Erasmus+ and eTwinning projects in developing school students' specific skills related to climate change

Natural disasters, a consequence of climate change in recent years, are becoming more frequent. We are witnessing more and more earthquakes, floods, and long periods of drought, affecting everyone on the planet. In this context, teaching specific content on climate change to schoolchildren is essential for building specific skills towards protecting nature. In recent years, Erasmus+ projects have become an opportunity for exchanges of experience between educational institutions to support children and young people in developing into responsible adults. Starting in 2021, as a result of the Erasmus+ accreditation obtained, the "Otilia Cazimir" Secondary School is an institution that supports students in the formation of specific skills to prevent natural disasters, a consequence of climate change. Thus, the three projects implemented so far, "Supporting Teachers for Implementing Leadership", "Hands on Our Future" and the one currently underway, pursue the objectives of sustainable development, thus supporting the formation of sustainable communities. The Romanian students, together with students from Germany, Portugal, and Lithuania, and their teachers, carried out activities to understand the effects of irresponsible environmental behavior and the consequences of these actions on climate change. Collaborative videos, inter-school visits, training courses for students and teachers, discussions with experts, and non-formal education clubs are some examples of relevant activities to train primary and secondary school students to develop the necessary skills for a sustainable future. Inclusion of all participants was ensured in the learning experiences, thus meeting diversity and responding to individual needs. In addition, the eTwinning project "Artificial Environment Resistant to Natural Disasters" implemented in the school year 2022-2023 started as a result of the earthquake in Turkey. Romanian students, together with Turkish and Georgian ones, learned more about natural disasters, how they occur, their causes, and how they can be prevented. They created experiments, drawings, videos, posters, and logos to understand how earthquakes, floods, vegetation fires, and droughts occur and proposed specific solutions to prevent them in the future. The results of the projects implemented in our school have been disseminated over time through social media, workshops, posters, and billboards, becoming sources of inspiration for other institutions to teach young generations. Therefore, Erasmus+ and eTwinning projects represent added value in the educational process, being an important contribution to the formation of generations responsible for the environment and climate change.