We all remember the smell of scorching asphalt in the schoolyard as June approached. That heavy, sticky air shimmering above the playground while we waited for the final bell. For children in Split-Dalmatia County, that smell is no longer just a memory. With climate change, it has become a part of everyday life during spring and summer.
In recent years, ground temperatures on urban asphalt surfaces have dangerously approached 40°C. Under such conditions, spending time outdoors becomes increasingly uncomfortable for children, and the need for greener, more pleasant spaces is becoming ever more evident. But what if that same schoolyard, instead of radiating heat, could actually “breathe”?
School principals and kindergarten directors are increasingly looking for ways to adapt their outdoor spaces to climate change and provide children with a higher-quality outdoor environment. Nature-based Solutions (NbS), such as planting trees, greening outdoor areas, creating school gardens, and providing natural shade, are emerging as some of the simplest and most effective approaches. These solutions help bring back a childhood that is lived outdoors.
To encourage exactly these kinds of changes, Sunce has once again launched the DesirMED call for applications for primary and secondary schools, as well as kindergartens, across Split-Dalmatia County.
What is the goal of the DesirMED call?
The goal is to transform the outdoor spaces of schools and kindergartens through nature-based solutions. This means creating outdoor classrooms that reduce urban heat island effects, absorb excess rainwater, and provide children with healthier outdoor environments. Places where learning happens under the shade of trees, and play takes place in spaces that cool rather than overheat.
“Satellite measurements show that land surface temperatures around schools and within schoolyards in Split and its surrounding areas exceed 36°C during the warmer months of the year, creating outdoor spaces that are becoming increasingly unsafe and uncomfortable for children. Greening these spaces is essential to ensure they once again become places of play, safety, and joy.”, said Dr. Samanta Bačić from Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy, University of Split.
The call provides educational institutions with an opportunity to transform their school and kindergarten grounds into greener, more comfortable, and climate-resilient spaces for learning, play, and recreation, supported by both financial resources and expert guidance.
The total prize fund amounts to €12,000, and projects will be evaluated based on the quality of their proposals, innovation, and implementation of sustainable solutions. The number of selected projects will depend on the assessment of the expert jury.
“Through this call, we want to encourage schools and kindergartens to work together with children and young people to design spaces that are not only more attractive and functional but also more resilient to the impacts of climate change. When a child plants flowers in a garden or takes part in creating a school garden, they are not just learning about the environment—they are experiencing it. And that experience stays with them for life.”, said Margita Radman, Head of the Education and Information Department at Sunce.
Gardens that turned from ideas into reality
The strong interest in projects like these was already evident in last year’s DesirMED call, which received a number of creative proposals from schools across Split-Dalmatia County.
First place was awarded to Kamešnica Primary School in Otok, whose winning concept will soon be fully implemented. Second place went to Dobri Primary School in Split, where the planned works have already been completed.
“What excites us most is seeing the ideas created by children and teachers become real spaces where children can play, learn, and grow. That may be the most rewarding part of this entire process. These spaces transform not only schools but also the childhoods of our children.”
Radman concluded.
Applications for the new DesirMED call are open to primary and secondary schools, as well as kindergartens, from Split-Dalmatia County. The application deadline is 31 May 2026, and implementation of the selected projects is planned to begin in September 2026.
“We invite all primary and secondary schools and kindergartens in Split-Dalmatia County to take this opportunity. Do not allow your schoolyard to remain a scorching space in your children’s childhood memories. Let it become a place where they can breathe, learn, and grow.”, said Maja Jurić, Project Manager at Sunce.
More information about the call and application forms are available via the application LINK.
