Education
Discover, experience, learn
FUTURE
Why is education the key?
"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world," said Nelson Mandela.
A basic education is characterized by sound knowledge and a good upbringing. In the area of climate and nature conservation in particular, there is a greater need than ever to educate people in order to avoid mistakes in areas that were previously characterized by ignorance in the future.
Environmental education focuses specifically on ecologically relevant knowledge to ensure responsible behavior in the future. Environmental education also balances and strengthens the relationship between people and their environment and with themselves.
THE new generation
GREEN
CLASS
Suriono Masno founded the “Green Class” with his son, Imam, in 2016. Together with other volunteer teachers, they give up to 120 children and young people the opportunity to learn about environmental issues through play. With the help of excursions, meetings with other school classes and visits from our partners, the children learn how to treat our planet responsibly. Current challenges are explained and sensible solutions can now be discussed and tried out in the newly built Green Education Center in the recycling village.
Every week, the children can take part in all activities and the additional English course free of charge. The newly acquired knowledge is passed on by the children to their parents, manifested and gradually integrated into everyday life. Thanks to the additional free opportunity to learn English, their career prospects will increase.
The aim of the Green Class is to raise awareness and find solutions for various environmental challenges – for both children and adults.
RECOVERY
ECOTRAIL
Papayas, mangosteen, ginger, pineapple.
Do you know how these things grow?
On the nature experience trail, our “Eco-Trail”, you will get to know a wide variety of plants. Here you will not only learn how plants grow and what they need for healthy growth, but also get to know the different ways in which they can be used.
School classes, tourists and volunteers are guided here by the expert Indonesian team. Ancient, valuable knowledge is passed on and you are shown how to look after your garden without any chemicals.
REGIONAL
ENVIRONMENT
EDUCATION
Since 2019, the Project Wings team has been visiting educational institutions of all kinds to raise awareness of our global challenges among young and older people.
As the topic of environmental education is particularly diverse, we have a whole page just on this topic.
When we talk about education, the first thing we usually think of is knowledge, intellect and learning in the sense of school education. Terms such as being educated or continuing one's education come to mind. But education goes far beyond this factor. So what is education? And why is education ascribed such high relevance?
What is education?
There is no uniform definition of education. Because education is multi-layered. What is understood by education and how education presents itself depends on the perspective, the context, the teaching or even the culture in which education takes place.
Education goes far beyond the school context, even if education and school education are often equated. Individual personality plays a major role when considering education. Education, the acquisition of values and norms of our society, the learning of skills and talents as well as cultural education are all part of the educational process. We gain our first experiences in the womb, are shaped by the behavior of the person carrying us and by the outside world, and get to know our body.
Education is a process and describes not only the state, but also the entire process. And this process runs through our entire lives. Determined by the world and culture in which we grow up and live.
The acquisition of knowledge and the school as a place of education are therefore not the only factors when considering education. Nevertheless, they are important key factors in achieving the SDGs.
Why is education important?
We learn the basics of knowledge at school. We learn how to read, write, calculate and how to acquire and categorize further knowledge. This knowledge enables us to participate in our society in a certain way, to lead a life in a complex world, to make independent decisions, to question information and knowledge, to put it into context and to act.
A school-leaving qualification is often seen as an indicator of good education and is perceived as an influencing element with regard to professional success and social status. The financial situation and standard of living are closely linked to this. School education is often seen as the only real chance to find a way out of poverty. Education, or the lack of it, is closely linked to social inequality, poverty and health.
In terms of development policy, education is an important factor in the fight against poverty and is a key factor in improving people’s health and strengthening the economy of an entire region. For girls in particular, education leads to an improved life situation.
These are interactions in which the education factor always plays a key role. This makes education an important factor in achieving the SDGs.
Due to the influence of education in so many areas of life, education is considered one of the highest goods. School education is considered to be of enormous relevance in order to live and survive in our society with dignity. Education is also considered to be hugely relevant in relation to our planet. The United Nations and the German government see education as a necessary prerequisite for promoting sustainable development and protecting the planet.
Education - human right and sustainability goal
Education is enshrined both in (social) human rights (Art. 13 and 14 – the right to education) and in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The latter includes 17 targets. These are intended to enable a better and more sustainable world. This includes reducing poverty and hunger, improving health and protecting the planet. Education is anchored as an independent goal in SDG 4. However, education and the quality of education also play an important role in achieving all sustainability goals and are indispensable for achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Education as a privilege
Despite the laws and objectives, education remains a privilege and to some extent unattainable for many people. At least if we look at them in the context of school education. This does not mean that these people are uneducated. The wealth of knowledge and the priorities are simply different.
For the people who fight for their survival every day, the most important thing is to provide for themselves and their families. What counts is the knowledge of how to grow fruit and vegetables, deal with droughts and obtain clean drinking water without access from the tap. Under these conditions, knowledge of sophisticated mathematical formulas is of secondary importance.
However, they are denied the kind of education that would make it easier or even possible for them to escape social inequality and poverty. Many people are unable to read and write due to a lack of opportunities. In many parts of the world, children and young people are denied access to school. Even if participation in education were possible due to the existence of schools.
Due to the enormous influence and impact of education, it is often demanded that education should be a priority in development cooperation. At Project Wings, we see environmental protection as a holistic approach. Where we pay attention to people, animals and nature. Educational work is a matter close to our hearts and a particularly important part of our work.
Education as part of our work
In line with the 2030 Agenda (SDG 4) and human rights, we also want to help ensure that every child in the Bukit Lawang region has access to free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education. Even though many children in our Bukit Lawang project region are able to go to school, there is still room for improvement.
There is therefore plenty of room for education within the village. For people of all ages.
With our first building, the Green Education Center, we have created a green education center. There are around 10,000 Ecobricks in the walls of the bamboo and clay building. This location offers space for various school classes from the region. Various age groups receive English lessons here. And children and young people experience environmental education.
However, as this is not enough for us, we are now building an entire learning space on the grounds of the recycling village. Consisting of various buildings that give local people even more opportunities to experience education. A building developed to ensure an improved educational offer in the region in the long term.
But we are also committed to education in Germany. Our focus here is on educational work and awareness campaigns. To this end, we hold information events, give talks and provide environmental education in educational institutions.
We want young people to learn to recognize and question problems in their own environment and in other countries and to learn to act confidently. We want to involve younger generations in finding solutions, take their thoughts seriously and introduce them to environmental issues. This includes topics such as waste avoidance, sustainable consumption and nature conservation. And we also show people how they can get involved in social projects.
Because education is the engine for sustainable development in all dimensions and can contribute to achieving all SDGs.
Get active with us! And join us in working for a better, fairer and more sustainable world.
“There is only one thing more expensive in the long run than education: no education.” (John F. Kennedy)