School Botanical Garden of Mediterranean Plants

Big ideas start with small steps. Just such an idea had Lina and Hajdi from the Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development Sunce, in collaboration with three Sunce volunteers – Karla, Vanda and Nera.

By the end of 2021, they will work with students and teachers of the Skalice Elementary School in Split to prepare, implement and realization of a solidarity project called “School Botanical Garden of Mediterranean Plants”, designed as part of the European Solidarity Corps program.
The garden will be arranged according to the principles of permaculture design and will be one of a kind in the city of Split, and it will be located in the outer part of the elementary school Skalice.

The project goal is to raise awareness of students and teachers about the issue of environmental pollution, the importance of solidarity and sustainable development through education and active participation in the construction of the garden. Also, one of the goals is to teach the participants of the project about an alternative way of living in harmony with nature. Our collaborator on the project is the Association Permakultura Dalmacija from Split, which will use its specific knowledge to teach teachers, students and volunteers about the system of garden design guided by the principles of nature.

The idea of ​​the project comes from the need to change the paradigm in the way we build the world, but also the lack of green areas, as well as botanical gardens in the city of Split, especially those of the permaculture concept. The growing process of urbanization, the accelerated pace of life and rapid technological progress results in carelessness in the use of natural resources. It is the construction of a garden of this type that is based on the idea of ​​regeneration and creating a connection between nature and people.

We see the sustainability of the project in students and teachers who will be able to pass on the acquired knowledge to future generations of students upon completion of the project. Volunteers on the project will have the opportunity to be educated on the basic principles of sustainable management of natural resources and waste and permaculture agriculture. In addition to education, volunteers will be involved in the process of building a garden and planting horticulture, and will participate in the construction of a composting room in the school garden. It is this approach that will allow them to learn a lot about their own abilities, teamwork and mutual respect, all with the support of a mentor on the project.

We see the School Botanical Garden of Mediterranean Plants project as a step in raising awareness – not only of students, but also of the local community on issues of sustainable development and solidarity, and as an example of good practice for other schools and other institutions in Split and beyond.

The solidarity project “School Botanical Garden of Mediterranean Plants” is funded by the Agency for Mobility and EU Programs within the EU program of the European Solidarity Corps in the amount of 6,888.00 Euros.

Start of the project: January 11th, 2021
End of the project: January 10th, 2022

Project manager: Lina Vuletić, mag. biol. et oecol. mar.

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