New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Initiative category

Identify the award category for which this initiative is being submitted
Reconnecting with nature

Email user
vrapcevic@yahoo.com

Basic information
Initiative title
Children in Action

Full initiative Title
Children in Action against Climate Change

Please provide a short, catchy description of your initiative to be used in communication towards the public.
Preschool institution "Naša radost" participate in Erasmus projects since 2017. We realize 7 Erasmus projects. In 2022. we got EITA award for one of them. 4 Erasmus projects are closely connected with reconnection with nature and sharing knowledge to parents, local community and wider ( "Play and learn in Nature", Children in Action against Climate Change", Wild Horizons- Outdoor Learning Experience" ). Early years education about climate change and nature is a very good base for the future.

What was the geographical scope of your intiative?
Cross-border/international

Where was your intiative implemented?
Location 1
Serbia

Location 2
Poland
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries
- Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Greece
- Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Spain
If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
Serbia - Vojvodina
Spain - El Altet
Poland - Zdunska Vola
Turkey - Izmir
Greece - Syros

Does your initiative address mainly urban or rural issues?
Mainly urban

Does your initiative refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)

Has your initiative benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
Yes

Which fund(s)?
ERASMUS

Here you can provide more details about the name of the specific programme, strand/action line as relevant, and the year
Erasmus project "Children in Action against Climate Change"

Has your initiative won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Does your initiative has a minimum level of maturity? The minimum level of maturity is exemplified by stakeholder/ initiative promoter commitment to implement the initiative in practice and a clear methodology /approach.
Yes

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As a representative of an organisation
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project)
- Name of the organisation(s): Preschool institution "Naša radost", Subotica
  Type of organisation: Other public institution
  First name of representative: Nebojša
  Last name of representative: Markez
  Gender: Male
  Nationality: Serbia
  Function: Principal
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Antona Aškerca 3
  Town: Subotica
  Postal code: 24000
  Country: Serbia
  Direct Tel: +381 24 646410
  E-mail: nasaradost@open.telekom.rs
  Website: http://www.nasaradost.edu.rs
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: https://www.facebook.com/predskolskaustanova.nasaradostsubotica.5
In case my initiative is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my initiative in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
Fondacija Tempus

Description of the initiative
Please provide a summary of your initiative
Preschool institution "Naša radost"implemented SDGs program in 2020. Our kindergartens participate in 6 Erasmus projects. In all of these projects we promote reconnection with nature but the most relevant is "Children in Action against Climate Change".
In the project partner countries explore and learn about climate change and its prevention. Learning about the Sustainable Development Goals gives children the main information about our world and introduce them about importance of taking care of life on our planet. Awareness and engagement of young students help to develop an appreciation for the natural world.
It is hard to change adult people habits. We should teach to respect nature and our only planet from early years if we expect any results. Knowledge about climate change is not enough and doesn't worth if we don't change behavior immediately. Awareness and engagement of young students help to develop an appreciation for the natural world.
The pedagogical innovation to all partners is to implement Geo Inquiry approach. It means that we motivate children to explore, to ask questions, to collect data, to visualize the problem situation and act in local communities.
During the project, we upload all materials on etwinning platform. One of the main activities was organizing Green Week . During this action participants disseminated results of the project and organized eco festivals, eco market, dramatizations, exhibitions in cooperation with schools, parents, NGOs, local community representatives, media.
On this way our work became visible and we shared message to parents and citizens how important is to learn about endangered species, impact of trees, changing behavior, taking concrete actions. Our kindergartens created eco gardens, initiated composting, cleaning actions, engaged experts , provided tree and flower planting in playgrounds.
The project is in the last phase. We will create posters and them on public places in our town.

