The future is shaped in schools through what and how young people are learning. The pedagogical, social, and physical contexts of the learning environment are significant aspects in framing young people’s understanding of themselves, their roles in their communities, and how they can interact with the wider world. Instead of preparing students to go into industries that lead to mass consumption and high carbon footprints, the Regenerative Schools approach facilitates connection with their culture, nature and their own history. Children find meaning in their learning and purpose in their community.
This toolkit explores the motivations and strategies to create resilient communities within and around schools, to build capacity for regenerative living. The term ‘school’ is used losely to include learning spaces, both formal and informal and this synthesis brings together insights from work with 18 partners in 18 countries.
Resulting from years of practice, observation, and refinement, this resource aims to inspire models that can be adapted and applied globally. It combines Ecovillage Principles with Integrated Design to offer ways of working with schools as vehicles for social, ecological, economic, and cultural transformation while implementating practical solutions. It provides frameworks, case studies, practical activities educators can facilitate with young people, and an overview of a more in depth practitioners training programme.
