Environmental education for children during the war

When the Emergency Appeal team discussed the inclusion of this topic in our work with children, the reaction was mixed. On the one hand, yes, in peacetime, building good environmental habits is an extremely important topic that does not require additional advocacy. However, there is a war going on and the entire ecosystem of our country is suffering from the consequences of hostilities. Is it time to discuss with children the need to sort garbage, to raise the issue of reducing the use of plastic in everyday life? To cultivate eco-habits?

One of the biggest challenges of our time is the devaluation of not only our fears, worries, pain, but also our dreams and thoughts about tomorrow. However, we forget that tomorrow will come anyway. But what it will be like, what it will meet us with, depends only on what we do for it today.

To help develop children's love for their native land through the skills of caring for it - following this idea, we held a workshop on "Environmental Education for Children and Preschoolers" for our local coordinators.

The main topics of this event, which took place in early November, were how not to talk to children about environmental protection during the war, how to tell them about the main environmental challenges caused by the war, and how to encourage children to become eco-activists.

And our real inspiration as an organiser was the fact that the very next week, events for children took place in different centres - local coordinators in Chernihiv, Uman, Kharkiv and Kamianske held thematic meetings with young beneficiaries.

For our coordinators, combining a lecture, a masterclass and an active playtime is not only easy, but very easy. No wonder children love to attend group classes in the centres. So serious conversations about the importance of caring for the environment were interspersed with games, and educational video content was accompanied by active work on creating an unforgettable eco-souvenir with their own hands.

In general, when thinking about the relevance of environmental education in the current environment, we took into account the following point. Adherence to environmental principles requires demonstrating restraint and self-discipline on a daily basis. We have to admit that being conscious of our own habits and making daily choices with thought is an extremely healthy approach to life. Thus, by cultivating eco-habits, the child's inner world is further developed.

And this is one of our main tasks - despite the war, to create not only comforting childhood places, but also to nurture and help to develop the child's mind, soul and heart.