Eco Week Encourages Student-led Action for a Sustainable Future

Students in Globeducate schools across 10 countries are busily engaged in sustainability education activities this week, the group´s annual Eco-Week, which culminates in marking the global Earth Hour on Saturday 25^th March at 8.30pm local time.

Eco-Week gets its name due to there being so many environmental education awareness days during this week, with Global Recycling Day (18^th), UN Water Day (22^nd), WWF Wild Wisdom Global Challenge (23^rd) and Earth Hour (25^th).

Education Director Oanh Crouch said: “Our schools continue to be innovative and creative in how to explore ways to raise awareness and take action against climate change. Eco Week was packed with activities, guest speakers and virtual events. From energy consumption measurements, Eco Debates, increasing biodiversity, online quizzes, building green houses and using recycled materials, there was something for everyone to be involved in.”

At ISN Nice, students had the opportunity to take part in a biodiversity photo contest which ran from March 1^st to the 20^th, exhibiting winning entries in the school reception from the 21^st . Students also began the week with a presentation on whales and dolphins, and on Tuesday, Global Recycling Day, Primary students played memory games on a biodiversity theme made with recycling bottle caps created by the school´s Planet Patrol / Green Team.  Students also had the opportunity to attend bee workshops and to buy local honey – the focus was on explaining the importance of bees on biodiversity and on tasting different honeys.  On Wednesday 22^nd March, students are having special lessons about water, competitions and watching a short film.  All throughout the week, students at ISN Nice are working on other projects associated with Mediterranean biodiversity.

At Agora Madrid International School, students will be getting involved in a variety of activities, from building insect hotels, forest school, exploring sustainable resources, talks about renewable energy and solar panels, and an outing to a local park to do a plastic waste clean-up, as well as an award for the class that collected the most batteries to recycle!

Students at Canadian School of Florence are also spending time together for a community clean-up day, engaging in science lessons focused on the UN sustainable development goals, and participation in the WWF Wild Wisdom Quiz.

The WWF Wild Wisdom Quiz takes place every year during Eco-Week and Globeducate students from age 8 to 10 take part in this challenge, learning all about the science of sustainability. The quiz promotes student awareness and increases knowledge on how we can all take action – it explores how climate change and biodiversity loss is impacting our planet´s forests, oceans, food and farming.

“It was wonderful to see so many students, teachers and schools join us for the WWF Wild Wisdom Quiz as part of our Eco Week celebrations," said Oanh Crouch. "We saw 44  teams, representing 21 schools across Andorra, Spain, Cyprus, Italy, France, Portugal and UK participated in this exciting live event. There was certainly a great range of interesting facts and information as we explored themes of wildlife, places, climate change and habitats. From the excited smiles and cheers from the students, it seemed they all thoroughly enjoyed the quiz too!"

We look forward to hearing all about the students´ experiences and what they achieve, as well as how these activities motivate their future student-led action for a better planet.