OUR ECOLOGICALFOOTPRINTTEAM:SCHOOL:COUNTRY:COACH:TEAM MEMBERS:(age 16)Green AppleVocational School Of Trade, Catering And Tourism, LeskovacSerbiaPerić EmilijaKristina Kostić, Violeta Đorđević, Filip Stanojević, Nikola Lilić, Andrija Ristić, IlijaVrtikapa, Miroslav Đokić, Mihajlo SavićROLES, TYPE OF DECISION-MAKING AND LEADERSHIPMy role in the realization of the project was mostly as an advisor and a coordinator of thestudents’ activities. All the team members had some ideas, which we brainstormed and thendiscussed, and chose the most practical and applicable ones in the end. I am really pleasedthat we succeeded in making them ‘think green’, which they also showed in other extra-curricularactivities (eco bags we used are the product of the students’ company, they also make‘fišek’ from recycled paper, they took part in planting trees in the school park, etc.).PROJECT DESCRIPTIONTOPICOur topic was Ecological footprint and we made a <strong>small</strong> and modest step towards raisingpeople’s awareness of the consequences of our everyday actions. The target groupwere the students of our school, and they are delighted by the new Ecological classroomin our school.MAIN ACTIVITIESRSAt first, our plan was a bit different, but we had to modify it due to the <strong>small</strong> amount offinancial resources we had at our disposal. The original idea was to make an ecologicalclassroom with a solar panel on the roof to help save electric energy and use solar energyinstead. Un<strong>for</strong>tunately, solar panels are too expensive, so we could not af<strong>for</strong>d one. Wechose another classroom, with a skylight and a big window, which gets a lot of sunlightduring the day, so we do not have to use the electric light. We had the walls painted, collectedaromatic herbs, dried them, and students made wallpapers using the Eco bags andaromatic herbs. They also made ‘recycle bins’ <strong>for</strong> paper, plastic and mixed waste. Theycollect the waste weekly and take it to recycling. They also engage in other activities andwork in two students’ companies which make and sell Eco bags from ecological materialand ‘fišek’ (cone) from recycled paper. The project also grew in another direction, whenwe got our principal’s support to refresh the school park. The students helped plant evergreentrees and bushes and enjoyed it. They have more ideas, but this is just the beginningand we hope to bring those ideas to life through our future projects.ACHIEVED OBJECTIVESWe achieved almost everything we wanted, except the purchase of the solar panel. Useof natural and/or recycled materials, saving energy, promotion of <strong>European</strong> ecologicalvalues and motivation to take action are fully achieved through this project and someother connected activities.48 Schools Taking Action For Europe’s Environment
RECOMMENDATIONSWe would recommend finding a sponsor <strong>for</strong> some activitiesof the project.BIGGEST OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECTThe most important outcome of this project and all theactivities is a different way of thinking (we call it ‘greenthinking’), seeing and doing things, always bearing inmind the consequences of each particular action. Slowlybut constantly, the behaviour of students is changing andwe can see it in everyday <strong>small</strong> actions (picking up thepaper from the lawn, separating waste, etc.).WHAT WENT WELL? WHAT WENT NOT SO WELL?..We had no bigger problems during the realization of ourproject, as it was not too demanding, but students spentgreat time doing things together. The only problem wasthat we did not have enough time or money to realize allthe good ideas students came up with.IMPACT ON THE SCHOOL’S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMOur project did not have big impact on the educationalsystem in our school, although students and teachers whohad a chance to use eco classroom were delighted and enjoyedthe fresh colours and the scent of aromatic herbs, sowe only created a classroom with a pleasant atmosphere.HOW DID YOU CELEBRATE?We have not celebrated yet, but will report to you aboutIt at the final event. We placed some photos and an explanationon the school <strong>web</strong>site. Projects Report 49
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