EkoSkola Malta

Green Flag honours student empowerment

On 13th November 2023 forty-three schools have received recognition for introducing sustainable practices in their school communities. In a ceremony presided over by the President of Malta, H.E. Dr George Vella, student representatives have received the internationally acclaimed Eco-Schools Green flag eco label.

St Martin’s College and St Thomas More College, Marsaxlokk Primary School were awarded the prestigious international Green Flag Award for the first time. St Joseph School, Blata l-Bajda and St. Joseph Mater Boni Consilii School Paola received the 9th consecutive Green Flag marking their 18 years of commitment towards sustainability. The ceremony that was held at Westin Dragonara Resort was organised by Nature Trust – FEE Malta in collaboration with the Local Councils Association.

Two decades ago Nature Trust – FEE Malta embarked on a bold journey to empower young citizens to adopt an active role in environmental decision-making by launching the international Eco-Schools programme locally. From its humble beginnings in 2002 EkoSkola has now established itself as the key programme in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the islands with 85% of the whole student population, on board. Schools flying the internationally acclaimed Green flag can now boast that they have received international recognition for successfully embedding Education for Sustainable Development as outlined in the National Curriculum Framework.

In line FEE’s strategy- GAIA 20:30 work in schools is focused mainly on climate change mitigation and adaptation, addressing environmental pollution and halting biodiversity. To provide tangible opportunities for further enrichment Nature Trust-FEE Malta has for the 4th year running organized the Sustainable Mobility Campaign. The campaign aims at fostering environmentally friendly commuting practices within school communities. During the same event nine schools were honoured for their outstanding commitment to sustainable transportation through the implementation of Green School Travel Plans.

In parallel, relentless work continues on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, as students hone their skills through platforms such as NASA’s GLOBE program, Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE), and Learning About Forests (LEAF). These programs offer invaluable opportunities for investigative learning, seamlessly integrated into STEM subjects.

Educator upskilling and training opportunities are also being organised every year. This year 27 educators attended the ERASMUS+ Co-Funded educator VET Training in Athens on Non-Conventional Water Resources.

The Local Councils’ Association who is also celebrating the 30 years of Local Councils this year took this opportunity to support Nature Trust – FEE and EkoSkola in this initiative. The Local Councils’ Association believes in active citizenship, residents’ participation and the importance that children and youths are involved in the planning and conservation of our environment. Hence, this was also one of the prime events funded by the Association to commemorate this anniversary.

Since the event was hosted close to the Feast of St. Martin, the Local Councils’ Association took this opportunity to distribute the traditional Borża ta’ San Martin to all participants. This initiative gave an opportunity to students attending the Wardija Resource Centre to do all the preparation to get these sacks ready. The LCA believes in equal opportunities and inclusion hence, involving students from the Wardija Resource Centre to take an active part in the preparation of this event makes the event more meaningful and also promotes an inclusive society.

The EkoSkola programme is sponsored by the Local Councils Association, Transport Malta, HSBC Malta plc, Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, Wasteserv and Ambjent Malta.

 

17th Edition of the EkoSkola Parliamentary session

The 17th edition of the EkoSkola Parliamentary session was organised on Wednesday 28th June 2023, by the e-NGO Nature Trust – FEE Malta under the auspices of the Speaker of the House Dr Anġlu Farrugia.

The focus of this year’s session was Young People in Danger. Issues related to danger caused by: pollution, lack of open spaces, traffic, conflict regions, unhealthy home environments, families experiencing problems were tackled by various schools to shed more light about the way these realities are compr0mising the quality of life of children and youths across the world. The theme was chosen following a survey amongst more than 2,000 students during the past editions of the FEEfest. It was decreed even higher on the agenda due to the Ukrainian Russian conflict earlier last year.

