Dates: 12 - 25 February 2019
Place: Aghios Andreas & Athens, Greece
Activities
The STEP Job Shadowing activities supported the development of a participatory and transformative educational module that was presented during the STEP Winter School in Athens, on the 12-25 February 2019.
STEP Winter School was addressed to youth workers, educators, project managers and activists interested to link active citizenship to formal education by drawing attention to the values of sustainability. It explored sustainability under the topics of over-consumption, over-production, environmental protection, ecosystem services, waste management, indigenous cultural practices and permaculture, political ecology, environmental justice, advocacy, social participation, and community responsibility. The Winter School consisted of a series of non-formal educational activities and participatory sessions, thematic lectures, participants’ workshops, and an open event that took place between 22 and 24 February 2019. The Open Event was mainly in Greek and the target group was educators and students from the formal sector, as well as activists and social transformation practitioners.
Place: Aghios Andreas & Athens, Greece
Activities
The STEP Job Shadowing activities supported the development of a participatory and transformative educational module that was presented during the STEP Winter School in Athens, on the 12-25 February 2019.
STEP Winter School was addressed to youth workers, educators, project managers and activists interested to link active citizenship to formal education by drawing attention to the values of sustainability. It explored sustainability under the topics of over-consumption, over-production, environmental protection, ecosystem services, waste management, indigenous cultural practices and permaculture, political ecology, environmental justice, advocacy, social participation, and community responsibility. The Winter School consisted of a series of non-formal educational activities and participatory sessions, thematic lectures, participants’ workshops, and an open event that took place between 22 and 24 February 2019. The Open Event was mainly in Greek and the target group was educators and students from the formal sector, as well as activists and social transformation practitioners.
Starting from Aghios Andreas scouts center, we devoded our time exploring the "economy" as a social construction. We saw that the "economy", as we know it today, is only a small fraction of what the "economy" real is and represents. For more information, you may check and implement these suggested activities. We analyze the "materials economy" and proposed the alternative of a "circular economy". We also, measured our ecological footprint and proposed solutions that may decrease our personal footprint and be in line with the circular economy. Finally, we introduced the "ecosystem services" as part of a more holistic and in depth analysis of environmental problems (see here).
From individual responsibility and actions, we tried to see the bigger picture and how the world is affected by the mainstream economics; how GDP influences political decisions and what profit has to do with environmental justice. We used role playing and the Theater of the Oppressed to examine oppression from the people to the people and from the people to the nature.
After 5 days in Aghios Andreas, we had our trip to Nafpio city before arriving in Athens!
In Athens, we tried to put the different elements (economy, environment, society) together, under the notion on "sustainability", in the sense that we refer to a socio-ecological transformation and sustainable community-based initiatives. Based on country presentations, such initiatives may promote ethical trade, responsible consumption, environmental protection and awareness, social inclusion and gender equality. To secure these ideas, cooperation and active participation within the communities are required! We briefly talked about and visited such examples and social initiatives in Athens.
But we also practiced a few sustainable ideas on our own! We made totally natural soap and learnt about plastic free alternatives. We experiment ourselves with permaculture techniques through organic farming at the Agricultural University of Athens and we tasted amazing chocolate (!!!) at the organic chocolate factory of Kakau Worship!
Since information is power, we received tips on how to communicate our message more effectively. We played with words and developed our small Facebook campaigns and calls for action with our aim to advocate for our favorite causes.
We finally celebrated the closing of the Winter School with a special open event as a good example of dissemiating information and engaging the general public!
It was a rich experience with inspiring and challenging moments.
Thank you all for contributing to this learning experience!
Sustainability is more about caring for each other and other creatures of this world.... :D
Thank you all for contributing to this learning experience!
Sustainability is more about caring for each other and other creatures of this world.... :D
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