How Eco-Friendly Are You? Reflecting on Habits and Global Environmental Issues

In the workshop How Eco-Friendly Are You, students  worked in groups to reflect on the biggest environmental issues of the modern world.

They also filled out a questionnaire to consider their daily habits, assess how eco-friendly their lifestyle was, and understand why sustainable living matters. 

My Bottle, My Choice: A Creative Step Toward Sustainability 

To encourage students to become more aware of unnecessary waste, one of their first tasks was to paint their own personal glass bottle, which they would use throughout the mobility and hopefully continue using afterward. 

Using reusable glass bottles instead of single-use plastic ones reduces plastic waste, saves resources, and lowers pollution. It’s a simple yet powerful green choice—an environmentally friendly decision that helps reduce waste and protect our planet. 

An Afternoon in Koper: Exploring Sustainable Development and Marine Pollution 

In Koper, we first attended a workshop on sustainable development, and then took a walk through the old part of the city to the port, where we explored the positive and negative impacts of the port on life in the city. 

The interactive workshop Marine Pollution – Our Responsibility, held at the PINA Association and enriched with the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method, allowed students to explore the issue of marine pollution and discuss ways to take action. 

From Awareness to Action: A Workshop on Reducing Waste and Sustainable Living 

At the start of the workshop, students listened to two short presentations. The first focused on climate change—its causes, consequences, and the urgency of taking action. The second presentation explained why recycling alone is not enough and introduced the concept of the 6Rs (Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle) as more effective strategies for reducing waste.

After the presentations, students reflected on how individuals can contribute to waste reduction. Before the workshop, each student had prepared a list of ten simple and practical tips they could follow in their daily life.

During the workshop, students worked in groups, shared their ideas, and created a common list of the most useful tips. Each group then presented their list, followed by a group discussion where all students agreed on a final set of realistic and eco-friendly practices. At the end, they selected three key guidelines for sustainable living that they committed to follow for at least one month.

As part of the hands-on activity, students also upcycled used juice and milk cartons (Tetra Paks) to create practical and unique wallets. This creative task highlighted the importance of reusing materials and showed how waste can be transformed into something useful and fun. 

The goal of the workshop was to encourage students to reflect on their personal responsibility towards the environment and to equip them with concrete and achievable ideas for reducing waste in daily life.

Exploring Karst Heritage and Building Team Spirit in Štanjel

During the trip to Štanjel, students learned about the unique features of the Karst landscape and its traditional architecture. Štanjel is built on the picturesque terraces of Turn Hill, capturing attention with its iconic buildings. The castle complex, the defensive walls, the Church of St. Daniel with its distinctive lemon-shaped bell tower, the nucleated village, and the beautiful Ferrari Garden are the most recognizable architectural highlights of this ancient settlement. Named after its patron, St. Daniel, Štanjel is, in many ways, a unique cultural monument.

In addition to exploring the natural and architectural heritage, students became familiar with some of the environmental challenges affecting the area.

As part of the visit, students took part in the Challenge workshop, where they faced various team tasks that helped them get to know each other better and strengthen their group dynamics. This hands-on experience was a valuable opportunity to develop important skills such as cooperation, embracing diversity, and mutual support.

Exploring the Soča Valley – A Day of Nature, History, and Art

During the field trip to the breathtaking Soča Valley, students learned about the region’s natural beauty as well as the impact of human activities on its degradation.

The day began with a visit to the Tolmin Gorges, one of the most magnificent natural attractions in the Tolmin area. At the Sotočje, the confluence of the Soča and Tolminka rivers, we held a Land Art workshop, where students created artistic pieces using only natural materials found in the environment.

The harsh realities of war were brought to life during our visit to Kolovrat, a cross-border museum. The site preserves the memory of the Italian army’s third line of defense during the Isonzo Front in World War I.

We concluded the day in Nova Gorica, the European Capital of Culture 2025, shared with Gorizia across the border in Italy.

In addition to admiring the natural wonders of the Soča Valley, students also learned about environmental and conservation issues, particularly those related to hydroelectric power plants in the region.