In preparation for this much awaited yearly sitting, EkoSkola students held school meetings to analyze the data gathered from their research and investigation exercises to shed more light about the origin of the problems, the consequences and tangible solutions that can be addressed at school and community level according to national and international policy framework. The chosen theme not only embodies the true essence of UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals but it served as a means for students to realise that despite the hopelessness and helplessness of some situations, tangible solutions do exist. Whilst acknowledging the fact that due to the insularity of the islands we are relatively far from the line of fire, students had the opportunity to realise that on various fronts we are much closer than one might think.

EkoSkola primary and secondary students addressed the attendeees in the chamber making a total of 26 interventions highlighting action-oriented approaches they are taking in their respective school communities. Amongst the speeches were several appeals to the country’s policymakers to beef up action to safeguard lives that are in imminent danger but also to ensure a better quality of life as a basic human right. MPs from both sides of the House responded to the students’ inputs praising them for their commitment and encouraging them to keep coming forward with proposals.

Several other Members of Parliament from both sides of the House were present following an invite sent by the students. The students tabled the interventions made for those Members of Parliament that could not make it for this year’s edition of EkoSkola Parliament. Several distinguished guests were also present in the stranger’s gallery, including sponsors who support the EkoSkola programme. A total of fifty four students from 27 schools attended the 17^th EkoSkola Parliament Session.

  

Teacher Training Seminar

Today Nature Trust – FEE Malta, which coordinates the programme, organised a training seminar about EkoSkola and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Educators who are new to the programme and wish to learn more about it and others who are already involved in the programme were invited to attend.

Green School Travel Plan: Nature Trust – FEE Malta teams up with Transport Malta and the HSBC Malta Foundation for the second edition

Following the first successful edition of The Green School Travel Plan, Nature Trust – FEE Malta will once again run the campaign during scholastic year 2022/2023. This initiative is part of the EkoSkola Programme with a special focus on the theme of Sustainable Mobility involving a strong element of community outreach.

The theme is not only relevant due to the daily challenges commuters face but it is also an urgent one in view of national and global concerns about Transport and its effect on Climate Change. The issue of mobility and its effect on climate change has been steadfast as a primary concern in students’ discussions following a series of summits for students organised by Nature Trust- FEE Malta. This led to the introduction of an initiative called The Green School Travel Plan, whereby EkoSkola committee members used the 7-step EkoSkola methodology to investigate current school modalities to take action to improve their school’s mobility practices.

The launch of the Second Edition was held in hybrid format on Wednesday 16^th November 2022 at Transport Malta Offices in Lija.  12 Schools were present for the event whereas another 8 schools followed the launch of the second edition online. Transport Malta and HSBC Malta Foundation will once again support this year’s edition.

Students who had joined last year’s edition were invited to showcase significant actions that they conducted in their respective schools and communities. These included bike days, installation of new bike racks, involvement in the MOVE campaign to cycle or walk for trees and data collection on the air quality through the GLOBE programme. Reference to the possible integration with established ESD programmes such as YRE and LEAF programmes was made through practical examples.

The attendees were addressed by the Executive President of Nature Trust – FEE Malta, Mr Vincent Attard, Mr Glenn Bugeja – HSBC Foundation and Ms. Laura-Sue Mallia Director of Risk Management, Policy and EU Affairs at Transport Malta.

Nature Trust-FEE Malta is not only committed to keep supporting schools that have joined last year, but welcomes new schools on board to keep providing opportunities for students to exercise their right to voice concerns in issues that affect their quality of life.

ERASMUS+ Project Caring for Our Waters – Water Resources and Animation in Education

The ERASMUS+ project by Gozo College Żebbuġ primary under the coordination of Nature Trust has again made it possible for a group of educators to go to Athens for a week long about diligent water management, rain water collection, water saving techniques, using animation in education and other innovative teaching methods which can especially be adopted  in the classroom and school setting.

