Design your sustainable world

Project Coordinator:

Merkelis Račkauskas gymnasium, Mažeikiai, Lithuania

Project Partners:

• Aarhus Gymnasium, Denmark

• Iisaku Gymnasium, Estonia

• Nurmijärvi High School, Finland

Sustainable development skills: collaboration, normative, anticipatory and self-awareness competencies.

Curriculum: social studies, arts, technologies, IT, languages, ethics.

Objectives:  to celebrate and showcase the richness of cultural diversity through festivals, exhibitions, performances, and other cultural events; to foster intercultural understanding by appreciating the differences and similarities among cultures, promoting respect for various beliefs, traditions and practices, and to inspire cooperation among individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Sustainable development skills: life skills, system thinking, anticipatory, critical thinking and self-awareness competencies.

Curriculum: social studies, ethics, languages, biology, sexual education. 

Objectives: to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for critically engaging with issues related to gender, life-stage rituals, and family dynamics, and for promoting greater cultural awareness, empathy, and respect in their personal and professional lives. 

Sustainable development skills and competencies: history, national border, multicultural environment, communication, values, historical objects.

Objectives and a short description: 

In Narva you can take a fascinating journey through the history of many centuries and cultural heritage that make the city special. Explore the Estonian border town using an interactive map for orientation. Narva is a city where European and Russian culture mix. See life on the Estonian-Russian border. Get an overview of the most important sights of Narva: Narva Town Hall, Kreenholm Manufactory, Narva Hermann Fortress, promenade (by the river) and Russia on the other side of the river, Narva College of the University of Tartu.

Nurmijärven Lukio (Nurmijärvi Upper Secondary School), is located in the municipality of Nurmijärvi in Southern Finland, approximately 35 km from the capital Helsinki. Our school has two campuses, altogether the number of students is 400. Our students are aged between 15-19, and the students participating in this project will be aged between 15-18. Upper secondary school takes 2–4 years, depending on the student.

The school provides all-round education which does not lead to any profession, and digital learning methods are a strong building block of the Finnish educational system. At the end, students usually take the matriculation examination which is done entirely digitally.

The school has a long experience in international co-operation since the 1960s. The various projects have included partners from Europe, the Americas, Japan and China. We have also had many visitors from schools all over the world to observe Finnish educational system in action.

Sustainable development skills and competencies: 

taking care of own health, environmental awareness, hands-on environmental action, circular economy thinking, sustainable lifestyle, community engagement.

Objectives: 

To learn how each person can take  responsibility for their surroundings.

Sustainable development skills and competencies: 

develops creative thinking, hands-on environmental action, develops problem-solving skills, encourages creative reuse, encourages social and cultural sustainability.

Curriculum: Arts 

Objectives: 

to reuse old books, to create new piece of art, to strengthen communality and creative thinking.

Sustainable Development Competencies Developed:

• Cultural awareness and sensitivity – appreciating and respecting the heritage and traditions of minority communities.

• Responsibility and local engagement – understanding how small communities preserve their identity and promote sustainable tourism.

• Systems thinking – recognizing the interconnection between culture, history, environment, and local economies.

• Empathy and solidarity – reflecting on the importance of protecting cultural diversity as part of sustainable development.

Description of the activities:

During the visit to Trakai, students took part in a guided cultural and historical tour, discovering the rich heritage of the town and its natural surroundings. A highlight of the experience was learning about the Crimean Karaite community – their unique traditions, sustainable lifestyle, and deep-rooted connection to local culture and nature.

To deepen the cultural experience, students visited an authentic Karaite family-run restaurant, where they tasted traditional Karaite dishes and learned how food heritage contributes to cultural sustainability and local identity.

Shrove Tuesday Celebration in Plateliai: Learning Through Living Tradition:
Exploring Cultural Heritage, Community Spirit, and Seasonal Change

1. To explore the cultural roots, traditions, and symbolism of Shrove Tuesday in Lithuania.

2. To engage with local heritage through museum learning and participation in a living cultural event.

3. To foster appreciation for seasonal and communal celebrations as part of sustainable cultural development.
   
   

Sustainable Development Competencies Developed:

• Cultural awareness and heritage preservation – understanding the value of traditional celebrations and their role in sustainable communities.

• Community engagement and participation – actively joining local cultural events and fostering intergenerational connection.

• Personal and social responsibility – reflecting on the importance of respecting, maintaining, and sharing cultural diversity.

• Well-being and sense of identity – strengthening emotional connection to local culture, nature’s cycles, and community life.

Lesson Goals:

1. To understand and observe the chemical process of oxygen production under laboratory conditions.

2. To develop cooperation and communication skills in a multilingual and multicultural learning environment.

3. To promote scientific inquiry and awareness of how scientific processes relate to real-world environmental sustainability.

Sustainable Development Competencies Fostered:

• Collaboration and communication – through teamwork and intercultural dialogue.

• Critical thinking and problem-solving – while conducting experiments and interpreting results.

• Responsibility for nature and environment – by understanding chemical reactions and their safe, sustainable applications.