All aboard: Creating a community of green changemakers during childhood

The specific needs addressed by the project included: - There was a need to increase awareness about environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion among young learners. The project aimed to shift the focus from raising awareness to taking actions. - Teachers needed professional development and resources to effectively integrate sustainability into their teaching practices. The project provided training and support through the Capacity Building for Teachers program (CBoT). - Students needed engaging and interactive learning experiences to develop their understanding of sustainability and their role in addressing environmental challenges. The project developed the Gamebox and organized hands-on activities such as the Climate Changemakers Warriors mentoring program. - There was a need to involve parents, local organizations, and community members in sustainability education to create a supportive environment for students. The project organized community events and workshops to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices.

Project objectives included: - Equip teachers with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to integrate sustainability into their teaching practices. - Engage students in interactive and hands-on learning experiences that would deepen their understanding of sustainability and their role in addressing environmental challenges. - Promote sustainable practices within schools and communities. By involving students, teachers, parents, and community members in various activities and events, the project sought to foster a culture of sustainability and encourage behavior changes that support environmental conservation. - Raise awareness about environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion among young learners and the broader community. - Create a community of young environmental leaders who are knowledgeable, skilled, and motivated to take actions on sustainability issues. By empowering students and teachers, the project sought to instill a sense of responsibility and urgency in addressing environmental challenges.

The main activities implemented by the project were: - 4 igniting workshops involving around 40 experts. - Capacity Building for Teachers (CBoT), training sessions for primary school teachers to enhance their knowledge and skills in sustainability education. - Development of digital educational resources, the Gamebox, a gamified e-learning platform and Methodological Approach Framework (MAF). - Climate Changemakers Warriors Mentoring Programme. - Developing and implementing Behavioural Assessment Model (BAM) to assess the impact of the mentoring program on students’ behaviors and attitudes towards sustainability. - Community engagement and events to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote sustainable practices - Dissemination and promotion of project outputs through social media campaigns, conferences and webinars, development of communication and dissemination plan, newsletter to promote the project and results.

The project implemented CBoT containing six modules on climate change to enhance teachers' knowledge in sustainability education. Training sessions included international gatherings in Porto and online, fostering a network of educators committed to sustainability. National sessions involved workshops and information-gathering activities to develop the Gamebox, an interactive tool for students. Additional workshops provided hands-on experience for teachers. Overall, 19 primary teachers participated, gaining confidence to integrate sustainability into their teaching. The Gamebox, a gamified e-learning platform, includes 24 interactive resources. The MAF provides guidelines for integrating sustainability into teaching. The mentoring program involved 24 older students mentoring younger peers, with 21 activities implemented in three schools and a total of 600 students involved. Community events and workshops raised awareness and promoted sustainable practices. The project website, social media campaigns, newsletters, and conferences disseminated results. The BAM assessed the impact on students' behaviors. The project empowered teachers, engaged students, involved the community, influenced policy, and achieved broad visibility.