Call to Action for local and national agroecological change promoted by New Ecological Generations
The CHALLENGE - CALL TO ACTION project addresses climate change and anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity loss through educational actions based on participatory observation, talent enhancement and the inescapable relationship between the individual and society.
This website was created with the contribution of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The contents of this site are the sole responsibility of the CHallENGE project partners and do not necessarily represent the views of the Agency.
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Call to action
The CHALLENGE – CALL TO ACTION project addresses climate change and anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity loss through educational actions based on participatory observation, talent enhancement and the inescapable relationship between the individual and society.
The common thread linking human beings with “environmental and nature protection” is the agroecological approach, understood as a holistic approach and a form of active and concrete participation in mitigating the impact of food production and consumption on the environment and climate change.
The overall objective of the CHALLENGE – CALL TO ACTION project is to contribute to the development and strengthening of a concept of “citizenship,” understood as belonging to the global community, pragmatically contributing to individual and collective change for the creation of a more just and sustainable world.It is supported by AOI, Association of Italian NGOs, and
FOCSIV, Federation of Christian International Voluntary Service Organizations.
The Role of Agroecology
Specifically, the project, through agroecology aims to disseminate knowledge and support the adoption of behaviors and forms of active participation aimed at adopting sustainable consumption and production styles.
In fact, the project acts on three needs:
Direct beneficiaries
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Students from institutes involved in environmental education workshops
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Environmental educators
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Teachers participating in agroecology training
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Stakeholders participating in participatory design tables
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Young people actively involved in the challenge
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Young people reached by widespread social content
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People as the audience of the traveling agroecological festival
Indirect beneficiaries
objectives
To contribute to the development and strengthening of a conception of "citizenship," understood as belonging to the global community, pragmatically contributing to individual and collective change for the creation of a more sustainable and just world
Through agroecology, spread knowledge and support the adoption of behaviors and forms of active participation aimed at adopting sustainable consumption and production styles.
In particular:
To provide the younger generation and their educators with the knowledge to understand agroecology issues as a form of active participation in environmental protection and mitigation of anthropogenic impacts.
Strengthen the capacities of key agroecology actors by sharing knowledge and best practices
Improve consumers’ awareness of the impact of their consumption choices on the environment
To provide the younger generation and their educators with the knowledge to understand agroecology issues as a form of active participation in environmental protection and mitigation of anthropogenic impacts.
Strengthen the capacities of key agroecology actors by sharing knowledge and best practices
Improve consumers’ awareness of the impact of their consumption choices on the environment
The Results
Achievement of project goals is monitored on the basis of 3 indicators chosen as they allow monitoring of the different target groups identified:
Extent to which education for sustainable development is integrated into school curricula
Extent to which education for sustainable development is integrated into school curricula
Percentages of teachers who feel very or fairly prepared to teach topics/competencies related to the environment and environmental sustainability
Percentages of teachers who feel very or fairly prepared to teach topics/competencies related to the environment and environmental sustainability
Percentages of teachers who feel very or fairly prepared to teach topics/competencies related to the environment and environmental sustainability
Percentages of teachers who feel very or fairly prepared to teach topics/competencies related to the environment and environmental sustainability
Extent to which education for sustainable development is integrated into school curricula
Extent to which education for sustainable development is integrated into school curricula
Percentages of teachers who feel very or fairly prepared to teach topics/competencies related to the environment and environmental sustainability
Percentages of teachers who feel very or fairly prepared to teach topics/competencies related to the environment and environmental sustainability
Percentages of teachers who feel very or fairly prepared to teach topics/competencies related to the environment and environmental sustainability
Percentages of teachers who feel very or fairly prepared to teach topics/competencies related to the environment and environmental sustainability
The following out-come areas have also been identified and will be monitored:
Spending on sustainable agri-food products
Spending on sustainable agri-food products
Awareness of the importance of global citizenship issues
Awareness of the importance of global citizenship issues
Awareness of environmental sustainability
Awareness of environmental sustainability
Capacity of civil society to teach sustainability practices
Capacity of civil society to teach sustainability practices
The activities of the
Project CHAlleNGE
Empowerment of teachers and educators
Empowerment of teachers and educators
A training course to foster empowerment, sharing of new methodologies, exchange of best practices and ensure an understanding of agroecology, understood as an approach that promotes systemic change, including political, economic, social and environmental dimensions with a view to replicability and sustainability.
Environmental education workshops
Environmental education workshops
Pathways with students through meetings in classrooms and at local farms that operate from an agroecological perspective, in order to bring young people closer to nature by stimulating their emotional involvement and the acquisition of eco-wisdom, or the intimate awareness of the interconnectedness that binds all living things. Using language common to teenagers and leveraging the tools and interests typical of their age, teens will be taken on an agroecological learning journey in a fun, creative and interactive way.
