Faced with the climate change challenges, such as frequent heatwaves, floods and droughts, it is important to educate future generations about nature-based solutions. These solutions not only help adapt to climate change but also improve quality of life, especially in urban areas.
As part of the DesirMED project, Sunce, in collaboration with the Permaculture Dalmatia association, organized four educational workshops in Dobri and Brda elementary schools in Split. The goal of the workshops was to introduce students and their teachers to permaculture principles and raise awareness about the importance of sustainable management of green spaces.
Workshops for elementary School Students in Split
Two workshops were held at Dobri elementary school, at November 25 and 28, 2024. During the first workshop, led by Zoran Vukšić from Permaculture Dalmatia association, a composter for the school garden was created. Students learned composting techniques, including useful tips such as chopping dry materials, which they found particularly interesting. The second workshop, dedicated to an introduction to permaculture, was led by Vedrana Vujičić, also from Permaculture Dalmatia. During this participatory workshop, students were introduced to the basic principles of permaculture design and the importance of collaboration in permaculture.
At Brda elementary school, the workshops – both held at December 9, 2024 – focused on planning new garden areas. Marin Kanajet from the Permaculture Dalmatia gave a lecture on the basic principles of permaculture, in which he presented the ethics of permaculture and the five key elements for designing sustainable gardens. Ivan Mateljan, also from Permaculture Dalmatia, led a workshop on permaculture space analysis, during which students learned how to identify elements in a space and define their functions and interactions.
These workshops are an excellent example of collaboration between civil society organizations and schools with the aim of empowering young people for future ecological challenges through concrete knowledge and practical activities.
Green swap fairs within the Interreg VERA project
In addition to the workshops, Sunce presented the DesirMED project at two Green swap fairs as part of the Interreg VERA project, that aims to preserve biodiversity through the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
The first Green swap fair was held on November 22, 2024, at Braća Radić secondary school in Kaštel Štafilić. Visitors exchanged tools, seeds, plants, and gardening books, and participants also received promotional materials for the DesirMED project made from eco-friendly materials.
The second green swap fair was held on December 3, 2024, in Split, at the final conference of the VERA project. In addition to the exchange of useful materials, the conference brought together experts from Croatia and Italy, providing an opportunity to promote the DesirMED project and its goals.
Announcement of the call for elementary schools
Next year, as part of Earth Day, we plan to organize a call for elementary schools in the Split-Dalmatia County. The main prize will be a new school garden – a space for relaxation, education and adaptation to climate challenges. These gardens will not only be an aesthetic addition to schoolyards but also a practical solution for rainwater absorption, reducing infrastructure strain and raising environmental awareness.
Through the DesirMED project, we continue to promote the use of nature-based solutions, enabling communities to better cope with climate challenges and contribute to nature conservation.
