THEenvironmental education it is the training of citizens in environmental matters as an educational response to the current environmental crisis, and with the ultimate goal of protecting and preserving the environment.
In 2001, Barcelona City Council within the framework of "Citizen commitment for the Sustainability of Barcelona", created the + Sustainable Schools Program of which the Aspace Catalunya Special Education School forms part.
The purpose of this program is to contribute to sustainability from the educational field and recognize schools as agents of change in the city. The mission of the Escoles +Sostenibles program is to offer accompaniment and support to educational centers that have the will to make changes with the horizon of adopting a comprehensive center approach to transform the educational institution, and face the challenges of sustainability and the climate emergency.
The project that started from the school in 2002, has been evolving so that it has been based on the Transversal Axis of Environmental Education, which has to do with the sustainability of the environment, has gradually incorporated more initiatives, student groups, more professionals and families, and services from the Aspace Catalunya Foundation.
The current project has different sides:
- Reduction of the amount of waste i selective collection of paper and cardboard, plastic packaging and organic matter (composting).
- Iron the greener the school planting in different cultivation tables and containers.
- El network work.
The PVME is counted (Point Verd Mobile School) that visits the school three times throughout the course, and selectively collects special waste that, due to its composition, cannot be thrown into the usual containers on the street. It has been possible to verify the large amount of waste that is generated, and all professionals are aware of the importance of minimizing this amount as much as possible.
On the other hand, a the school composts by collecting the remains of organic matter from breakfast and lunch with the aim of being able to get compost from the gardens. In order to generate a better quality of the compost, sometimes, the participation of families and professionals is requested.
Currently, there are a couple of composters, and one of the two opens in early fall or spring.
From the Aspace Catalonia Foundation it is strongly believed that this project cannot be one setting environmental objectives and actions which are organized punctually, and which only influence some areas or the dynamics and learning of some groups of students. It is considered that the principles of respect for sustainability must be reflected in the Center Educational Project and they must be part of the institutional fabric, that is to say, they must be present in all school activities, as well as in all the services of the Foundation and in the resource management policy.
