Empowering Future Green Leaders: The Climate Changemakers Warriors Mentoring Programme

As part of Work Package 4, the Climate Changemakers Warriors Mentoring Programme, three schools in Sweden, Turkey, and Portugal launched a mini mentor camp aimed at empowering children as environmental agents. This initiative fosters collaboration between older students and younger peers, promoting a green changemakers community.

During 2024, Ebba Brahe School in Sweden, Ahmet Baldoktu Ilkokulu in Turkey, and Escolas de Loureiro in Portugal successfully implemented the program. Teachers introduced the project, encouraging students to apply as mentors by explaining the goals of the All Aboard project. They highlighted the responsibilities of being a mentor and the importance of implementing seven activities or mini-projects with the help of their peers.

Children interested in becoming mentors were asked to write invitation letters explaining why they should be selected. Based on these letters, teachers chose eight mentors from each school, totaling 24 mentors across the three schools. Before starting the activities, the mentors were introduced to the Methodological Approach Framework (MAF) and the Gamebox (Gamified e-learning plataform), which provided structured guidance for the projects.

The twenty-one activities, designed to engage both mentors and their peers, were implemented throughout 2024, involving a total of 240 children. These activities included recycling clothes, organizing flea markets, managing waste, using plant waste as compost, creating crafts from recycled materials, and picking up trash in nature. These hands-on projects were carried out during a two-day event under the supervision of four teachers, who ensured that the activities were educational and impactful.

The Behavioural Assessment Model (BAM), supported by Global Playground Stockholm, Mentortec, and Innovation Frontiers, aimed to analyze and evaluate the impact of these activities on children’s behaviors and attitudes in their personal and social lives. This innovative approach used various methods, including interviews, direct supervision, self-observation, and a child behavior checklist, to assess and enhance children’s behaviors.

The report on BAM highlights its objectives, methodology, and observed impact on children’s behaviors and attitudes. In all three schools students successfully fostered environmental awareness and sustainable behaviors. The integration of environmental education into the curriculum and the active participation of students in sustainability initiatives led to significant improvements in their cognitive, emotional, and social skills. The active participation and initiative shown by students, along with their positive engagement, indicate a strong foundation for future sustainability efforts.

Overall, the Climate Changemakers Warriors Mentoring Programme has made significant strides in empowering children to become environmental agents and fostering a community of green changemakers. These initiatives have not only enhanced students’ environmental awareness but also developed their cognitive, emotional, and social skills, preparing them to be future leaders in sustainability.

For more information, please contact Global Playground Stockholm via email: info@globalplaygroundstockholm.com or globalplaygroundsthlm@gmail.com.