“School Community Protects the Climate” is an environmental awareness and democratic education program for the climate change and the multiple issues associated with it, with special emphasis on the energy saving.

The importance of the program “School Community Protects the Climate”:

The serious threat that climate changes poses to life on earth is undoubtedly a burning issue that concerns as all, especially the young generations. The scientific data on the effects of climate change are already overwhelming, not to mention the impact of energy crisis in our daily lives. Through the program, the school community becomes aware of the climate and energy crisis, reduces its ecological footprint and is empowered through democratic processes, so as to be able to create an energy community!

The aims of the program

  • raising the awareness of the school community towards the crucial problem of climate change through a better understanding of the phenomenon, while also focusing on the issue of energy.
  • the participation of students in democratic, participatory processes and the cultivation of active citizenship skills
  • the activation of the school community to reduce its ecological footprint

The implementation of the program

The program “School community protects the climate” is implemented, for the school year 2022-23, in 10 high schools throughout Greece and 6 high schools that belong to the municipality of Thessaloniki.

It is implemented by “ANTIGONE - Information and Documentation Center on Racism, Ecology, Peace and Non-Violence” in collaboration with “Community Energy River and it is funded from the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Program’s Methodology

The program's methodology draws its tools from Experiential Education, Non-Formal Education and Environmental Education/ Education for Sustainability

The children become researchers of knowledge, they search, play,  question,  argue,  make decisions by consensus and  take initiatives in a context of free expression and respect.

To achieve the above, a variety of techniques and tools are used, such as: role playing, simulation exercises, problem solving, card/picture games, reflective discussion, etc.

The workshops content is driven by the need for students to recognize the interconnections between their daily lives and climate change, in order to have a better understanding of the latter and therefore be more prepared to deal with it.

The program is developed around the following axes, which also c:

  • Team Building and Empowerment - Consensus Decision Making
  • Holistic approach to the issue of climate change
  • Energy saving - Energy tour
  • Energy communities: how do they work, how do they generate energy, how do they protect the climate
  • Decision-making simulation - Case study of an energy community