Last updated: October 2021
The "Oasis for Children" project, implemented in Zagreb, is based on the experience of implementing non-institutional education in 5 primary schools in Zagreb. The main objective of the project is to promote the principles of healthy lifestyles, environmental protection, sustainable development and volunteering among pupils of partner primary schools. Throughout the year, students will be educated outdoors in school gardens, on environmental protection, sustainable development, healthy lifestyles and volunteerism. Students will also work on the garden for the opportunity of practising the knowledge gained from the regular education system. Every academic year, new primary schools are added to the project with the increased popularity of the school gardens [Ref 1]
Oasis for Children (2018)
Photographer: Jasmina Roca (Udruga O.A.ZA.), retrieved 08/29/2018 from Patrycja Pieniążek
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Soil quality improvement
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: agriculture
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
According to OAZA's website, their goals for this project are to [Ref 2]:
- teach children about healthy ways of life, environmental protection, and sustainable development;
- teach the children to live in accordance with nature, to connect with the botanical world;
- encourage the adoption of healthy habits and inducing these habits in society starting with parents, friends.
Implementation activities
The project activities include all key people on the implementation of the project: pupils, teachers, parents and the local community where methods are adapted based on each group. The main activities of this project consist of workshops for primary school students dealing with issues of environmental protection, healthy lifestyles, and sustainable development and volunteering, and encourages the active participation of students from the 1st to 8th grade. Methods include group work, discussion, deliberate games, demonstration by example, practical work, questions and answers, participation and peer learning, presentations, etc. [Ref 1]
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
- Other
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Oasis for Children project is being implemented by the NGO OAZA. It was launched with the aim of providing programs for young people and creates a supportive environment for responsible development young people who will be prominent drivers of sustainable development society [Ref 2]. Additionally, 12 international volunteers of the European Volunteer Service will spend two months working every day in schools and participate in the implementation of workshops with children in partnerships schools. The volunteers, with the support of the project manager, will devise individual workshops, plan them, spend and eventually evaluate with children, school staff and Contractor [1]. Partner schools so far include the Primary School Davorin Trstenjak, Dobriša Cesarić, Marin Držić, Zapruđe [Ref 2]. The project is being funded by the Ministry of Science and Education, and the Office for Agriculture and Forestry of the City of Zagreb [Ref 2].
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The National Youth Program 2014-2017 highlights informal education through non-governmental organizations' programs because they are focused on life-long themes are used active and collaborative learning methods and turn to young people. The project is also a complementary module to Living Healthy from the Handbook Health education, because it involves education about healthy lifestyle, healthy nutrition and exercises. It is also fully in line with Civic Education and Education through the ecological dimension of civic competence in the context of class, school and local community. It is also approved with the Sustainable Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia, where one of the prerequisites for further development is a knowledge-based society and education for sustainable development that needs implemented at three levels: 1) through formal education in teaching institutions; 2) outside the usual educational institutions, and 3) through the media. [Ref 1])
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved soil quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Other
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved mental health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
[1] Application Form for the Association Project to the Competition for Assignment of Associated Assets to Association Projects in Outlook for Institutional Education and Education of Children and Young People in School Year 2018/2019, Form Code 26164 [translated]. (2018). OASIS. - Sustainable Alternative Leader.
[2] oazatest1. (2017). Urban School Gardens - Challenges and Opportunities. retrieved from Source link. Accessed on 21st July 2020.
[3] Oasis for kids (no date) OAZA. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 21st July, 2020.
[2] oazatest1. (2017). Urban School Gardens - Challenges and Opportunities. retrieved from Source link. Accessed on 21st July 2020.
[3] Oasis for kids (no date) OAZA. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 21st July, 2020.
Oasis for Children (2018)
Photographer: Jasmina Roca (Udruga O.A.ZA.), retrieved 08/29/2018 from Patrycja Pieniążek