Discovering the world together

EcoKids is an environmental education programme for children from refugee families and from the local community.

We start with the basics:
What is nature? What is planet Earth? How does our world work? And what is the universe?
How are we part of this?
From there, children explore their surroundings and gradually discover how nature, people and everyday life are connected.

Learning through experience

EcoKids follows an experiential learning approach.
Children learn by observing, trying things out, asking questions and making their own experiences.
Environmental education is combined with practical, creative and hands-on activities.
Children explore topics such as sustainability, recycling, climate change and the natural world through experiments, observation, creative work and practical experiences.
Gardening is one of the ways we help children experience nature directly.
We also work with recycling and reuse and encourage children to look at everyday materials in a different way.

The focus is not only on learning facts.
We want children to become curious, ask questions and develop their own ideas.

Learning in English

English is the language used in EcoKids.
For many of the children, English is not their first language.
Taking part in EcoKids therefore also gives them an opportunity to practise English in a natural and meaningful setting while learning about other subjects.

Discovering that you can make a difference

We want children to experience that their actions matter.
Whether they care for a plant, reuse a material, solve a problem together or share an idea, they can see that they are able to do something themselves.
This sense of being able to contribute and make a difference is an important part of EcoKids.

A place to belong

EcoKids brings children from different backgrounds together.
Learning and playing together creates opportunities for friendships, cooperation and a sense of belonging.
We want children to feel that they are part of a group where they are welcome, their ideas are valued and they can learn from others.

Learning, playing – and sharing a meal

EcoKids is not only about learning. Children spend time together, play, explore, and share a healthy and filling meal.
For some children, having enough nutritious food is not something they can take for granted.
The meal is therefore an important part of the programme as well as a simple way of caring for the children.

From EcoKids to EcoTeamEurope

For children who have taken part in EcoKids on Lesvos, EcoTeamEurope offers the opportunity to continue learning online after they leave the programme.
EcoTeamEurope builds on their interest in environmental topics and gives children and young people the opportunity to deepen their knowledge, practise English and stay connected with environmental issues and with each other.
The online programme is also open to new participants. Children and young people from different countries and backgrounds – whether from refugee communities or local communities – learn and exchange ideas together.

For children who move on from EcoKids, EcoTeamEurope also provides a way to stay connected with friends and familiar faces. This continuity is important for children who have experienced repeated changes and interruptions in their lives.
Continuing to learn and meet together online helps them maintain relationships and a sense of belonging, even when they are no longer living in the same place.

EcoTeamEurope is an environmental education programme developed and supported by Hoffnung leben e.V.
Learn more about → EcoTeamEurope

Take part

If you would like your child to take part in EcoKids, please contact us before coming:
anna@ariadnilesvos.org
Our programmes have limited space and take place at set times.