Daycare centre of sustainability

In a festive setting, nine Saarland day-care centres were honoured for their exemplary commitment to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

The proWIN pro nature Foundation supports this forward-looking project as a partner with an annual grant of 10,000 euros and also covers the costs of the award ceremony. It is a matter close to our hearts to familiarise children at a young age with the principles of an ecologically and socially sustainable way of life and thus contribute to overcoming the challenges of the 21st century.

Awarded by Minister Streichert-Clivot

The certificates were presented in person by Christine Streichert-Clivot, Minister for Education and Culture of the Saarland. In her speech, she emphasised the importance of education for sustainable development and stressed how important it is to give children the opportunity to actively participate in a socially and ecologically sustainable world from an early age.

‘We live in a world full of contradictions. Acting in a socially and ecologically sustainable way is important in order to solve many of the world's problems. This is why Education for Sustainable Development is an integral part of the daily educational work in our daycare centres,’ said Ms Streichert-Clivot.

The award-winning daycare centres

We would like to congratulate the nine day-care centres that have been certified as ‘Sustainable Day-Care Centres’ thanks to their special commitment:

Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Haus Protestant day care centre in Dudweiler
Protestant day care centre in Spiesen
Catholic day care centre St. Maximin in Dillingen-Pachten
After-school care centre at Schenkelberg in Saarbrücken
Daycare centre at Schenkelberg in Saarbrücken
Day care centre at Schenkelberg - Güdingen site in Saarbrücken
Daycare centre on the innovation campus in Saarbrücken
Forest kindergarten ‘Die Waldzwerge’ in Merzig
AWO day care centre ‘Pfiffikus’ in Bexbach

These daycare centres have set themselves the task of integrating ESD into their daily routine. They enable children to understand systemic and global interrelationships in an age-appropriate way and to make decisions in the interests of sustainable development.

ESD - Education for Sustainable Development

Education for sustainable development is a central concern in the educational programme for Saarland day-care centres. The aim is to teach children the basics of responsible use of natural resources, social interaction and ecological challenges. This commitment is officially recognised and promoted through certification as a ‘Kita of Sustainability’.

‘The certification is not only a recognition, but also an incentive to further deepen and expand the topic of sustainability in everyday daycare centre life,’ emphasised Sebastian Thul, State Secretary in the Saarland Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection. ‘The ‘Daycare Centre of Sustainability’ stands for a concept that promotes sustainable action and supports children in their development into responsible people.’

The goal: A future worth living for all

Certification as a ‘sustainable daycare centre’ is based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Daycare centres that integrate this approach into their concept are committed to providing children with the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle the challenges of our time - from climate change and the energy transition to social justice and sustainable consumption.

With projects such as the ‘Kita der Nachhaltigkeit’, the proWIN pro nature Foundation and its partners are sending out a strong signal in favour of promoting ESD and raising awareness of a sustainable way of life among young generations.

Insights into the award ceremony

After the award ceremony, the participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas over a small drink and gather new ideas for the further development of sustainability in educational work. The atmosphere was characterised by a strong sense of community and the clear goal of further promoting sustainable education.

The proWIN pro nature Foundation is delighted to support this important project and will continue to work intensively in the future to promote education for sustainable development and the protection of our environment.

Impressions

Photos: OTR-Photo/Oliver Rubert