Back in the Netherlands after 25 years!
Author: Anna Christine Daa Funder
This year’s Eco-Schools National Operators Meeting (NOM) was hosted by Eco-Schools Netherlands at the Green Key awarded bungalow park Landal Reeuwijk from 11-14 November. This NOM was a true homecoming, as the first-ever Eco-Schools meeting was also held in the Netherlands, in the city of The Hague.
The main objectives of the meeting were to celebrate the Eco-Schools 25th Anniversary through campaign ceremonies, look at strategic planning for 2020-2024, strengthen Eco-Schools’ impact at a global scale through campaigns and community engagement, networking and capacity building, exploring opportunities within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and gaining a better understanding of the FEE EcoCampus programme, its implementation and potential.
The meeting kicked off in the morning of 12 November with an overview of the achievements of 2019, including an appreciation ceremony of the various campaigns, as well as the launch of the 25th-anniversary publication – Changing Together. This was followed by an incredible and highly inspirational keynote speech by Judy Braus from the North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE).
Possible approaches towards a greater extent of implementation of Environmental Education in tertiary education were presented by Dorothea Strüber (SDSN), Madhavi Joshi (CEE India), Mazlina Sabtu (WWF Malaysia) and Gosia Luszczek (YRE).
Linda van Meersche (MOS+ Belgium), Wouter de Regt (UNESCO), discussed the Techincal and Vocational Education and Training direction, and how UNESCO can help facilitate the implementation of Eco-Schools in these settings with the experience and material available. To further inspire attendees to reflect on the matter, the day ended with a field trip to Aeres University of Applied Sciences, a Dutch vocational and technical school as well as to the neighbouring Wageningen University. At Wageningen University the group of Eco-Schools National Operators was greeted by Professor of Social Learning and Sustainable Development & Environmental & Sustainability Education, Arjen Wals, who is not only an expert in the field but also the son of one of the founders of FEE, Harry Wals. Arjen Wals gave a lecture on rethinking teaching and learning in times of climate change, which was followed by a lecture by Raffaele Vignola, PhD on healthy food and the living environment.
On the second day, Pramod Kumar Sharma and Laura Hickey introduced FEE’s 2020-2024 strategic plan focusing on a Climate Emergency Response, and particularly the themes of Climate Change, Loss of Biodiversity and Pollution. The session included reflections on how to plan for the new FEE Global agenda.
An introduction to Sail Training International, FEE’s newest affiliate member implementing Blue Flag for sail training vessels, took place, to present the ways through which Eco-Schools National Operators and Sail Training can collaborate. The session was followed by workshops on teacher training, circular economy and community engagement.
When the group regathered, the new Agree app, developed by dedicated Eco-Schools teachers in Greece, Sweden, France, Hungary and the Netherlands was launched and celebrated.
Since the global FEE and Eco-Schools network get stronger when the member countries and regions in which they are situated gets stronger, the NOs were divided into six regional groups. A closer regional cooperation is not only encouraged by FEE International but is also an initiative with many member countries welcome and are working on.
The sessions were closed with the launch of the Global Forest Fund by Barry McGonigal, an introduction to the latest FEE campaign Children for Children by Gosia Luszczek. Laura Hickey, member of the FEE Board and responsible for Eco-Schools wrapped up the two-day meeting.
On 14 November, Eco-Schools Netherlands offered the opportunity for workshops on the Litter Less Campaign facilitated by Gosia Luszczek and The Great Plant Hunt facilitated by Barry McGonigal. In parallel, participants could visit a marketplace featuring North, Agree: Digital tools for Eco-Schools, NIKON light-on Small, Moyu, Erasmus+ Hob's Adventure and RISO.
