News

During the 20th EFDN conference held in Athens from 13th to 15th November at the OPAP Arena – Agia Sofia Stadium and hosted by AEK Athens, a workshop for the NBS EduWORLD project was conducted by EFDN, in collaboration with Greek project partner EA (Ellinogermaniki Agogi). Given that several EFDN projects already emphasise environmental sustainability and incorporate an educational focus, particularly in STE(A)M, the workshop’s objective was to acquaint EFDN members, comprising football clubs, leagues, and associations across Europe, with the NBS EduWORLD project.

Specifically, the goal was to encourage members to conduct workshops under the NBS EduWORLD project, introducing nature-based solutions (NBS) to children already engaged in the clubs’ programmes. This approach aimed to seamlessly integrate nature-based solutions into existing programmes, providing a cost-effective and efficient means of adaptation for clubs. EFDN assumed the role of the primary contact point for clubs regarding NBS in the NBS EduWORLD project, committing to organising workshops and informational sessions to educate clubs about nature-based solutions. The objective was to inspire and equip clubs with resources to design their own sessions for children.

The workshop, hosted by project managers Philipp Reissner and Matheus Cavalcanti, achieved considerable success, drawing the interest and participation of numerous members. Notably, the breakout session facilitated interaction, featuring a quiz on nature-based solutions knowledge and group discussions where attendees could devise their own nature-based solutions sessions. A best practice scenario was also shared to illustrate what clubs could expect from a children’s session centred around this theme. Additionally, EA’s involvement proved valuable, bringing their extensive experience in introducing nature-based solutions in Greek schools and sharing their expertise in this domain.