Erasmus+ Projects - Local event in Kalamata, Greece
The STEP project was showcased during an event about the Erasmus+ programmes in Kalamata, Greece. The project was presented as a good practice of youth work and promotion of non-formal learning. The event included interactive non-formal activities that helped participants understand better the character and aims of the Erasmus+ projects for youth. The results of the event can be found here (in Greek).
GO GREEN CITY - LOCAL EVENT IN tua hoa, vietnam
The event "Go Green City" started with the participation of hundred people who are students, teachers and international volunteers at Mien Trung University of Civil Engineering - MUCE Tuy Hoa City. The event aimed to inspire and motivate local people to take action for their green and beautiful living environment. This event was a first step in a long term campaign with ambitious to turn the university campus a green lung of the city and at the same time, raise awareness for local people about sustainability matters. The event was coordinated by Thanh Vy, participant of the STEP activities.
Symposium "The future of youth political participation" - STRASBOURG, FRANCE
TALLER DE JABON Y HOGAR SIN TOXICOS - local event in MADRID, spain
Another local event took place in Madrid, Spain! The workshop was facilitated by Adela Valentín Izquierdo, participant of the STEP Winter School in Greece. 18 people came to experiment of natural soap making and everyone took their precious soap after the workshop. There was a lot of interest to know alternatives to plastic and they talked about sustainable consumption and healthy habits! The presentation of the workshop can be found here in Spanish.
Sustainable and community building workshop - local event in janga, west mamprusi district, northern ghana
Sustainability is a very broad term and varies from individuals, communities, countries and continents for that matter. Sedarvp Ghana, whose members participated in the Sustainability and Community Building Training Course in Spain and the STEP Winter School in Greece, organized a workshop in the local community of Janga in Northern Ghana so as to spread the information about sustainability, encourage the need to protect the environment and live sustainable life styles amongst the young people. They chose to target young people from the rural community because they felt they are almost always the less informed about issues of this sort and therefore extending this workshop to them is an intervention that can positively influence their actions towards their environment.
Here is the detailed description and workshop gallery.
Here is the detailed description and workshop gallery.
ANOTHER KIND OF EDUCATION - LOCAL EVENT IN MADRID, SPAIN
STEP visited a local school in Madrid! Mari Ló, participant of the STEP Winter School in Greece facilitated a discussion with the kids about sustainability on a daily basis. They brainstormed about what things that can be improved and how they can get started taking into account that they are kids. Afterwards, they made solid shampoo which they took home by the end of the day.
During the workshop, there were two different stations and kids were divided into to different groups. One of the groups was doing a guessing game with different sustainable elements or objects that I use on a daily basis (metal straw, guacal, long-term plastic spoon-knife-fork, cloth bags, solid shampoo, solid deodorant...) and at the same time the other half of the group starting to make the solid shampoo and measuring all the necessary elements. The workshop lasted 1h 30 minutes with each class with fifth graders (10-11 years old) and there were in total 50 of them (25 from 5ºA and 25 from 5ºB).
"They were really surprised by some of the objects I brought and also many of them didn't know that solid shampoo existed. They were really motivated and happy to being able to do this workshop and to take back home what we made. It was pretty nice -and stressing- being able to do this kind of activities in the formal education environment and I wish I could implement them even more in the future so more people is aware of what sustainability is and all the ways we have to contribute in a positive way to it." - Mariló said.
During the workshop, there were two different stations and kids were divided into to different groups. One of the groups was doing a guessing game with different sustainable elements or objects that I use on a daily basis (metal straw, guacal, long-term plastic spoon-knife-fork, cloth bags, solid shampoo, solid deodorant...) and at the same time the other half of the group starting to make the solid shampoo and measuring all the necessary elements. The workshop lasted 1h 30 minutes with each class with fifth graders (10-11 years old) and there were in total 50 of them (25 from 5ºA and 25 from 5ºB).
"They were really surprised by some of the objects I brought and also many of them didn't know that solid shampoo existed. They were really motivated and happy to being able to do this workshop and to take back home what we made. It was pretty nice -and stressing- being able to do this kind of activities in the formal education environment and I wish I could implement them even more in the future so more people is aware of what sustainability is and all the ways we have to contribute in a positive way to it." - Mariló said.