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with 5 key words.
climate change

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
education

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
action

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
sustainability

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
collaboration

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of sustainability and how these have been/will be met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Learning about SDGs gives children the main information about our world and introduce them about importance of taking care of life on our planet.
Awareness and engagement of young students help to develop an appreciation for the natural world.
In the first phase of the project we introduced children with all 17 SDGs and learn about their importance for our world. After introducing with existing of SDGs and Agenda 2030. we focused SDG 11, SDG 6 , SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 12.
In this project we explored the ways how we make a difference for ourselves, our school, our families, and community. We started with an essential questios : Where does waste go? Where from water comes and where it goes? Why and how we have to take care about water? Why many animals and plants are endangered and what we have to do to stop it? What people can do to reduce climate changes?
The main educational objective is development of 21st Century skills : communication, collaboration, development of critical thinking, problem solving skills, storytelling skills.
This project started as etwinning project, than became Erasmus project with partners from Poland, Greece, Turkey, Spain and Serbia. Than all partners spread activities to their local communities, involved parents, experts, local community government, media, and online for all interested schools from all over the world.
During the project we introduced the new pedagogical approach ( Geo Inquiry Process) in our work and followed it's steps : Ask, Collect, Visualize, Model, Act
This project is an excellent sample of collaboration on several levels ( from classrooom to global platforms ).
Preschool institution "Naša radost"implemented SDGs program and this practice will be continued in future. We will involve more kindergartens in the program and improve cooperation with stakeholders.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
The key objections of the project is to explore and learn about climate change and its prevention. Learning about the Sustainable Development Goals gives children the main information about our world and introduce them about importance of taking care of life on our planet. Awareness and engagement of young students help to develop an appreciation for the natural world and reconnection with nature.
It is hard to change adult people habits. We should teach to respect nature and our only planet from early years if we expect any results. Preschool children like nature, they like to explore , to learn about the world and they speak with their parents about their work in kindergarten. On this way, all of us become learning community and share knowledge and experiences.
During the project we provided many actions with active participation of parents and local community : cleaning actions, humanitarian actions, creating eco gardens in school yards, eco festival, eco market, creating places for composting, for collecting plastic bottles and sell them, for collecting plastic caps.
Our initiative "Green Week" was followed by media and on that way citizens were introduced with our work.
This Erasmus project lasts more then 2 years and it is in the finishing phase. The last action will be preparing posters with children's drawings with information about endangered species of animals and plants of our region, about climate change causes and effects and suggestions how to reduce it. These posters will be settled on public places in our city ( bookshops, schools, libraries, shopping centers, museum...). On that way we will spread information and motivate others to think about nature and our behavior. It will be done on local level in our city.
With our project partners we will prepare online conference and invite participants on global level to inform them about our project activities.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Preschool institution "Naša radost" is from Subotica, very specific city in Serbia. In Subotica live 27 nations. We have 4 official languages ( Serbian, Hungarian, Croatian, Bunevian). We live in multicultural and multinational city and we have a long therm tradition of inclusion. In our kindergartens we have bilingual groups : Serbian-Hungarian, Serbian-Croatian, Serbian-German, Serbian-English, Serbian-Roman. In this project participate children from different kindergartens and groups.
In Erasmus project " Children in Action against Climate Change" participate one of kindergartens in which majority of children are Romans. Some of them are very poor and local government helps them. One pedagogical assistant is present in this kindergarten and she speaks Roman language .