Mapping agroecology experiences
Mapping agroecology experiences
Collection of best practices of agroecology cooperation projects, in Italy and Europe, in order to take an innovative snapshot of the know-how developed by civil society in the field of agroecology and to stimulate an ongoing and permanent dialogue between the different actors involved.
"Knowledge & capacity building" seminars
"Knowledge & capacity building" seminars
In-depth seminars on the principles of agroecology applied to different areas. The goal is to strengthen skills and disseminate innovative educational tools to support practitioners in some key sectors of the agroecological transition.
Participatory spatial planning tables
Participatory spatial planning tables
Creation of a participatory community, as a driving force behind change processes, capable of providing people and territories with opportunities to relate, compare and search for innovative solutions, and to bring out, enhance and consolidate experiences and ties with a view to agroecological transition.
Social Challenge
Social Challenge
A social challenge will be launched to raise awareness of key agroecology issues among young people not necessarily already involved in project activities.
Traveling festival on agroecology
Traveling festival on agroecology
Six events will be organized, including five in Italy and one in Burkina Faso, to bring out the good practices already developed at the territorial level by local communities in order to raise awareness and spread the principles of agroecology by creating an opportunity for different actors to meet.
Where
The project takes place on the Italian territory (Lombardy, Veneto, Lazio, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Sicily, Apulia, Sardinia) with a look also at experiences abroad, especially related to cooperation projects, thanks to the participation of some of the organizations involved in AZIONE TERRÆ, a coalition for agroecological transition.
Latest News
Partner Organizations
Deafal Promotes international cooperation projects, Global Citizenship Education and Environmental Education (ECG and EA) and Organic and Regenerative Agriculture (AOR) dissemination and research. The AOR is the cross-cutting strand that the organization. Deafal's technical team is able to provide training and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers (small and medium-sized) in both Europe and other continents (Africa and Latin America). ECG/EA projects are multidisciplinary and implement innovative methodologies for citizen involvement in ecological change. International cooperation is understood as the exchange of experience and knowledge with a view to global collaboration.
Altreconomia is a monthly magazine created on the initiative of a group of solidarity economy and international cooperation realities. Altreconomia is a publishing house that publishes essays, guides and manuals dedicated to the solidarity economy, responsible tourism, the environment, self-production, organic and sustainable cooking, and investigations. Its mission is to help build an inclusive, sustainable and just economy by ensuring independent information and communication services for other economy organizations. Altreconomia is also involved in training and education projects on critical consumption and global citizenship and is a cooperative that now has more than 1,100 members.
ACRA is a Milan-based nongovernmental organization that has been committed to fighting poverty and inequality for more than 50 years. Works with local communities in Africa and Latin America for the right of access to food, education, water, energy, environmental protection and gender equality. In Europe and Italy it promotes a culture of dialogue, integration, intercultural exchange and solidarity. Promotes projects to combat gender-based violence and combat climate change. For more than 30 years, he has been organizing Global Citizenship Education activities with schools and youth.
WWOOF Italia APS is a Social Promotion Association established with the aim of fostering, in tune with the international WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farm) movement, the national and international circulation of volunteers to promote the development of natural farming as a lifestyle choice. The association organizes a national network of Educational Centers to allow the reception of traveling members who voluntarily contribute to the life and development of individual centers, thus promoting the spread of ideas and practices for a healthy balance between man and nature.
Reattiva is a social enterprise that offers education, training and facilitation services to support people and organizations in the transition of the production and social system towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).It offers a wide range of online and classroom training courses for people and organizations to increase their technical and professional skills for change towards a more sustainable society.
Terra Nuova is an association, for over 50 years, committed to international solidarity and the
Cooperation among communities and peoples. Works with the goal of strengthening actors who contribute to social change, promotion of equity, economic, ecological, political, cultural sustainability and peace. Believes in cooperation based on dialogue between cultures, linguistic pluralism and interculturalism, and respect for cultural, social, gender and age diversity.
Mani Tese is a Non-Governmental Organization that has been fighting for social, economic and environmental justice around the world for over fifty years. Works in Africa, Asia and Latin America with international cooperation projects. In Italy it promotes projects, volunteer camps and lifestyles marked by solidarity and sustainability through thousands of volunteers active in the area. It also conducts Global Citizenship Education pathways and workshops.
Open Impact is an innovative startup and accredited spinoff of the University of Milan Bicocca that provides services and develops digital products for measuring, valuing and managing impact in an integrated sustainability concept.