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY - LOCAL EVENT IN trujillo, peru
Betsabe Torres, participant of the Job Shadowing in Peru, Spain and Winter School in Greece organised a small event with local friends and family in her community. She presented the STEP project and her experience during the STEP activities she was involved in. She introduced the concept of sustainable economy to the participants. The event included sharing of different volunteering experiences, introduction to the Erasmus+ programme and the available mobility opportunities. It was an ispiring experience presenting and sharing views and opinions on the matter.
yOUTH FAIR 2019 - aTHENS, GREECE
A few days before the European Parliament's elections, Inter Alia organised a youth fair dedicated to youth, youth work and the Greek Youth Strategy aiming to promote democratic participation in the local, national and european affairs. STEP was there presenting the progress and results of the project as part of the EU campaign for elections participation towards a more sustainable Europe.
SYMPOSIUM ON european - african youth exchange, bONN, gERMANY
In May 2019, we participated in the symposium on European - African Youth Exchange: Making the case for active citizenship and solidarity. We participated in the panel about reciprocity and partnership in exchange and volunteering. During the panel discussion, we shared our views on exchanging good practices between the different continents, focusing on the success stories of the STEP project. It should be noted that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were passionately promoted during the symposium. The STEP project stands critically towards the SDGs for different reasons. First, it is because the SDGs include controversal goals (eg. economic growth against ecological balance), despite the fact that "sustainable" and "development" collide dy definition. Also, historically, the whole concept and practice of development is a reflection of Western-Northern hegemony over the rest of the world. Development theorists point out how the concept of development has resulted in the hierarchy of developed and underdeveloped nations, where the developed nations are seen as more advanced and superior to the underdeveloped nations that are conceived as inferior, in need of help from the developed nations, and desiring to be like the developed nations. In this sense, the SDGs concept may not reflect the desired and authentic sharing of good practices we wish to promote in this project. More information about the critics could be found here.
Sustainable agriculture and food waste management - Local event in kitale, kenya
"Sustainable Agriculture and Foods Waste Management"
A complete training course dedicated to sustainable agriculture practices and ways to minimize our food wastes was co-organised and implemented by Yvonne K'obuya, participant of the Winter School in Greece and Michael Ochieng Nyawino, director of COHECF KENYA in Kitale, Kenya. During the first weekend of the training course, part of the STEP module was implemented and promoted focused on the understanding of sustainability. In specific, the participants were informed about farming practices and technologies that promote sustainable agriculture. In addition, participants learned about food waste management, the negative effects of food waste and mitigation mechanisms against food waste.
During the second weekend, the participants were able to practically implement some of the suggested practices. You can have full access to the educational material used here.
A complete training course dedicated to sustainable agriculture practices and ways to minimize our food wastes was co-organised and implemented by Yvonne K'obuya, participant of the Winter School in Greece and Michael Ochieng Nyawino, director of COHECF KENYA in Kitale, Kenya. During the first weekend of the training course, part of the STEP module was implemented and promoted focused on the understanding of sustainability. In specific, the participants were informed about farming practices and technologies that promote sustainable agriculture. In addition, participants learned about food waste management, the negative effects of food waste and mitigation mechanisms against food waste.
During the second weekend, the participants were able to practically implement some of the suggested practices. You can have full access to the educational material used here.
Seminar Series "Active Citizenship and Democratic Participation", Athens, Greece
Four student and educator groups from different schools around Greece were invited in Athens to work on active participation, democratic education and European Union affairs. The aims of the seminar was to raise awareness on democratic participation; explore different methods of active participation in the community; propose changes in their school realities to enhance youth empowerment and participation; promote EU elections 2019 and the Greek Youth Strategy. At the same time, teachers were involved in non-formal practices and engaged with more participatory and democratic processes that could be also transferred to their workplace and within their colleagues. During the first meeting, participants were involved in non-formal activities working on classic and innovative methods of being an active citizen; analysed critically materials about the EU; explored different ways to improve their everyday realities; presented with Vouliwatch online tour and e-democracy. Each group worked on ideas for change and built strategies to create “better schools” that enhance participation of the students, collaboration with the teachers and school administration, as well as the general local community.
For the second meeting, participants had the opportunity to directly interact with the participants of the STEP Winter School and develop together campaigns to advocate for contemporary challeges related to gender equality, intercultural understanding, environmental protection and ways to engage more with the nature. The seminar series was developed inspired by the results of the STEP project with regards to active citizenship and the need for more participatory educational approaches. The seminar was in line with Inter Alia's strategic and network's objectives for youth empowerment. See here.
For the second meeting, participants had the opportunity to directly interact with the participants of the STEP Winter School and develop together campaigns to advocate for contemporary challeges related to gender equality, intercultural understanding, environmental protection and ways to engage more with the nature. The seminar series was developed inspired by the results of the STEP project with regards to active citizenship and the need for more participatory educational approaches. The seminar was in line with Inter Alia's strategic and network's objectives for youth empowerment. See here.
