The 'Valpovo – Cleanest City in Croatia' project has officially entered its educational phase, with the first in a series of interactive workshops on sustainable waste management successfully held at the local nursery, Valpovo. This marks the start of a comprehensive cycle of environmental education that will cover children and young people of all age groups across the town.
The workshop, titled 'Eco-Detectives', introduced the youngest residents to the basics of waste sorting and the importance of reusing old items in a fun, pedagogically appropriate manner. Guided by expert educators, the children learned recycling rules by sorting illustrated cards and 'feeding' small containers by colour.
At the end of the session, each child received a special 'Eco-Detective' task sheet, through which they will monitor the environmental habits of their family members in the coming days. In this way, the children will observe whether their parents recycle plastic, use cloth bags, and store food waste instead of discarding it.
The workshop at the local nursery is the first stop on this major project. The educational activities will soon extend to the children at the 'Maza' nursery, after which the project's activities will move to the local primary and secondary schools.
Students at the secondary school level are set to encounter completely different, age-appropriate formats: from digital pub quizzes on greenwashing, to detective-style escape room simulations, all the way to debates on the issue of electronic waste.
Through continuous education from an early age, the town of Valpovo is investing in generations that will understand the importance of the circular economy and actively contribute to preserving the environment in their local community.
