Green Heritage Schools

<< Background >>The project focused on integrating cultural heritage and environmental education by demonstrating to preschool and primary school children how exploring ancestral traditions could promote a more eco-friendly lifestyle. We wanted to show our learners how this knowledge can still be applied today to achieve two key goals: connecting children with diverse cultures and encouraging environmentally responsible behavior. In addition, we wante to facilitate cross-cultural understanding and jointly explore traditions of the participating countries: Latvia, Italy and Greece.The needs we addressed in this project stemmed from the participating organizations' desire to exchange and acquire new knowledge and skills to support children in exploring European cultural heritage and fostering pro-environmental behavior. Organizations required innovative educational methods to enhance their programs, making them more engaging and enriching for children.Additionally, preschool and primary school children needed opportunities to explore their own and other European cultures, helping them understand their roots, develop critical thinking, and fight stereotypes and xenophobia.<< Objectives >>The general objective of the project was to expand access to European cultural heritage for children and engage them in pro-environmental behavior and eco-friendly living. This objective was achieved by providing integrated training in cultural heritage and environmental education.The specific objectives of the project were:1. To implement local Green Heritage Schools by developing and testing Green Heritage Schools guidelines.2. To organise joint international Green Heritage Schools in Greece and Italy.Our main aim was to developed and jointly test the Green Heritage Schools guidelines to assist trainers in combining cultural heritage and environmental education, fostering sustainable habits in children. The methodology includes innovative approaches, such as outdoor learning and creative workshops, to explore European cultural heritage while promoting pro-environmental behaviour.<< Implementation >>The project included interconnected local and international activities. Project partners developed and tested Green HeritageSchools guidelines with good practices and workshop scenarios and organised two joint international events - GreenHeritage Schools in Greece and in Italy.The International Green Heritage School in Greece took place on 5-8 October, 2023. 28 mobilities were implemented during this event, of which 23 were covered from the project funding, including 18 international mobilities and 5 national mobilities (from other regions of Greece).The International Green Heritage School in Italy took place on 10-12 May, 2024. 16 international (from Greece) and 9 national mobilities (from other regions of Italy) were funded by the project.In total, project funded 34 international mobilities and 14 national mobilities. The number of planned mobilities was significantly exceeded, as 20 mobilities were planned in the project. An additional activity was organised in 4-7 August 2024, when 19 Latvian diaspora children and their parents from Greece and Italy met in Latvia for a workshop to explore Latvian cultural heritage and its connections with environment-friendly lifestyle.<< Results >>The project achieved the following results:-Green Heritage Schools guidelines produced - 1 (available online: https://sites.google.com/view/greenheritageschool/)-Good practices collected and exchanged - 3 planned, 4 collected (available online: https://sites.google.com/view/greenheritageschool/good-practices)-Workshop scenarios produced and tested - 5 produced and tested (available online: https://sites.google.com/view/greenheritageschool/workshops)-International Green Heritage Schools organised - 2 planned and implemented, 1 additional activity in Latvia-Educators involved in the local and international activities - 9 planned, 15 involved-Children involved in the local and international activities - at least 45 planned, at least 48 involved