News

This spring, CEUS has been actively promoting and implementing non-formal education activities in the field of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) through appearances at the TNOC festival, workshops with children in nature, and by announcing a competition for the co-creation of schoolyard improvements.

The significance of non-formal education for the topic of NBS is highlighted by the experiences shared in early June at the TNOC festival in Berlin. CEUS shared its experiences in two sessions:

• First Session - A NBS Tour around Europe: Local Experiences and Lessons Learnt from Working Together with and for Nature: Alongside nine other representatives of NBS hubs, CEUS showcased its experience through a presentation of a local visit to an NBS location in its region.
• Second Session - Crafty and Creative Communication: CEUS shared its experience in non-traditional methods of promoting NBS, such as student competitions, hackathons, the children's game "Wild City," and many other activities.

In parallel with sharing its experiences globally, CEUS has been actively working locally in Belgrade to raise awareness among the youngest citizens about the importance of NBS in urban environments. Two workshops were held in the unique setting of an intensive green roof, which also featured an urban garden, with the goal of understanding ecosystem services and overcoming fears of small urban wildlife such as wasps, bees, and spiders.

In order to implement such workshops in the schoolyards of primary schools across Belgrade, CEUS announced a competition in early June for the greening of these spaces through a co-creation process. This process will utilize materials created within the NBS EduWORLD project, such as learning scenarios, as well as knowledge and materials provided by Tier 1 partners - Paris.

Currently, work is underway to adapt the excellent game "Renature ta cour" to the local context in order to introduce gamification into the co-creation process. Gamification has proven to be a significant and powerful tool for communicating scientific facts and green ideas. The plan is to implement this process in five elementary schools, which will be selected based on the school's previous experience with green initiatives and ideas for integrating Nature-Based Solutions into the educational process.