What is “Europe for Future!”

CONTEXT/BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT:
According to the generally accepted definition, sustainable development is defined as development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” According to the report published by the World Environment and Development Commission, sustainable development has been expressed as “the process of change where consumption of resources, investment decisions, technological development, and institutional change take place in harmony, and the potential of meeting human needs and desires now and in the future”.

Sustainability and sustainable development concepts are among the most discussed topics of the last few decades in our world where environmental degradation is increasing. The issue of sustainability is at the very center of the energy, economy and environmental triangle, so it is discussed in a wide range from social scientists and naturalists to politicians, environmental organizations, as well as governments.

Providing sustainability means creating a balance between nature and people. It is in our hands to create this balance. So how do we achieve this? There is only one answer to this; we will direct our choices correctly. We will get to know our technology, our climate, our environment, our energies, our natural resources, analyze them and make long-term plans and guide them in a planned way. In other words, we will perceive sustainability as a whole and will be aware of non-renewable energy sources, instead, we will focus on the use of renewable resources.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT:
In this project, we will focus on environmental sustainability, which is one of the branches of sustainable development goals that can be examined in a broad framework. Therefore, our main focus and objectives will be on combating climate change, conscious use of natural resources and preventing pollution. The main objective that we will try to acquire for our students throughout the process is to raise individuals who focus on the quality and quantity of the natural environment, which provides the necessary life support for the survival of human life, which is the precondition for the existence of an economy.

Another objective is to create an environment that promotes multilingualism. Pupils will use English in a natural context outside the classroom and will improve their communication skills in general, along with their language skills. Throughout the project, activities will be organized to enable students to express themselves in English and they will be encouraged by their teachers to remove their psychological barriers to speaking the language. In addition, teachers will participate in activities that contribute to their teaching skills and improve themselves by examining the different practices of the teaching profession in Europe.

NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS:
All of the schools in our project consist of secondary schools with pupils of the same age level. The partnership formed by six different schools from six different countries includes Germany as the coordinator; Turkey, Italy, Croatia, Spain, and Belgium as the participating partners. 125 students will participate in the exchanges, and their age range is 14-17.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES:
Throughout our project, there will be a mobility hosted by each participating partner. These mobilities will start with the Joint Staff Training activity to be held in Turkey. This activity will be a teacher training in which 12 teachers will attend, two teachers from each school. All remaining activities will be short term exchanges of groups of pupils, which will involve students, and will take place with the participation of 5 students and 2 teachers from each school.

METHODOLOGY:
Since the primary goal of our project is to create positive behavioral change in pupils, all activities planned throughout the process will be pupil-centered. Therefore, the basis of student activities will be on “learning by doing”. They will prepare the presentations and discussions with teachers’ guidance. They will work in transnational groups to create an environment to communicate and solve the problems.

RESULTS AND IMPACT:
The pupils will understand and appreciate the value of today, and take action to protect tomorrow and future generations. They will learn about their daily mistakes In terms of sustainability principles and correct them. They will be encouraged by their teachers, administrators, and counselors to be active in problem-solving.

LONG TERM BENEFITS:
The long term benefits can be examined under two main aspects: individuals and institutions. Individuals (pupils, parents, teachers, school staff, etc.) will reform their life according to sustainability principles. The participating institutions will also have a more visible profile both in their cities and in the European dimension. They will also add to their project management skills.