What we built
It took each Learning Venture between four and nine months from setting their intent to the first interactions with learners. Speed is not a success factor in this context, much depended on partners and the wider context (for example school term dates could be a factor). Within this relatively short period all projects had to build agendas, relationships and partnerships as well as learning and activity programmes.
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Its notable that while sharing
- the approaches and methods detailed in the Learning Framework,
- the development process documented in this Field Guide,
- target outcomes centred on climate action knowledge and skills, and
- a rough template for the Learning Venture itself
Each Learning Venture is materially different, as can be clearly seen on pages 23-25. The range of activities vary widely, including challenges, competitions, events, books and even construction projects, to the degree that it’s questionable if they might be seen as having anything to do with each other as projects. This is in fact part of the intent of the LEVERS project, that each initiative should be tailored to their local context, partners and available resources.
Nine projects in practice
Belgium
The Belgian Learning Venture aims to mitigate the urban heat island effect in Brussels, focusing on vulnerable communities in dense areas. They help communities develop strategies using intergenerational learning and citizen science to make neighbourhoods more liveable during heat waves.
Focus Themes
Nature of activity
Audience/ community engaged
Notable tools used
Cyprus
The Cyprus Learning Venture trains young climate activists and adult learners to become green entrepreneurs. Their mission is to address the climate crisis through sustainable business solutions, promoting social equity, economic growth, and the creation of green jobs.
Focus Themes
Nature of activity
Audience/ community engaged
Notable tools used
Greece
The Greek Learning Venture focuses on the transformation of schools into carbon-neutral and sustainable ecosystems across Greece. This is achieved through a bottom-up approach, driven by youth activism and involving students, educators, and local communities in climate justice actions.
Focus Themes
Nature of activity
Audience/ community engaged
Notable tools used
Ireland
The Irish Learning Venture has two main focuses: firstly, in Westport, a town in the west of Ireland, it involves community members and students in cultivating a mini food forest to showcase the potential for edible landscapes to enhance food security, biodiversity, and land use in rural towns. Secondly, through research in the education sector, it aims to co-create evidence-based recommendations for cross-sectoral partnerships and whole-school approaches to Education for Sustainable Development.
Focus Themes
Nature of activity
Audience/ community engaged
Notable tools used
Portugal
The Portuguese Learning Venture, based in the Azores, aims to increase awareness and understanding of the correlation between climate change and biodiversity loss. They use science education, a collaborative and transdisciplinary approach, and focus on behavioural change to promote biodiversity preservation.
Focus Themes
Nature of activity
Audience/ community engaged
Notable tools used
Serbia
The Serbian Learning Venture works to raise awareness about the significance of urban pollinators, including bees, through education at various levels. Their activities aim to educate communities on the importance of urban beekeeping and develop policy recommendations to support urban pollinator environments.
Focus Themes
Nature of activity
Audience/ community engaged
Notable tools used
Slovenia
The Slovenian Learning Venture seeks to reimagine food sustainability and related climate change issues through art and innovation. They engage youth and experts to conceive and execute climate actions, actively integrating their findings into school curricula to empower young minds for a more sustainable future.
Focus Themes
Nature of activity
Audience/ community engaged
Notable tools used
Switzerland
The Swiss Learning Venture in Geneva focuses on freshwater resources and climate change, aiming to raise awareness about issues like melting glaciers. They collaborate with various stakeholders to understand the complexity, identify actions, and pilot frugal technological solutions developed by schools in an open schooling setting.
Focus Themes
Nature of activity
Audience/ community engaged
Notable tools used
Switzerland
The UK Learning Venture aims to accelerate the transformation of material production and consumption by fostering transformative green skills in industry. They provide hands-on, collaborative learning experiences in real-world manufacturing environments to equip individuals for a sustainable future.