The participating educators had a very intensive 7 day training, 9am to 5pm, provided by MEdIES, supported by Nature Trust and co funded by the European Commission.  The training involved exploring resource packs, adapting lessons to different age groups and abilities, catering for special students, creating new resources and learning about innovative resources,  fieldwork, linking with other educators from Greece,  visiting antique water systems, a water recycling plant, the Marathon dam, a nature reserve where fresh water meets the sea and other related venues to give participants different points of view of how the water topic can be presented to students, helping appreciate more its value and scarcity.  The Alter Aqua resource pack was also explored, discussed and  lesson plans  built upon and adapted the to students under the educator’s care.  The aim of the school is to work on all fronts through its EkoSkola committee, mobilising the whole school,  the village community and also reaching out to the authorities.   This project is intended to create awareness, reach out to as many people as possible but on a more personal/school level, cater for the varied needs of the students attending the school,  including all of them, notwithstanding their various language limitations, cultures, religions and backgrounds through a common topic of interest – water, a resource which all of us depend on for life, which,  though always available in our taps is frequently taken for granted but which with climate change is all the more effecting the natural habitat on our island because of either torrential rains or long periods of drought.  The attendees also had special sessions to learn how to produce animations using resources they can easily have available.

 

 

Celebrating 20 years of Eco-Schools in Malta

Nature Trust – FEE Malta is celebrating 20 years since the launch of the International programme Eco-Schools – known in Malta as EkoSkola in the Maltese Islands. This video, an overview of 20 years achievements, inaugurates the launch of a series of events to celebrate this significant miulestone.

ERASMUS+ Project Caring for Our Waters – Marine litter training for educators

The ERASMUS+ project by Gozo College Żebbuġ primary under the coordination of Nature Trust has started of with the first group of educators going to Athens for a week long about marine litter, single use plastics, effects on wildlife and what actions can be done especially from the classroom and school setting.

The participating educators had a very intensive 7 day training, 9am to 5pm, provided by MEdIES, supported by Nature trust and co funded by the European Commission.  The training involved exploring resource packs, adapting lessons to different age groups and abilities, catering for special students, creating new resources and learning about innovative resources,  fieldwork, linking with other educators from Greece and Spain,  visiting a research centre, a shipping company and a plastic recycling/upcycling company to see the whole plastic issue which is polluting our seas from different

perspectives and hence go deeper into the situation learning about the causes, effects and what actions need to be taken both on a personal basis, on a school basis and on a national basis.  The workshops also explored deeply the Marlisco educational resource pack. The aim of the school is to work on all fronts through its EkoSkola committee, mobilising the whole school,  the village community and also reaching out to the authorities.   This project is intended to create awareness, reach out to as many people as possible but on a more personal/school

level, cater for the varied needs of the students attending the school,  including all of them notwithstanding their various language limitations, cultures, religions and backgrounds through a common topic of interest,  the sea around us,  something we are all close to and enjoy throughout summer and the rest of the year being a small island.

39 schools receive the prestigious Green Flag Award

In a ceremony presided over by the President of Malta, H.E. George Vella a total of 39 schools received recognition for bringing a marked positive change in their school communities.

St Clare College, Sliema Primary School and St Dorothy’s Junior School, Sliema were awarded the prestigious international Green Flag Award for the first time. St Clare College, San Ġwann Primary School received the 8th consecutive Green Flag marking their 16 years of commitment towards sustainability. The ceremony was hosted at St Ignatius College Handaq Middle School.

20 years ago Nature Trust – FEE Malta embarked on a bold journey to empower young citizens to adopt an active role in environmental decision-making by rolling out the international Eco-School programme locally. From its humble beginnings in 2002 with 6 pilot schools moving on to establish itself as the key programme in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the islands with 84% of the  whole student population, on board. The schools who fly the internationally acclaimed Green flag can now boast that they have received international recognition for successfully embedding Education for Sustainable Development as outlined in the National Curriculum Framework.

