The EcoCoWaLa – Connecting Water and Land project brings together three associations committed to environmental protection and youth awareness through an innovative approach, that of transformative education. Before discussing the progress of the project.
As for the long-term goals of our EcoCoWaLa project, the main objective is to develop innovative educational methods to raise awareness among young people about the protection of river ecosystems and biodiversity. We aim not only to make the importance of these ecosystems understood but also to encourage a change in behavior, promoting sustainable and conscious actions. The project is mainly aimed at young people, involving individuals aged 12 to 30, and aims to develop an educational manual that can be used to share best practices and educational methods developed during the project. This manual will be a fundamental tool to ensure that the results of EcoCoWaLa can be replicated in other contexts, thus contributing to greater environmental awareness on an international level. We firmly believe that young people can be true agents of change, capable of leading us toward a more sustainable future.
Regarding the meeting that just took place in Italy, which concludes with this conference, the third phase of the project represents putting into practice the activities of monitoring river ecosystems and observing the relationship between younger generations and nature. The Italian Group of Friends of Nature will lead these actions, involving young people in data collection, particularly in analyzing the health of rivers. Another fundamental aspect of the meeting is collaboration with local communities and institutions, an important factor in promoting legislation more oriented towards the protection of river ecosystems and in connecting young people more closely with the territory.We went into contact with experts from regional NGOs and networks,specialised in environmental issues around water ecosystems.We also tried different formats of workshops for different age groups of students from local schools. The workshops will be repeated during the school year in order to test und evaluate – as basis for our handbook (which will be the final result of the project). This gathering has been an opportunity to consolidate the work carried out so far and to build together a future where environmental protection is at the center of our actions, thanks to the direct involvement of young people and local communities. During the EcoCoWaLa project, we organized a series of activities in Ledro and Saviore dell’Adamello, aimed at raising awareness among participants on environmental sustainability and the protection of river ecosystems.
In Ledro, we focused on the importance of cooperation and the connection between humans and nature. Participants had the opportunity to reflect on mutual support in nature, observing how species collaborate for the good of the ecosystem. We also addressed these topics with contributions from local experts and organizations such as the Water Defense Committee, the Volunteer Service Center, a representative from MUSE, UNESCO, and the Trentino Climate Network, which provided important context on how human actions directly affect ecosystems.
One of the most significant moments was the workshop on emotional education: an immersive experience where participants explored nature with a new awareness. During a sensory walk in the forest, we encouraged participants to recognize their emotions and connect them to the surrounding environment. This activity was followed by a creative workshop where participants used natural elements collected during the walk to complete their projects. It was a way to highlight how deeply connected our emotions are with the awareness of social action. We received positive feedback from the students and will continue the work. The EcoCoWaLa project has been included in the school-to-work plan in Val di Ledro, PTCO, and will continue in the coming years.
At Saviore dell’Adamello, the activities had initially planned had to be adjusted due to weather conditions. On the first day, we were hosted by the Liceo Golgi in Breno, and on the second day, we visited the middle school in Niardo. These changes, although unexpected, gave us the opportunity to reflect on how best to interact with the students.
Originally, we had planned outdoor activities, in nature, because the approach of the EcoCoWaLa project, based on transformative education, is not limited to teaching scientific or theoretical knowledge. We strongly believe that environmental protection must come from direct experience. It is through living in nature, observing it up close, and being able to touch it that a deep and lasting bond is created. This is how we can truly inspire respect for the environment in young people.
Despite the change in plans, we were able to experiment with two different approaches over the two days. With the younger students, our initial expectations were low, as we thought engaging them in a classroom setting would be more challenging. Instead, by sitting in a circle and sharing our personal experiences, we managed to create a very open and welcoming atmosphere. The results were surprising and, in many cases, far exceeded our expectations.
In the spring, we will return to meet these same classes, this time to fully immerse ourselves in nature, continuing our journey with outdoor activities. Our goal will always be to bring the students closer to the environment, allowing them to experience firsthand the beauty and importance of nature.
In conclusion, the activities carried out in Ledro and Saviore dell’Adamello were a moment for collecting important data, which we will continue to evaluate over time together with the entire EcoCoWaLa team.We also established important contacts to engaged teachers for further workshops during the testing phase. The practical aspects will then be included in the final book that this Erasmus+ project invites us to create.
I would like to thank all the participants in the conference, everyone who has discussed an important topic for us here, and we want to bid you farewell with the hope that there will be evergrowing awareness and support for the protection of nature. Thank you
Dr. Gelsomina “Stella” Palomba