News

Between June and September 2024, CEUS launched the Green Interventions in Schools contest, inviting Belgrade elementary schools to propose NbS-based greening projects. Five schools advanced to co-creation workshops focused on designing climate-resilient schoolyards and engaging students in small-scale planting efforts.

Before the first round of school workshops in late September, the “Wild City” educational game was tested at the Ušće Eco Fest, a major Belgrade green festival. The CEUS team engaged children and parents through gameplay, linking it to biological exhibits and demonstrating its adaptability across age groups.

Workshops held in October and November 2024 integrated creative activities with educational games, sparking student discussions on urban greening. In one school, 8th-grade students tested an adapted version of the "Renature ta cour" game, fostering debate on ecological roles. The workshops also included planting over 500 spring bulbs and perennials, along with donating school gardening kits containing tools, bird feeders, and nesting boxes.

Following the workshops, three schools progressed to a second round where their greening projects were implemented, while two others continued receiving plant materials and professional support from CEUS. The first major 2025 activity involved installing an insect hotel and an information board at an elementary school, receiving positive feedback from students and teachers.

Highlights in numbers:

• 9 workshops in 5 elementary schools with over 100 students in total.
• About 500 spring bulbs and 15 perennials planted by students.
• 10 bird nesting boxes and 5 bird feeders donated.

Despite ongoing nationwide protests affecting schools, CEUS has sustained its collaboration with students and educators, reflecting a shared commitment to a greener future. Planned activities for early 2025 include completing the insect hotel, expanding school gardens, and installing a greenhouse and compost bin to enhance biology and gardening education. A final project exhibition is scheduled for April, pending developments in the socio-political landscape.