Biochar in the School: Environmental Education with Schoolchildren
As part of the EUKI project “Cutting Carbon – Promoting Biochar for Climate Change Mitigation” the three partner organizations are carrying out environmental education activities in primary schools in Sicily, North Macedonia and Croatia. In total, we were already able to involve 38 schools.
A shared foundation: one presentation, three countries
The starting point for school activities in all three countries is a PowerPoint presentation developed by Giacche Verdi Bronte (GV) and shared with the partner organisations in English. Eco Logic in North Macedonia and Argonauta in Croatia adapted the materials to their local contexts. In every classroom – whether in Sicily, Skopje or along the Dalmatian coast – the same core content is delivered: What is biochar? How is Terra Preta made? What role does healthy soil play in addressing climate change?
Two visits per class: learning indoors and outdoors with the help of young volunteers
The educational concept in all three countries includes two visits per class: first an indoor session, then a hands-on outdoor activity. Each partner organization hosts young international volunteers who are actively involved in the educational work – preparing lessons, conducting experiments and accompanying the children in the schoolyard. Their closeness to childhood enables a more direct and joyful approach to the subject matter; the children participate with great enthusiasm throughout.
Sicily (Giacche Verdi Bronte): Five stations in the schoolyard
Giacche Verdi had reached 3,770 pupils and 197 teachers across 26 schools in 12 municipalities around Mount Etna, including classes from Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, who had travelled to Bronte as part of school twinning schemes and were taught in English.
The outdoor sessions were organized around five stations: a biodiversity lab with planting activities and insect hotels, a biochar lab with water filtration experiments, a planting lab featuring vegetables, herbs, and native trees, a pyrolysis demonstration using the portable Kon-Tiki device, and a pH testing lab on soil acidity.
North Macedonia (Eco Logic): Green roofs as learning spaces
Eco Logic reached 1,100 pupils and 89 teachers across 10 schools in Skopje. Two primary schools now feature educational green roof models incorporating biochar and Terra Preta, serving as permanent outdoor learning spaces. In further schools, children planted hedges, herb beds and nursery plants using Terra Preta. For a joint Citizen Science activity, plant pots were filled with various growing media (with and without biochar) and planted for observation through the children.
Croatia (Argonauta): First planting activities underway
Argonauta has launched activities in 2 schools in Tisno and Vodice and plans to significantly expand them in autumn 2026. The children planted oak seedlings and a lavender hedge with Terra Preta in the school garden. Also here, first citizen science activities have begun.
The impact of the project in schools
Feedback from all three countries shows that the hands-on experiments are well received by the children and spark their interest in topics such as soil health, climate protection and sustainable gardening. As many pupils in Sicily come from farming families, the knowledge they have gained can also be applied directly to their everyday lives at home.