CO2 emitted from fossil fuel consumption is the major cause of climate change created by humans. Climate change is causing serious problems in our country as it is causing problems in the world. Last year there were forest fires in several regions of the county and thousands of trees were burnt to ashes, yet in other parts of the country several people were killed because of the flooding, the escalating drought is affecting agriculture and animal breeding in a negative way and biodiversity is decreasing every day. In spite of this adverse picture there are no serious steps taken, neither in our country, nor abroad, to lessen the effects of climate change. The future of children and young people is being destroyed by adults.
In the proposed project, a group of experts will develop a curriculum in 6 different areas (climate, seeds, insects, compost, vegetables-fruits, animals) and the children after following this curriculum will gain climate and biodiversity literacy which will affect their future lives in two essential areas, climate change and biodiversity, their awareness will increase and they may influence their parents in indirect ways about their future.
In the ÇİDEA project, a team of experts created a curriculum in 6 areas (climate, seeds, insects, compost, vegetables-fruits, animals). Children who learn/apply the created curriculum with different dimensions (games, workshops, etc.); By acquiring ecology and climate literacy, they will increase their awareness of climate change and biodiversity in their future lives and indirect ways influence their parents about their own future.
In the first phase of the project, 20 EkoRehber (Eco Guides) who graduates/students selected mainly from pre-school teaching departments of universities were trained with the curriculum prepared by expert staff, thus the training of trainers was carried out.
In the second phase of the project, these Eco Guides, under the supervision of experts, will practice this curriculum with 320, 60-72-month age children from 14 Çankaya Municipality kindergartens, in the MoniBostan fields. The children will practice growing seedlings from seeds, and witness the growth of produce from seedlings. In addition, they will observe compost making, insect hotel, vegetable and landscape plots. While doing the field work they will be informed about the importance of water and water conservation, how to reduce waste, to become prosumer instead of consumer and good nutrition habits and so on. They will share their experiences with their parents and contribute to improve their awareness in these areas.
Upon completion of the field work ‘Nature Based Education Festival’, with a broad participation will be organized. Different phases of the project will be documented and will be shared through media and social media to a wider population.
When the first phase of the project is completed the Eco Guides will train the new Eco Guides. So the steps for the sustainability of the project will be taken.