The establishment of school-based self-sufficiency focused eco-clubs at schools are an important pillar to reach the objectives of the Nordskills project. Following intensive preparations with responsible teachers and the school administration, as well as communications with school children and parents to assure mutual consent, the project reached an important first step last week: the establishment of the first NORDSKILS self-sufficiency eco-club at The school of Eastern Finland in Joensuu. The eco-club is integrated as an extracurricular activity for students being currently in grade 5 and grade 6 and will function as one of the pilot eco-clubs of Nordskills project.
The first meeting was filled with self-sufficiency games designed to help participants get to know each other’s self-sufficiency knowledge and interests as well as to get to know the Nordskills experts from Joensuu Cultural Association (MSL:n Joensuun kultuuriyhdistys) and from the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) involved in the eco-club activities. Additionally, the initial meeting involved a first assessment of students’ self-sufficiency starting levels, and interactive discussions to plan future activities of the eco-club together. The eco-club will meet initially twice a month during the wintertime and meeting frequencies will be reconsidered when the growing season starts next spring. Progress to establish similar eco-clubs at our partner schools in Malax (FI) and Umeå (SE) are currently in full swing.
For the eco-club participants in Joensuu the journey has just begun and based on participants suggestions a first self-sufficiency learning adventure beyond schoolyard confinements is in planning: overnight ice fishing and winter camping!
Picture 1: Posters to initiate participants self-sufficiency thought and reflection.
Picture 2: Eco-club participants working on interactive task during first eco-club meeting (Picture Anssi Huoponen)
Read more about the Interreg Aurora project NORDSKILLS here.
