Programme/activity name

Lead organisation

Living spaces, weaving networks

Natur del Siglo XXI

Country Spain

Period 2015 – present

Objective

To use a working tool in the educational institution that helps to improve the participation and commitment of children, teachers and families in the problems that affect their immediate environment and to create community links with different members of society, in this case our elders.

To help the elderly to feel useful and thus improve their health and quality of life.

Programme, activities, events

The program of activities requires setting up a school or community garden for: Getting started in farming, biotic and abiotic factors, improve the curricular content and environmental values transmitted in school, develop curricular materials and didactic units around the theme of the vegetable garden, encourage attitudes related to the acquisition of values, which motivate us and help us to be sensitive to sustainability, acquire techniques that favour cooperative and interdisciplinary work in decision-making and problem-solving related to sustainability, and value personal and group effort and perseverance as a means of achieving the proposed objectives. In order to recruit the groups, we work with the neighbourhood and municipal senior citizens’ centres, primary and secondary schools, the administration and the association of mothers and fathers of students (AMPA).

Stakeholders and roles

The program involves the elderly, children and young people. Stakeholders are:

- Educational institution

- Retirement homes, old people’s homes

- Youth centres

- Association of mothers and fathers of students (AMPA)

- Local government

- Neighbourhood organisations, associations

- Small producers and vendors in the neighbourhood

Barriers

• Opposition from the school to carry out this type of activity;

• Opposition by the school to bringing the school or facilities closer to the neighbourhood;

• Not finding older volunteers willing to participate in this type of activity;

• Problems with organising the whole program;

• Problems with budget line expenditure;

• Problems with garden location and space;

• Opening hour management problems.

Outcomes

The service-learning methodology is used, a methodology aimed at the active participation and social mobilisation of the population, combining experience and service to the community. The aim is to train individuals committed to learning to participate and learn to live together and use their environment.

This type of methodology aims to generate participatory and supportive learning in the community, offering students the opportunity to come into contact with reality and apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom. At the same time, the elders share experiences and take part in the learning process.

The components in this type of methodology are as follows:

• Protagonism of the voice of the pupil and of the adult;

• Attention to a real need arising from the community;

• Connection to learning objectives;

• Transfer of learning;

• Implementation of a service project;

• Reflection;

• Solidarity service to the community.

Principles for behaviour change

Tips & tricks

Other information https://www.naturdelsigloxxi.com/acciones/

The service-learning methodology is used, a methodology aimed at the active participation and social mobilisation of the population, combining experience and service to the community.

Strong leadership from an organisation with experience and a good number of external volunteers to mobilize and lead the activities.

Source https://www.naturdelsigloxxi.com