me giving a report of the meeting and feedback of the experience. Fast forward twelve months and I find myself the driving force behind the 'Sustainability Managers In Schools' project in the Czech Republic.
I knew very little about how Erasmus projects like these work but was handed an 80 page application for some light reading on my flight to the Italian capital. As a teacher in the modern world, the project title appealed to me from the very beginning.
‘Empower teachers to become sustainability managers at school’
That first meeting was eye opening to how Erasmus projects actually materialise, how they evolve and how they create content or opportunities for the youth of today. Working with four other European countries on this project has shown how different countries work individually, but also how collectively, we all dream of the same results. The project is led by Italian company euphoria net, who are the brain child behind this project.
I took on the role as Project Manger working for the Czech NGO, Europe For You, based in Plzen. The initial phase of the work included research into Czech Schools and stakeholders, led by Formethic of France. We hear everyday, through all types of media, the effects of climate change. ‘Sustainability Mangers at Schools’ isn’t focused on only this. It promises to incorporate all 17 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in it’s whole school approach to sustainability.
I was surprised that after interviewing people for that initial research, it was obvious here in the Czech Republic that people want to change, to be more ‘green’ and buy less plastic, to help thy neighbour, they want to help the world, but they don’t have the time. So while they were waiting for others to do it for them, the project has gained momentum and, led by Logopsycom in Belgium, a whole host of challenges, escape rooms and activities have been created to put students to the test.
Sustainability challenges, awareness activities and escape rooms to aid the teachers in implementing the strategy in the school are now waiting to be tested. An e-learning platform has been set up by Smart-Nest in Latvia to aid schools and their Sustainability team reach their potential.
The next phase of this truly important project is to take it into schools and start creating sustainably thinking students so when they leave school, they automatically walk the sustainable path.
This project, my first taste of the Erasmus life, has only deepened my desire to make a change, how ever small, to help the youth of today make the most of opportunities that await them and experience life through other peoples eyes. With our project going into our Ambassador schools in the coming months, we will start the journey of change, embracing it and improving ourselves along the way.
