NGEnvironment - Foster European Active Citizenship and Sustainability Through Ecological Thinking by NGOs in secondary schools

NGEnvironment is a 36-month European adult education project that is being implemented as a 'Strategic Partnership for adult education' as part of the EU's ERASMUS+ program in the key action 'Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices'.

The project focuses on improving the relevant and high-level basic and cross-sectional skills of EU citizens in the context of adult education and from the perspective of lifelong learning. It empowers new leaders for change engagement. In addition, the project contributes to improving entrepreneurial, foreign language and digital skills, as well as promoting employability. Furthermore, socio-educational and professional development are supported through measures implemented by non-governmental organizations.

NGEnvironment aims to support various types of NGOs (non-governmental organizations – NROs – non-governmental organizations), in particular those with an environmental mandate, that aim to solve such problems while promoting social cohesion (promoting inclusion, integration, alleviating poverty, combating exclusion and marginalization).

By improving the capacity of NGO leaders, NGEnvironment helps to improve and expand the range of high-quality learning opportunities tailored to the needs of low-skilled adults, so that literacy and entrepreneurship skills are acquired and recognition is also sought.

NGEnvironment is specifically tailored to adult target groups, promoting social cohesion and talent, taking into account their specific needs and concerns. This is done through novel learning approaches and a holistic, participatory, motivational, pedagogical process that ultimately leads to the development of a wide range of key competencies with a long-term impact on European active citizenship and sustainability.

Social inclusion and social integration will be achieved when NGEnvironment trains new NGO leaders to provide equal learning opportunities for all, regardless of gender, religion, cultural background, age, etc. The project promotes social integration by creating jobs for people who are socially segregated or under-qualified.

The primary target groups of the NGEnvironment project can be divided into three categories:

1) adult citizens aspiring to become NGO leaders/entrepreneurs,

2) existing NGO employees who, with regard to lifelong learning, will receive advanced learning opportunities, and

3) existing NGO employees who are willing to share their expertise and support the new leaders by participating in the immersion process.

A participatory society can only function if citizens are well informed, actively engage in civic activities and are equipped with the skills of advocacy, debate, compromise and leadership.

The NGEnvironment project offers clear and tangible benefits for all stakeholders:

1. improving basic leadership skills,

2. promoting citizenship and NGO action,

3. supporting green and social action with proven benefits for the environment, the region and local communities, and

4. promoting social cohesion, integration and inclusion

with benefits and more opportunities for all, is a win-win for all stakeholders.

Partners:

- University of Paderborn, Chair of Business Education II, Germany

(coordinator, university partner, evaluation, dissemination and didactics partner)

- Rightchallenge – Associaҫáo, Portugal

(educational and media partner)

- EPEK – Society for Envirponmental Eduction of Korinthia, Greece

(NGO partner)

- Across Limits Ltd., Malta

(technical partner)

- Future in Perspective Limited, Ireland

(dissemination and media design partner)

- Permacultura Cantabria, Asociación cultural y medioambiental Permacultura Cantabria, Spain

(implementation partner, educational partner)

- SINERGIE Soc. Cons. a r.l., Singergie Sicietà Consortile a Responsabilità Limitata, Italy

(implementation partner, educational partner)

- Grupul Pentru Integrare Europeana Romania, Romania

(NGO partner)