Leaders of Eco-Change

About this project

<p>In this project we deal with the environmental degradation caused by the region's economic development. The problem is due to a low level of ecological knowledge among the Podlasie residents, which results in a lack of pro-ecological attitudes. According to the Podlaskie Province Strategic Diagnosis (2020), the sense of inhabitants’ influence on the state of the natural environment is getting stronger, but their motivations for pro-ecological activities are mainly financial. The ‘Zero waste’ style, ecological shopping or resource saving habits are extremely rare phenomena. Local authorities make decisions regarding area development and infrastructure without consulting the inhabitants, which results in social conflicts. In the Podlaskie Province, public participation in environmental protection is the lowest in the whole country. Local institutions and businesses implement green projects on a very small scale. This diagnosis is confirmed by a survey conducted among the project participants. This is why the main aim of the project is to create the Academic Centre of Ecological Education and Practices and to include in the curriculum of the faculties of management, finance, accounting and administration a new subject: ecological empathy. We will develop the programme of study, create the Ecological Empathy Students Club, conduct classes and student internships in the Knyszyn Forest. The Eco-influencers film studio will be founded, and a training camp for nature educators and a civic monitoring training on climate change will be held. We will organize two open events: 1st Championships of Plogging in the Knyszyn Forest and the Festival for Mother Earth. On the basis of our experience and in cooperation with partners from Norway we will elaborate a manual for nature educators and the 'Eco-leader Knowledge Bank' e-platform.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

During project implementation following activities were carried out and settled: - regular meetings of the project team, - organizing and conducting a study visit to Norway, - ongoing cooperation and meetings regarding the development of the publication of the Manual. - the content of the manual was developed jointly - ICN's Norwegian Partner developed and edited 30 pages of input for publication in English, the content was edited and translated into Polish. - on May 30 - June 2, a study visit of 2 representatives of the Norwegian partner to Poland was carried out, - working meetings on bilateral cooperation were held on: March 15, 2023, March 28, 2023, April 17, 2023, June 1, 2023, and September 6, 2023. - in addition, representatives from Poland participated in the international conference of the Norwegian Partner on September 5-7, 2023 in Warsaw, where a decision was made to continue cooperation and start work on a new international project with the Team of 8 countries of the Baltic Sea Region.

Project partners

• Innovation Circle network Donor project partner· Norway