In May 2026, partners in the Erasmus+ project "Create a Sustainable World by the Motto of Zero Waste and Educate the Future Citizens of Europe to Be Responsible for How to Reuse, Recycle and Reduce Waste for a Better Future" gathered in Rakkestad, Norway, for the project's first Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTT1). The week brought together students, teachers, and project partners from across Europe to explore how education can inspire more sustainable lifestyles and strengthen European cooperation.

Throughout the mobility, participants took part in practical workshops, collaborative school activities, and cultural visits that combined environmental education with intercultural learning. One of the highlights was the Plastic Art Project, where students worked in international teams to transform discarded plastic into creative artworks, demonstrating how waste can become a valuable educational resource while raising awareness of responsible consumption and recycling.

Visits to Oslo, including the MUNCH Museum and the Oslo Opera House, together with time spent with host families and participation in Norway's National Day celebrations, gave participants a deeper understanding of Norwegian culture and strengthened friendships across borders.
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On behalf of GeoCamp Iceland, Sigrún Svafa Ólafsdóttir a project manager for education and Drífa Thorstensen, a STEAM teacher at Háaleitisskóli in Reykjanesbær, participated in the meeting in Norway. For them the mobility offered valuable inspiration for bringing sustainability into everyday teaching. Experiencing how environmental responsibility is integrated into school life and the local community in Norway highlighted the importance of hands-on learning, creativity, and international collaboration. The exchange of ideas with colleagues from across Europe also provided new approaches to teaching about plastic pollution, the circular economy, and responsible consumption.

The mobility strengthened Erasmus+ partnerships while creating new opportunities for future cooperation. The knowledge and ideas gained during the week will now be shared with colleagues and students in Reykjanes, supporting further work on sustainability, innovation, outdoor learning, and international projects. By connecting place-based learning with creativity and intercultural dialogue, the project empowers young people to become active and responsible citizens capable of contributing to a more sustainable future.

From 17–19 November 2025, partners from six countries gathered in Sur du Norte, France, for the first Transnational Project Meeting of RESPONSIBLE, an Erasmus+ KA220 initiative dedicated to building a more sustainable and climate-aware future through education, creativity, and cross-border collaboration.

The meeting marked the official launch of the project titled “Create a Sustainable World by the Motto of Zero Waste and Educate the Future Citizens of Europe to Be Responsible”. The project is coordinated by Lycée général et technologique Saint Martin in Nort-sur-Erdre (France) and includes partners Tulpar Eğitim Gençlik Sanat Derneği (Türkiye), Scoala Gimnaziala Ion Rosca (Romania), Rakkestad ungdomsskole (Norway), Osnovna skola Braca Radic (Croatia), and GeoCamp Iceland.

The first meeting focused on establishing a shared vision for the project’s core objectives: strengthening zero-waste education in schools, reducing environmental pollution through creative reuse of materials, and developing a sustainability-focused curriculum for young learners. Partners also confirmed task-sharing, the work plan for all five work packages, and the timeline for upcoming activities, including curriculum development, waste-to-art workshops, the production of organic root dyes from bio-waste, and a final international conference.

What is the impact for Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark?

For GeoCamp Iceland, this project speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities in Reykjanes. The region is balancing rapid environmental change with a growing need for responsible, STEAM-driven education that prepares young people for a sustainable future. Through RESPONSIBLE, GeoCamp Iceland contributes with our experience in environmental education, teacher training, and community-level communication. Our role includes preparing academic input on sustainability in education, contributing to research and evaluation, and leading communication with local communities, schools, and media, ensuring the project’s results reach wide audiences.

The potential impact in Reykjanes is considerable. The project brings new tools for schools to integrate sustainability into everyday learning, encourages creativity through the transformation of waste into useful and artistic products, and strengthens awareness of zero-waste principles among upper-level primary school students It also supports broader regional objectives by promoting responsible resource use, creative problem-solving, and climate awareness, all values that align strongly with ongoing initiatives in Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark.

By the end of the meeting in France, partners had established a strong collaborative foundation and a clear roadmap. The RESPONSIBLE project now moves forward with momentum, aiming to inspire practical, creative, and long-lasting change across schools in Europe, and to bring those benefits home to the communities of Reykjanes.