Ibrahim Banushi

Lipjan, Kosovo

4th FUNDING CALL

Objectives

At Shkolla “Ibrahim Banushi,” a new initiative called the Young Water Detectives project has been launched. This three-month, student-led program aims to empower children to explore and improve water usage within their school and local community. Approximately 100 students will participate directly in the project, with the entire school of 309 students engaged through awareness activities.

The core of the Young Water Detectives project is to help students understand why saving water matters and how they can make a difference. The project’s objectives are centered on fostering a sense of responsibility and curiosity. Students will learn how to find problems, think of solutions, and share what they discover with others. Through teamwork, hands-on learning, and a field trip to the Drenica River, the project aims to deepen students’ connection to nature and the concept of environmental protection. The project focuses on the topic of ‘Protected Waters’ by encouraging students to collect data on water usage and disseminate information about its importance. It also seeks to enhance students’ knowledge of water-saving and harvesting techniques through engaging games. This initiative will strengthen the school’s science education, particularly in the area of “ecology and the environment,” which is currently underrepresented in the curriculum.

Activities & Collaborations

The project is structured around two main activities: 

The Water Audit Mission and a Field Visit to the Drenica River.

• The Water Audit Mission is a student-driven effort that runs over three months.
  • In the first two months, materials will be prepared, and teachers and student groups will be trained on how to conduct simple water audits in collaboration with the partner organization, EcoZ.
  • In the third month, students will begin identifying leaks, checking water habits, and logging water usage at school and in nearby homes.
  • This data will then be used to create posters for an awareness campaign in the school corridors, which will take place in the fourth month.
  • The mission will culminate in a final public event in the fifth month, where students will present their work and findings to the school and wider community.
  • The school’s Eco Club, which has 15 active student members, will be a key collaborator throughout this process.
• The second major activity is a Field Visit to the Drenica River in the fifth month.
  • Here, EcoZ experts will lead students through an interactive session on biodiversity and water conservation.
  • The visit will be a walking trip from the school to eliminate the need for vehicles and reduce carbon emissions.
  • This activity will involve 40 students, 4 teachers, and 2 EcoZ educators.

Expected Outputs & Impact

The Young Water Detectives project will produce several tangible outputs that will have a lasting impact.

• Printed posters and educational materials in both English and Albanian.
• Illustrated student guides on how to audit water usage.
• A final digital report with results and photos.
• A short video clip from the Drenica River visit.

These outputs will be shared on the school’s Facebook page and the EcoZ page. The posters will be digitized for sharing via QR codes. The project will directly involve 100 students, and the entire school of 309 students will be engaged through awareness activities. Ten teachers will be involved. The project is inclusive of students from rural and economically limited backgrounds, with all participation being free of charge and materials provided by the project. The results of the project will be integrated into the school curriculum, specifically in science, geography, and civic education. The materials, such as posters, audit tools, and data charts, will be reused in future

Eco Club activities, ensuring that the project’s legacy continues to benefit students for years to come.

The school is confident that this project will not only teach students valuable lessons but also foster a culture of environmental responsibility and teamwork within the rural community.