In January 2026, Kalymnos -island of the Dodecanese- did not simply host another educational programme. It was transformed into a living, open laboratory of transition from the linear logic of “produce – consume – discard” to a cycle of care, reuse, composting and collective responsibility. Under the central motto “From Line to Circle”, a comprehensive and holistic intervention on Climate Change Education and Education for Sustainable Development was implemented within the framework of PARCCE project.
The intervention engaged a total of 363 students from all educational levels and was implemented in 17 school classes and two Environmental Education teams, with special attention given to the participation of Special Education students, strengthening the inclusive dimension of the approach.
For younger students, emphasis was placed on material recognition and distinguishing biodegradable from non‑degradable waste, while older students explored the anthropogenic dimension of climate change, overconsumption and marine pollution, and the impact of single‑use plastics on island ecosystems.
A central pillar of the intervention was waste management, focusing on waste reduction, reuse and composting. Composting was presented as a living example of circular thinking, demonstrating how organic residues return to the soil as a resource rather than a problem. Educational material was distributed to schools and local stakeholders, ensuring continuity beyond the duration of the activities.
Particular emphasis was given to teacher training, involving 134 educators overall. The pedagogical framework of PARCCE and participatory approaches to Climate Change Education were presented, highlighting the role of local society as a multiplier of change.
The culmination of the intervention was a sample beach clean‑up combined with artistic interventions, where waste materials were transformed into symbolic installations and environmental messages, turning the beach into a learning laboratory.
The pedagogical approach of PARCCE emphasizes that children are not passive recipients of information, but agents of change capable of influencing family and community practices. The project reconnects traditional community values of care and moderation with contemporary sustainability challenges.
At the institutional level, meetings were held with local authorities of Kalymnos, strengthening cooperation between education, local governance and civil society.
The initiative was carried out jointly by:
- MIO-ECSDE/ MEdIES,
- the Association of Environmental Education of Kalymnos (YDNA),
- the UNESCO Chair and Network of the University of Athens,
- the Social Cooperative Enterprise “Zeidoros”,
- the Secondary Education School Advisors of the Dodecanese,
- Nikiforeio 1st Highschool of Kalymnos
- 1st Primary School of Chora Kalymnos,
With the support of Kalymnos Municipality, the Region of Kalymnos and the Environmental Education Centre of Petaloudes.
The dissemination of the educational and training activities implemented in Kalymnos followed a structured multi‑channel strategy ensuring wide outreach. The official invitation and presentation of the activities were published through online publication (GR), while visibility was strengthened through targeted social media dissemination, including the PARCCE Facebook publication (ENG) and engagement through the YDNA Kalymnos community post (GR). Local media coverage also played a key role, including reports published by Palmos Kalymnou – educational actions coverage (GR) as well as documentation of the official visit to the Mayor of Kalymnos (video) (GR), highlighting cooperation with local authorities. Additional dissemination was supported by regional media such as Kalymnos News (GR), which highlighted project outcomes related to zero‑waste practices, composting and climate action. Overall, this integrated dissemination approach strengthened public awareness, stakeholder engagement and the long‑term sustainability of project results in full alignment with Erasmus+ dissemination and visibility requirements.
