“The School for Sustainable Living”

The Czech nation-wide program “The School for Sustainable Living” is an educational community where students, teachers, and local citizens engage in planning and implementing projects that support the sustainable development of the area. The result is not only new knowledge but also concrete products that benefit the community. 

It is implemented by the Centre for Environmental Education SEVER. The first pilot year started in 2004, and now over 400 schools actively participate in the program network. 

The program introduces a new dimension to education, bridging theory with practice and motivating students, teachers, and the local community to make positive changes in their surroundings. 

The vision of the program is for the school to become a focal point from which experiences about sustainable living in the local area and community emanate. The program’s mission is to develop competencies needed for sustainable living through understanding the place, taking care of it, and actively participating in community life.

Their philosophy is that students, together with partners from the community, contemplate how they can contribute to the development of their surroundings. This reflection leads to the implementation of concrete changes that positively impact the place where they live and learn. 

By joining the “School for Sustainable Living” schools are a part of positive changes in their surroundings and become creators of a sustainable future. The entire process is designed with regard to sustainable development of the local area and the world, serving as a practical example of fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals 2015–2030 and the Strategic Framework of the Czech Republic 2030 at the local level. 

Participants in the program gain skills for sustainable living and create specific products for their place and community. With a methodical approach based on project-based learning and locally anchored learning, ŠUŽ aims to ensure that the process is an enjoyable and beneficial experience for all involved and for the local environment.

Based on this long-term experience SEVER together with partners from Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania implements in Central Europe international projects supported by Erasmus+, focused on place-based learning and service learning – the newest one called „Community as a Classroom.“