There's sustainable life in Lisbon
In the scope of this environmental education project, the association tries to get schools to establish a relationship with the local community, using seeds as a pretext. By teaching children the importance of the "seed circularity" premise, more transversal themes such as "agro-systems, climate change, and systemic thinking, among others," as Joana Peres, a member of the association, explains. "Seed conservation and propagation is an ancient practice of food sovereignty and a fundamental right of farmers and communities, which has been lost, predominantly in developed countries, but which is fundamental to the balance of ecosystems," she explains.
The students at Josefa de Óbidos School - one of the five that welcomed the project - are realizing this as António Alexandre hands them small biodegradable cups with seeds during the morning class. The children dip their fingers in the soil and question how they will water it while repeating the concerns they already know. "People think this is just about plants, but it's actually about community," explains the trainer as he leads the kids to the outdoor garden where the plants will then be placed. The idea of bringing together communities, schools, and seeds came from a mix of "the notorious lack of awareness about the subject, the felt need to do something and to reach the great interlocutors of change," that is the new generations. "From this desire, everything else was created," says Joana Peres. Despite the success and recognition, it has achieved - it was selected by the European Commission as an innovative project in environmental education -, the person in charge says that "it's all still in the beginning," since there are more young people who want to work with it. Above all, they want to boost awareness, stressing the role of people. "Our seeds don't want to be kept, they want to be multiplied, preferably every year", they assure.
Read the full article here ARTÉRIA
The students at Josefa de Óbidos School - one of the five that welcomed the project - are realizing this as António Alexandre hands them small biodegradable cups with seeds during the morning class. The children dip their fingers in the soil and question how they will water it while repeating the concerns they already know. "People think this is just about plants, but it's actually about community," explains the trainer as he leads the kids to the outdoor garden where the plants will then be placed. The idea of bringing together communities, schools, and seeds came from a mix of "the notorious lack of awareness about the subject, the felt need to do something and to reach the great interlocutors of change," that is the new generations. "From this desire, everything else was created," says Joana Peres. Despite the success and recognition, it has achieved - it was selected by the European Commission as an innovative project in environmental education -, the person in charge says that "it's all still in the beginning," since there are more young people who want to work with it. Above all, they want to boost awareness, stressing the role of people. "Our seeds don't want to be kept, they want to be multiplied, preferably every year", they assure.
Read the full article here ARTÉRIA