Our future is up to us

"<< Background >>The project ""Our future is up to us"" was mainly directed to tool up young students with new knowledge, and improve their skills, but first of all to make them aware that they can change their future using both their creativity and vocational skills enriched with the experience gained during the project. We applied for this project because we recognized an urgent need to foster environmental awareness and develop green skills among our students. With the increasing occurrence of unusual climate conditions—such as winters with a lack of snow, severe storms, floods, and prolonged dry spells—it has become clear that educating the next generation on sustainability and eco-friendly practices is essential.We aimed to combine awareness of climate issues with practical vocational training that not only enhances eco-friendly competencies but also improves social skills, which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mainly to enable students to enter the workforce as green-skilled professionals who can contribute to a climate-neutral, digitally transformed Europe by applying creativity, ingenuity, and environmental responsibility in their future careers. Also to promote continuous professional development for teachers.<< Objectives >>We wanted to achieve the following tasks within our project :- to enhance students’ awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in relation to their professional field- to promote the idea of circular economy- to encourage students to be actively implicated in ecological activities by bringing solutions to environmental issues using their vocational skills- to raise environmental awareness and sensitivity in public- to engage students in developing their personal responsibility within global eco-friendly citizenship and to perceivethemselves as eco-friendly future employees- promote respect for the environment and develop an understanding of the importance of making sustainable choices not only at home but also at a workplace- create a green-skilled workforce qualified for green jobs- increase involvement in environmental activities- help students develop critical and global thinking- improve communication skills among students of different cultural backgrounds- encourage students in using foreign languages in conversation with emphasis on English, also use vocational English- provide teachers with new knowledge, and tools and learn from their partners' experience - good practice<< Implementation >>We started our project with a Kick off meeting of the partners. During the meeting we clarified our tasks, including the feedback from NA. Our next step was visits to local sustainable companies. We visited several firms ( at least 3 in each country) learnt about pro-ecological solutions, innovative ideas and prepared presentations about the companies. Next task was a transnational meeting in Budapest focused on green energy sources preceded by visits to green energy plants in each country. Circular economy was the core topic of our next transnational meeting in Greece where we got familiar with the idea and we implemented it into practice. Final conference which took place in Poland allowed us to summarise what we have gained and used vocational skills during the workshops. Between the major task we had several online meeting, create and voted between all the partners the project logo https://erasmus.zse.edu.pl/future_projekt/pages/logo/ and the most eco friendly company https://erasmus.zse.edu.pl/future_projekt/pages/local-sustainable-companies/. We have also established a Circular corner in each of the school to promote the idea of our project. << Results >>The concrete outputs and results of our project include a variety of digital and practical resources aimed at promoting sustainability and eco-consciousness among young people ready to enter the job market. We created a project website https://erasmus.zse.edu.pl/future_projekt/, where all key materials and updates were shared. Participants actively contributed by writing blog posts and managing the project fan page ensuring engagement and dissemination of project activities.To enhance environmental awareness in schools, we established Circular Corners, dedicated spaces for sustainability education. Additionally, we developed a guidebook titled ""Building a Green Workforce: A Guide for Eco-Conscious Employees"", providing valuable insights into green careers and sustainable workplace practices. Other tangible outputs include multimedia presentations showcasing eco-friendly companies and initiatives, as well as a mini wind power plant, which served as a hands-on learning tool for students interested in renewable energy.Finally, as a continuation of our efforts, we submitted a new KA210 project application, aiming to further expand our impact and initiatives in the field of sustainability and environmental education."