Children with special needs are in our regular groups. Teachers have support of psychologists and pedagogues. We have inclusive program and Inclusion Team which take care about providing it in our kindergartens.
In our kindergartens we have bilingual groups : Serbian-Hungarian, Serbian-Croatian, Serbian-German, Serbian-English, Serbian-Roman. In this project participate children from different kindergartens and groups. Also, in this project participate kindergartens from center of the city and kindergarten in village Bikovo ( 10 km from Subotica).
In Erasmus project participate kindergartens from Poland, Greece, Turkey, Spain and Serbia. Partners communicate on etwinning platform, children follow the Twin Space activities of their peers. Teachers organize video conferences where children have occasion to hear languages of our partners, to learn about their tradition and culture.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the initiative and civil society have been/will be involved in the initiative and what has been/will be the impact of this involvement on the initiative
One of the main aims of Erasmus project " Children in Action against Climate Change" is to involve families, local community, local government, citizens in project activities. Through our work and initiatives, we shared message to parents and citizens how important is to learn about endangered species, impact of trees, changing behavior, taking concrete actions. Our kindergartens created eco gardens, initiated composting, cleaning actions, engaged experts in their actions, provided tree and flower planting in playgrounds.
All partner countries involved experts from climate change fields. During LTTs, we visited protected areas, and had occasion to enrich our knowledge from experts. In Spain, we visited Tabarca island and learned about protected species, about their methods to protect this small island from pollution.
In Greece ( Syros )and Turkey we had seminary held by experts who care about endangered sea species and learned how they could be protected.
On LTT in Subotica participants will go to protected area , the biggest habitat of blind puppy in Europe and expert from Office for sustainable development of Subotica will hold short seminary to participants.
Kindergartens will prepare posters with children's drawings which will be settled on public places in our city that citizens can be informed and motivated to learn about causes and effects of climate change, about endangered species of plants and animals of our region, about possible ways to reduce climate change in future.
During the project all partners cooperated with local schools .
During our LTTs, in every country majors and local governments prepare reception for all participants where we have occasion to present the project activities and speak with authorities about climate change and role of education in reducing climate change.
All activities were followed by media and on that way we spread information to citizens.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the initiative.
At first, we cooperate and collaborate with parents and families of our students. This project significantly improved this collaboration. Parents are directly engaged in actions such are : cleaning , creating eco gardens, providing materials for everyday work, donating. Parents who are experts in various fields introduced students and children with their work ( visits to green house, farm, plantages ). Parents involved other members of families in project activities. Local community was informed and active.
During LTTs all participants visit local government representatives and have occasion to discuss and learn about initiatives on European level. These discussion motivate teachers to think about new ideas which could be implemented in their cities.
In Spain participants got seminary from ecientists who live on Tabarca and take care of ecological issues on this small island.
In Greece ( Syros) specialists held seminary on theme : “Discover Gyaros - a unique ecosystem in the heart of Cyclades”.
During the project, local NGO "Jasen" donated trees for kindergartens and teachers in Subotica, children and family members planted them in school yards of various kindergartens.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your initiative. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was
Erasmus project " Children in Action against Climate Change" is educational project . We learn about sustainability and SDGs, with focus on climate change. Our main aims are to learn causes and effects of climate change, to learn about endangered species, organic food production, how to save drinking water, how to develop empathy and understand other leaving beings on our planet, how to gain habits to save life on Earth.
Project partners from Poland, Greece, Spain, Turkey and Serbia are from different geographical regions ( mountines, island, seaside, flat area) and because of this diversity all participants learned a lot about different regions. During LTTs teachers had occasion to meet experts and listen their seminaries and use gained knowledge in everyday work.
Media has a big role in the project because they spread information to citizens.

