Serbia: “Lead for EcoJustice Mutual Learning Event”

From 1-2 October, the Office for Climate Education will lead a 2-day mutual learning event on transforming school cultures through quality climate education in Banoštor, Serbia. This event is part of the Lead for EcoJustice Initiative, which is led by the Network of Education Policy Centers (NEPC). It will bring together 20 participants from educational partner institutions from Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovenia.

NEPC is an international non-governmental organization that supports the transition and transformation of regions towards inclusive, earth-centered education through policies, practices, research, and international partnerships for educational institutions.

The main focus of this meeting is to build the capacities of education stakeholders and provide professional development to school leadership teams, with the aim of  integrating sustainability and eco-justice into education systems to address environmental challenges and the disconnect between humans and nature.

According to NEPC, the initiative “encourages the integration of humanistic and ecological values into education, challenging traditional educational practices to include sustainability and social justice principles.”

During these two days, Natalie Chong, Science Officer, and David Wilgenbus, Executive Director of the OCE, will facilitate several workshops. Training will give insights into the challenges and opportunities of climate change education, show how to teach it in classrooms using active pedagogies like inquiry-based learning. They will explore the link between climate change and mental health and how education practices can evolve to meet future challenges all within a whole school approach.