The Cooperation with the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation a Success In 2010, the Municipality of Jönköping learnt through user surveys addressing parents with children attending school or preschool, that there was a wish for a more explicit environmental work. TEXT AND PHOTO OLA JACOBSEN “therefore, the politicians decided to focus even more on the environmental issue. We chose to be a part of the Com-U project with the Eco-Schools programme to achieve the environmental objectives of the community, since it is a reliable tool which also feels meaningful to work with both for teachers, children and students,” says Lars Öster, Traffic and Environmental coordinator at the board of education in the Municipality of Jönköping. in order to work efficiently with the municipal environmental objectives from preschool to upper secondary school, the Municipality of Jönköping realized they needed to think creatively and cooperate with other actors. They therefore chose to organize the environmental work centrally, with an official acting as a coordinator. “I started by scanning the market for appropriate partners. Now we are working with the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation, the School of Education and Communication, and the Environmental Office in Jönköping.” The first goal is to double the number of units certified by Eco-Schools, from 10 to 20 between 2010 and 2013, but already they have gone from 10 to 27. “It would surprise me if we don’t have more than 30 before 2013, and exceed the goal with 100 percent,” says Lars Öster. To reach the objects of the Com-U project, to give the next generation knowl- 10 the keep sweden tidy foundation – school and preschool/inspiration edge, tools and courage to deal with the big future questions regarding the environment, the Foundation has provided educational courses for free. How has that influenced the Municipality of Jönköping? “A great deal. It has been a generous offer from the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation, through the EU fund Life+. We have not experienced any limitations. The Foundation has come to us with study material and dedicated lecturers. It goes without saying, it is a success factor not having a brake, being able to focus only on the accelerator.” for preschools and schools in the Municipality of Jönköping, the work with the Com-U project has been somewhat easier than in other municipalities. Lars Öster has been the contact person both for preschools, schools, the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation and for the School of Education and Communication. “All contacts go through me. I make all the practical arrangements, and piece together the entirety, so all others involved can focus on their own part. It means that all the actors we work with feel extra safe. They know that the official in the municipality manages the contacts with the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation, and when it is time for further education, everything is signed, sealed and delivered. I myself have felt good support from the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation, as they have been a corner stone for making things work this well. So far, around 250 teachers in Jönköping have participated in the Com- U project managed by the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation at the School of Education and Communication.” What is your advice on how to speed up the work with the environmental objectives in other municipalities? “Jönköping went in for this from a user perspective. It is not a political invention. By having a smart organization and by choosing the right partners, we have given environmental issues a real boost in the municipality. We have increased the compliance of the environmental objectives, and we have been better at satisfying the requests of the citizens of the municipality.” a Facts Name: Lars Öster Occupation: Traffic and Environmental coordinator, coordinator of the Eco-Schools programme in the Municipality of Jönköping. Lives: In Huskvarna.
“I started by scanning the market for appropriate partners. Now we work with the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation.” lars öster, traffic and environmental coordinator in the municipality of jönköping school and preschool/inspiration – the keep sweden tidy foundation 11
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