Inspiring Environmental Awareness Among Children in Nadejda

Sliven, Bulgaria: April 2024

In April 2024, Foundation “For Hope” and the 6th School Bratya Miladinovi in Sliven organized a series of educational sessions to inspire environmental awareness among children living in poverty and exclusion. The program, part of the “Healthier, Greener, and Safer Environment for Roma Children” project, introduced new concepts related to ecology and preservation, aiming to strengthen children’s imagination and connection to their surroundings.

Initially, the children were asked to draw their daily route from home to school. Working in small groups encouraged collaboration among the students, including between boys and girls. The children illustrated familiar sights, such as houses and sports fields, the latter notably absent in their neighborhood. In an insightful touch, some children included beauty salons—a common local occupation—while others depicted pawn shops, reflecting the neighborhood’s economic challenges. Only one group included the school in their drawing, suggesting a distant relationship with the educational institution.

In another session focused on natural parks, a representative from Natural Park Sinite Kamani engaged the students with an interactive presentation. The children learned about the Red Book of Endangered Species and had the chance to touch feathers from rare birds, sparking curiosity and questions. This was followed by a presentation from Greenpeace aimed at 4th and 5th graders. Through this engaging session, students learned about “placemaking” and nonviolent environmental actions. Many were inspired to explore how they, too, might contribute to environmental initiatives in Sliven, even exchanging contacts with Greenpeace for future engagement.

This promising beginning sets a solid foundation for future project phases. By linking acquired knowledge to real-life environmental experiences, the initiative seeks to foster a lasting interest in nature and ecology, empowering children to imagine—and help create—a healthier, greener, and safer urban environment.