The CEPNET Project worked with children and teachers in primary school settings with the aim of introducing them to new approaches in relation to promoting empowerment and self-activation within the classroom.

A wide range of resources and training materials were developed by the CEPNET team that are now being used in schools and other settings across Europe. These supports allow teachers to bring sustainability issues into the classroom in a way that gives the lead to the children and young people in developing their own voices. The project allowed for hundreds of young people to create projects and responses to express their own ideas as to how sustainability concerns can be discussed and shared. Some such projects can be viewed here. The students took action in many areas, including in organising clean ups within their communities, beaches, schools and playgrounds. They met politicians at all levels to ask questions about how young people were being involved in decision-making. They also responded creatively through music and art. One such song has been used within the network of schools and beyond as a way of highlighting their collective concerns.

The project was built around a pedagogic framework that is linked into national curricula, so that teachers and schools can ensure that the materials are aligned to the relevant competences. The framework is explained in detail here.

In this ErasmusPlus project, Nexus worked with partners in Italy, Austria and the north of Ireland.