Over 1,700 students and teachers from 36 schools in Romania learned the basic principles of sustainability, as part of the SustainEdu program, organized between May and December 2024 by the Ascendis Association, part of the Ascendis group, and Raiffeisen Bank Romania.
As part of the SustainEdu program, students and teachers learned basic elements about sustainability and tested their knowledge through play, using a board game developed by the United Nations, as well as a game that uses the LEGO Serious Play methodology.
“We went to schools and high schools with the mission of teaching students basic notions about sustainability. The program’s track record so far has shown us once again that young people are extremely receptive, curious and eager to be part of a more sustainable future and have come up with concrete ideas in this direction. For example, in many schools, students have proposed recycling campaigns, food waste reduction and energy saving initiatives, or information and socialization programs that reduce discrimination. We believe that education for sustainability informs and motivates future generations to make conscious decisions, with a positive impact on the economy, society and the environment,” said Carmen Ciuraru, program coordinator, Ascendis Association.
The SustainEdu program offers students a framework in which to express their ideas, find solutions and develop confidence in their own actions. They discuss environmental protection, quality education, health and reducing inequalities, and classroom debates lead to practical solutions that can be implemented quickly. Thus, they learn to be responsible, think critically and collaborate to find solutions for sustainable development.
“Understanding the principles of sustainability from school is key to developing a responsible economy. At the banking sector level, this means training generations who understand the importance of sustainable financing, responsible resource management and support for sustainable development goals, such as the transition to a green economy and financial inclusion. We will continue to invest in education and sustainability initiatives, because young people are the ones who will make decisions that will generate positive impact in the long term”, said Andreea Porojan, Sustainability & CSR Manager, Raiffeisen Bank Romania.
In 2015, global leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and established 17 Sustainable Development Goals aimed at improving people’s lives and protecting the planet. Romania joined the other 192 UN member states in adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a global action program in the field of development with a universal character, which promotes balance between the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental.
This agenda represents a call for action and collaboration between all countries to combat major challenges such as poverty, inequalities, climate change and environmental degradation.
In 2023, Romania ranked 40th out of 166 countries analyzed in a ranking of progress towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, according to the Sustainable Development Report, prepared by the United Nations.