Students investigate issues pertaining to these goals and take informed decisions to try and address them in the best way they can with the resources they have at the school level, at the community level and also at the national level. Only last week, EkoSkola student representatives met ERA officials and Hon. Minister Miriam Dalli – Minister for Environment, Energy and Enterprise whereby they presented a copy of the Children’s version of Malta’s National Strategy for 2050. They also presented a document with a selection of suggestions from over 675 recommendations that students participating in EkoSkola have presented to policy makers over the past years.

In line FEE’s strategy- GAIA 20:30 work in schools continues mostly but not only on climate change mitigation and adaptation, addressing environmental pollution and halting biodiversity. Work on UN’s Sustainable Development Goals continues unabated all fronts whilst students acquire more skills using tools such as NASA’s GLOBE programme together with the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) and the Learning About Forests (LEAF) programmes, which provide further opportunities for investigative learning.

Nature Trust FEE Malta is fully committed in providing further opportunities to our young citizens as it has done over the past 20 years. Today’s Green Flag ceremony is the launch of a series of other occasions that mark the 20^th Anniversary of the EkoSkola programme.

EkoSkola Students’ Contribution for Malta’s Strategy for the Environment for 2050

Since its launch in 2002, EkoSkola has always been a front runner in providing opportunities for young people to voice their concerns about the country’s sustainability issues. EkoSkola students have repeatedly called upon policy makers to implement policies that would improve the quality of life by improving the quality of the environment in the Maltese Islands.

Nature Trust – FEE Malta, the eNGO that runs the EkoSkola programme, is convinced that quality of life in Malta would be much better if young people’s voices are really appreciated by policy makers.

Thus, when students and educators learned that Malta’s Environment Strategy for 2050 was up for consultation, everyone realised that it was a ‘not to be missed’ opportunity. Nature Trust-FEE Malta mobilised its members to produce a Children’s Version of the Executive Summary of the National Strategy for the Environment 2050 which was also distributed to schools participating in EkoSkola for feedback.

In a meeting held at the Environment and Resources Authority this morning, EkoSkola students were met by ERA officials and Hon. Minister Miriam Dalli – Minister for Environment, Energy and Enterprise. The students presented a copy of the Children’s version of Malta’s National Strategy for 2050 and also a document with a selection of suggestions from over 675 recommendations that students participating in EkoSkola have presented to policy makers over the years organised on the basis of the Strategic Goals of the National Strategy for the Environment 2050 Consultation Document.

These suggestions were agreed and submitted by 1862 students (from 348 schools) during 16 sessions of the EkoSkola Young People’s Summit spanning from 2009 till 2022.

Consortium of EkoSkola Schools on an ERASMUS+ Project to Fight Marine Litter

A group of nine Eco-Schools: Gozo College Rabat Primary,  Gozo College Qala Primary, Gozo College San Lawrenz Primary, Gozo College Sannat Primary, Gozo College Secondary School, Gozo College Xewkija Primary,  Laura Vicuna School Għasri, St Francis School Victoria and St Theresa School Kercem joined forces and formed a consortium to set up a project to raise awareness about Marine Litter and the damage done by litter and debris in the sea.

The consortium was set up in 2020 and from there all schools started collaborating and basing their action plan on plastic waste and the marine environment.   Though COVID19 had it’s toll on the project which had to be extended,  it did not lower spirits.  During the 1st week of May, thanks to ERASMUS+ funds,  19 educators went for a week long intensive training on Education about Marine Litter and the EU Directive on Single Use Plastics organised by MEdIES in Athens, Greece.  More details can be found here.  This training is highly recommended.  Trainers are very experienced and adapt the content to the age groups and special requirements of the students under the care of the educators attending.

Follow the respective schools Facebook pages and the EkoSkola Malta Facebook page to know what will follow.  Lots of events and activities thought up and planned during the training and in the ensuing meetings will follow soon and in the first semester of next school year!  Any school wishing to join in the venture is welcome to contact the EkoSkola team or one of the participating schools.  Educational resources are also available to be shared.