BBB Short Film Festival 2018, Novi Sad, Serbia - Societies on Sharing
“A person is a person through other persons Workshop”
Our modern societies and the fast pace of life have undermined community socialization. People lack trust and real connection to other people. Their main drive of action and being seem to be growth and profit-oriented activities, promoting competitiveness instead of compassion and solidarity. In line with the Festival theme, "Societies on Sharing", a workshop inspired by the activities of the STEP educational module was implemented during the 9th Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival. In this workshop, participants explored an alternative imaginary beyond competition and towards mutual concern, caring and sharing between and among people, as well as with the wider environment.
Participants shared their life experiences of cooperation and learned about the Ubuntu philosophy of Bantu-speaking people in Africa. Read more here.
Our modern societies and the fast pace of life have undermined community socialization. People lack trust and real connection to other people. Their main drive of action and being seem to be growth and profit-oriented activities, promoting competitiveness instead of compassion and solidarity. In line with the Festival theme, "Societies on Sharing", a workshop inspired by the activities of the STEP educational module was implemented during the 9th Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival. In this workshop, participants explored an alternative imaginary beyond competition and towards mutual concern, caring and sharing between and among people, as well as with the wider environment.
Participants shared their life experiences of cooperation and learned about the Ubuntu philosophy of Bantu-speaking people in Africa. Read more here.
6th Degrowth-Conference 2018 in Malmö, Sweden - Dialogues in turbulent timeS
“Sustainable and Transformative Education for Participation in Democratic Life Workshop”
STEP project tries to find a way to bring into the formal educational system the values of sustainability and at the same time promotes a more participatory approach in the current educational systems (including the academia). Given that the conference aimed at expanding the thematic scope of Degrowth discussions, we wanted to support the thematic priority of education for Degrowth by introducing ideas and methods that allow the Degrowth ideas and alternative lifestyles to be part of the educational systems in a more consistent and non-fragmented way.
During the workshop, Amerissa Giannouli presented the project’s concept and educational approach, as well as its structure and expected results. STEP received constructive feedback by the participating experts of the workshop. Furthermore, the conference offered beneficial networking possibilities for adjusting and developing the content and structure of the educational module, which will be implemented during the Winter School. The content of the module will be also available online in January 2019. Presentation here.
STEP project tries to find a way to bring into the formal educational system the values of sustainability and at the same time promotes a more participatory approach in the current educational systems (including the academia). Given that the conference aimed at expanding the thematic scope of Degrowth discussions, we wanted to support the thematic priority of education for Degrowth by introducing ideas and methods that allow the Degrowth ideas and alternative lifestyles to be part of the educational systems in a more consistent and non-fragmented way.
During the workshop, Amerissa Giannouli presented the project’s concept and educational approach, as well as its structure and expected results. STEP received constructive feedback by the participating experts of the workshop. Furthermore, the conference offered beneficial networking possibilities for adjusting and developing the content and structure of the educational module, which will be implemented during the Winter School. The content of the module will be also available online in January 2019. Presentation here.
Youth Work Fair 2018 in Athens, Greece: Participatory WorkshoP
“Being Familiarized with Youth Work and non-formal learning techniques for teachers”
Participants of the workshop had the opportunity to become familiar with alternative learning methods used in the field of Youth Work. These methods aim to strengthen learning groups and promote social inclusion of participants. Although, the workshop was presented under the Youth Work fair, such methods are not addressed only to young people. They are widespread in adult education field and are applied within programmes of both private and public educational institutions worldwide.
The workshop addressed teachers of the formal educational sector that regularly do not apply such methods. Participants tried to create educational activities based on the basic principles of non-formal and holistic learning experience. They put together methods such as role-plays, team work, case studies, simulations, study visits and meetings with experts in a simple activity aiming to promote environmental awareness. More about the 1st Youth Work Fair in Greece here.
Participants of the workshop had the opportunity to become familiar with alternative learning methods used in the field of Youth Work. These methods aim to strengthen learning groups and promote social inclusion of participants. Although, the workshop was presented under the Youth Work fair, such methods are not addressed only to young people. They are widespread in adult education field and are applied within programmes of both private and public educational institutions worldwide.
The workshop addressed teachers of the formal educational sector that regularly do not apply such methods. Participants tried to create educational activities based on the basic principles of non-formal and holistic learning experience. They put together methods such as role-plays, team work, case studies, simulations, study visits and meetings with experts in a simple activity aiming to promote environmental awareness. More about the 1st Youth Work Fair in Greece here.