Centrul Școlar pentru Educație Incluzivă ”Sf. Vasile”

Clean water guardians

Craiova, Romania

3rd FUNDING CALL

Freshwater ecosystems are vital for biodiversity, human well-being, and environmental sustainability. Yet, they face growing threats from pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction. To address these challenges, a groundbreaking school project is empowering students with special educational needs (SEN) to become active protectors of local water ecosystems. This initiative, spanning Dolj and Gorj counties in Romania, combines hands-on environmental education with community engagement, ensuring that every student, regardless of learning ability, can play a role in conservation.

Objectives

The project’s central goal is to protect and conserve the Jiu River and its tributaries while fostering a deeper understanding of freshwater ecosystems among students. By engaging in fieldwork, research, and awareness campaigns, participants will gain both scientific knowledge and practical skills.

The initiative is built around four key objectives:

• Training and collaboration: Establishing and educating four support groups (one per school) consisting of 30 SEN students, 15 teachers, and 30 students from partner schools through a 20-hour expert-led environmental education course.
• Field-based conservation activities: Enhancing awareness and conservation skills among 120 students through site visits to protected areas along the Jiu River’s lower course, the Tismana River Valley, and the Sohodol Valley.
• Developing accessible learning materials: Creating seven tailored teaching resources, including sensory-based outdoor lessons, interactive posters, and an e-book, to support SEN students in environmental learning.
• Community engagement: Conducting student-led awareness campaigns that will reach at least 400 local community members, promoting the importance of protecting freshwater ecosystems.

By blending education, hands-on conservation, and public awareness, this project aims to create a long-lasting impact, not only for the students involved but for the entire region.

Activities and Collaborations

The project is structured around four core activities, ensuring that students gain both theoretical knowledge and practical conservation experience.

1. Formation and Training of Support Groups

Students and teachers will undergo a 20-hour training program on river ecosystems, led by environmental experts. The training will culminate in four collaborative river monitoring activities, allowing students to apply their learning in real-world settings.

2. Field Study Visits for Conservation

Students will participate in structured visits to conservation areas, conducting ecosystem mapping, biodiversity assessments, and practical conservation tasks such as water quality testing and habitat restoration. These experiences will help them understand the ecological importance of their local waterways.

3. Development of Adapted Teaching Materials

To ensure inclusivity, educators will create specialized resources that cater to different learning needs. These materials will be tested during outdoor sessions at river locations, ensuring their effectiveness in real-world learning environments.

4. Community Engagement and Awareness Campaigns

Students will take on leadership roles in environmental advocacy by organizing awareness campaigns. These campaigns will involve workshops, presentations, and interactive sessions, engaging at least 400 community members in discussions about freshwater conservation.

Outputs: Creating Lasting Educational and Environmental Resources

The project will generate a variety of educational materials and conservation resources, all designed to be accessible and adaptable for other schools working with SEN students. Key outputs include:

• Educational resources:
  
  • Four sensory-based outdoor lesson plans for SEN students, focusing on river ecosystems.
  • Two interactive posters showcasing local aquatic biodiversity and conservation practices.
  • One e-book documenting project activities, available in Romanian and English.
    
• Digital tools and media:
  
  • A collection of video tutorials demonstrating hands-on conservation activities, published on Vimeo.
  • A digital photo diary documenting the project’s progress and student participation.
  • Assessment tools adapted for SEN students to evaluate their learning.
    
• Student-created materials:
  
  • Environmental awareness materials produced by students for their community campaigns.

All resources will be freely available, adaptable for different contexts, and licensed for educational use, ensuring that other schools can replicate and benefit from this project.

Impact: Fostering Environmental Stewardship and Inclusion

This project goes beyond teaching students about water ecosystems—it empowers them to take action. By participating in research, conservation work, and community outreach, students will develop essential skills in environmental science, teamwork, and civic engagement.

The inclusion of SEN students ensures that every learner, regardless of ability, can contribute to environmental protection. By providing adapted learning materials and experiential education, the project offers an inclusive model that other schools can follow.

Through hands-on learning, collaboration with experts, and active community engagement, the project will leave a lasting impact on students, educators, and local residents. By sharing its resources and findings, it also has the potential to inspire similar initiatives in other regions.