Please highlight the innovative character of the initiative, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the initiative
The innovative character of this project is implementing of Geo Inquiry Process which is based on five steps : Ask, Collect, Visualize, Create, Act. Also, early years children are the main advocates of climate change learning .
Geo Inquiry Process use a geographic perspective with unique lens to analyze space, place, and the interconnections between both the human and natural world.
Geo Inquiry provides a specific and systematic way to explore and understand the world and interactions between human and natural systems, take action and make a difference community. This approach create critically thinking and informed citizens who are able to take action at local, regional, and global levels. Students analyze issues from multiple perspectives, they gain attitudes, knowledge, skills, they explore and act on interactive, and complex challenges facing our world and their communities. This approach is student-centered and based on active learning , learning by doing, playing and learning at the same time, which are the main base of early years education.
Preschool institution "Naša radost" got EITA ( European Innovative Teaching Award) in October 2022nd in Brisel for Erasmus project " Connection of Fairy Tales and STEAM". Our preschool institution implemented STEAM approach due to activities of this project and already has practice to implement innovative pedagogical methods in educational work.

Please describe which elements of your initiative could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and contexts. This may involve, for example, aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings, etc.
All of these elements of our project ( activities and actions) could be replicated in every preschool institution or school .
Innovative approaches we implemented during the project are not very characteristic to early years education but we succeeded and prove that even we work with preschool children, we can implement new approaches and improve quality of education in early years period.
Also, during the project teachers and children used various web 2.0 tools ( Jigsaw Puzzle, Learning Apps, Padlet, Linoit, Animoto, Story Jumper...). One of our aims was to find balance between nature and digital world and use digital tools for exploring and learning.
Erasmus project "Children in Action against Climate Change" is not finished yet. We will have common products such as e-book and movie and we will share links to teacher's platforms on European and global levels that others can learn from our experience.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your initiative.
As all partners of Erasmus project " Children in Action against Climate Change " are preschool institutions and schools, we choose Geo -Inquiry Process (ASK, COLLECT, VISUALIZE, CREATE, ACT) innovative method which we implemented in our everyday work. The Geo-Inquiry Process is a 5-step process where students use the skills of a geographer in their quest to understand an issue or problem within their community. The process begins with a question followed by the collection, analysis and visualization of information to tell a story about the issue and its impact on the community. Students will then create a narrative that informs the community stakeholders about the problem and finally propose an action.
As a preschool institution we adapted this approach to preschool children. During the project , partner schools were learning how to implement this approach in their work, we were exchanging good practice and learned together.
The products of our project will be published on various platforms, on web sites of our schools and preschool institutions, links will be shared on public nets and we will send our messages to the world.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the initiative addresses by providing local solutions
Climate change is global problem and we should start from ourselves, from local community. Local actions should include :
Campaigning to produce behavioral change
Developing more sustainable community
Producing products and food locally
Providing services to people affected by climate change
Reducing the use of energy in buildings
Local solutions for sustainable energy access and transformation
Creating wealth from waste
Reclaiming green spaces
Implementing the sharing economy
We should have on mind "Think globally, act locally"and on that way we can reduce climate change, we can improve quality of life on Earth.

Please detail the scope of progress in the implementation of the initiative. This can include already demonstrated results/outputs related to the chosen Prizes category, and the already achieved benefits from the initiative for direct and indirect beneficiaries. This can also include a development plan of the initiative, with a particular attention to the steps envisaged in the year following the application, and including envisaged results and benefits from the initiative
Erasmus project " Children in Action against Climate Change" is followed by coordinator and all partners. All partners follow the plan and realize all planned activities. On etwinning platform the project activities are created according to the plan of the project.
Documents attached to this application : links to results and public net announcements, photos and screen shots of activities, Preschool institution "Naša radost" web page link, interim reports.
All participants from Preschool institution "Naša radost" got NQLs for etwinning projects " Children in Action against Climate Change" ( lasted 2 years ) and "Change the Climate, start Today" ( lasted 1 year) we realized with all planned activities of Erasmus project.
Links : https://vojvodinauzivo.rs/subotica-zelena-nedelja-u-nasoj-radosti/
https://www.subotica.com/vesti/pu-nasa-radost-u-erazmus-plus-programu-malisani-uce-u-prirodi-i-ustanovama-kulture-id44124.html
https://www.nasaradost.edu.rs/erasmus/video-susret-u-okviru-projekta-children-in-action-against-climate-change/
https://www.nasaradost.edu.rs/erasmus/erazmus-projekat-children-in-action-against-climat-change/
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=414053707566985
https://vojvodinauzivo.rs/subotica-pu-nasa-radost-u-erazmus-plus-programu-malisani-uce-u-prirodi-i-ustanovama-kulture/
https://www.ecofeminizam.com/2022/05/12/pet-erazmus-projekata-u-subotickim-vrticima/
https://www.lovalova.rs/category/obrazovanje/

Please provide documents that demonstrate the maturity level of the initiative and commitment to implement the initiative in practice (e.g.: evaluation report, final or mid-term initiative report, certification, publications, building permit, grant agreement, letter of support, partnership agreement, etc.)
Both
PDF
Web link
- http://www.nasaradost.edu.rs
If relevant, please describe how your initiative contributes to developing new competences, especially in the context of the European competence framework on sustainability.
Teacher Nataša Vrapčević is EU Climate PAct ambassador, National Geographic certified educator, etwinning ambassador, Erasmus ambassador, Teach SDGs ambassador. She coordinate Erasmus projects in Preschool institution "Naša radost" from Subotica and she holds webinars to teachers in Preschool institution "Naša radost" and to partners who participate in the project.
She held seminary in Syros to all participants on theme : "Geo Inquiry Process : Ask, Collect, Visualize, Create, Act", she prepared presentation " 17 SDGs ", she is constantly in contact with all teachers who participate in the project .
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images or visual representations of your initiative to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below.
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By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

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Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed initiative has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the initiative and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their initiatives, initiative, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted initiative, initiative is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes