In 2023, we implemented the "Growing Green Children" project, which was financially supported by the European Solidarity Corps Fund under the Erasmus+ program.

The project was implemented at the Na Kopci Kindergarten in Karviná, which belongs to the Borovský Elementary School. The main goal of the project was to deepen children's relationship with nature through gardening and an interactive program.

At the same time, we contributed to spreading awareness about sustainability, permaculture and ecosystems with this project.

We built an ecological garden on the premises of the kindergarten based on the principles of permaculture. By creating the so-called "living garden", we wanted to learn more about permaculture and the environment. Thanks to this, we and a group of our volunteers gained a lot of experience in the field of informal learning methods. At the same time, we developed skills in leadership and team management.

Children as part of our community are our future and by adhering to the principles of solidarity, which we were able to develop in them and strengthen in our country, we have at least slightly improved the quality of life in our city. Last but not least, we showed solidarity with this project and helped the Borovský Elementary and Kindergarten School in Karviná to obtain funding for the development of the plan and initial concept of the "Green Kindergarten".

Our main goals were:

- to introduce children and the public to the concept of permaculture (by building a "Living Garden" on the premises of the Borovský Kindergarten),

- to acquire competences of young people in a given topic, in project management, in methods of informal education and in the approach to volunteering (through monthly workshops, planning, evaluation, budgeting, motivation, etc.),

- to contribute to the development of the community through intersectoral cooperation (young people, children, schools, non-profit organizations and the city).

One main target group was the kindergarten children themselves, and the other was a group of young people who wanted to promote ecological education in the form of workshops with children and build a "living garden" on the premises of the Borovského Elementary and Kindergarten School in Karviná.

The main goal of this project was to stimulate children's curiosity and interest in natural processes, the importance of nature and its protection, and to introduce them to the basic principles of sustainable gardening. The children also realized the amount of energy put into growing vegetables or fruit, and thus learned more about the background of the food chain. The garden also included compost, thanks to which the children became familiar with sustainable waste management. In addition, they strengthened their ability to work in teams. The created eco-garden also serves as an example for other activities in the city.