What if every school could become a center of positive change in the community, and every student had the opportunity to actively participate in building a sustainable future? The VolonTERRA project aims to achieve just that – to encourage primary schools to establish school volunteer clubs and recognize the value of volunteering, especially for nature and the environment. As part of this project, over the past two Saturdays, specifically on October 5 and 12, 2024, Sunce organized the first workshops of the VolonTERRA educational program for teachers and staff of primary schools from Split and the surrounding areas. The outcome was more than just an informative event for our participants, employees of primary schools: Filip Lukas Elementary School in Kaštel Stari, Mertojak Elementary School, Žnjan-Pazdigrad Elementary School, Brda Elementary School, Grohote Elementary School on Šolta, Kralj Zvonimir Elementary School in Ninčevići, Dobri Elementary School, and Pujanke Elementary School.
The importance of volunteering and establishing volunteer clubs
At the first workshop, led by Sunce educators Margita Radman and Miranda Šimac, along with Barbara Bischoff from the partner organization Regional Center for Education and Training Hollen in Germany, discussions were held on the importance of volunteering for students and the school, the legal framework in Croatia, and the benefits of a formal volunteer club. Claudia Domel, a representative of the project’s financier, Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, also attended and thanked all the participants for joining the project.
Although many schools are already involved in various volunteer activities, most conduct these activities on an ad hoc basis, without a formal volunteer club. During the first workshop, moderator Duška Milinković, a social pedagogue with years of experience in developing volunteer programs, emphasized the importance of formalizing school volunteer clubs. While ad hoc volunteering is beneficial, formal volunteer clubs provide the structure and continuity that are crucial for developing a volunteer culture within the school.
Without a formal club, volunteering in schools often boils down to occasional actions that depend on individuals or the availability of resources at the time. This creates a situation where students may participate in volunteer activities but do not gain all the benefits that come with formal recognition of their work. By establishing a volunteer club, schools can document and acknowledge students’ volunteer work through volunteer booklets. These booklets can significantly benefit students when applying to higher education institutions or later when seeking their first job. Furthermore, officially documented activities of the volunteer club can be useful when schools apply for projects and other forms of external funding, as well as for the general promotion of the school in a positive light.
– We thought about visibility and the purpose of just ‘popping up everywhere’ and realized that the best promotion is the one that comes from various community collaborations,. – said Zrinka Banić from Brda Elementary School, a workshop participant.
Interactive work towards ideas for the first volunteer club activities
The workshops included group work on topics such as the rights and obligations of volunteer organizers and volunteers. Participants had the opportunity to propose and develop volunteer actions, such as arranging the school yard, cleaning beaches, or helping younger students. These activities provide valuable opportunities for developing teamwork and organizational skills, as well as for better understanding social responsibility.
The interaction among participants proved to be extremely beneficial, and they expressed satisfaction with the exchange of experiences between schools that already have volunteer clubs and those just starting their volunteer journey. The workshops also provided knowledge on the basics of volunteering, ways to start a school volunteer club, managing the necessary administration, and its importance for developing students’ social and civic competencies.
This was just the first of five modules of the educational program. The next module of the VolonTERRA program will focus on social skills, emphasizing their development in school volunteer clubs and how club leaders can cultivate students’ social skills.
VolonTERRA: education for sustainable development and active citizenship
The VolonTERRA project seeks to empower schools to actively promote volunteering for sustainable development. According to the National Curriculum Framework, civic and social competencies are the foundation of society’s development, but their application often remains insufficient due to various factors. The goal of the VolonTERRA educational program is to provide teachers with the necessary tools and skills to integrate sustainable development into school curricula and develop responsible citizens dedicated to the future of the planet.
VolonTERRA is more than just a project; it is an opportunity to create a community of active and responsible young people who will build a better society through volunteer clubs. Join us in promoting sustainable development in schools and take part in initiating volunteer clubs that can bring real change: one volunteer club in a school can be the beginning of transformation in the local community.
