CARETAKERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL is an international network of secondary schools that are active in Environmental Education. It is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that organizes conferences for students and teachers environmental issues in the context of education.
ASPEA Portuguese Association for Environment International, the Portuguese branch of Caretakers of the Environment International, is a NGO founded in 1990.
It has 24 years of experience in the training of adults, teachers and youth in environmental education, sustainability, arts and environment, School Agenda 21 and the Earth Charter, in formal, non-formal and informal educational settings. It has taken part in several European projects for the development of educational resources for environmental education for sustainability and partnerships in education.
The secretary-general of ASPEA is at present the vice-president of CEI.
ASPEA is also an Affiliate Institution for the Earth Charter, since 2005 and Member in the UNESCO National Committee of UN Decade for Sustainable Development in Portugal and of the UNESCO Biodiversity Committee
Left to right: Laura, Fátima and Niki
“Kit do Mar” is a national education project about the ocean, developed by the Task Group for the Extension of the Continental Shelf. Its goal is to promote ocean literacy among children and youngsters, leading to more informed and responsible citizens, conscious of the strategic importance of the sea in Portugal.
The philosophy of this project is based on research, sharing and social intervention, through an interdisciplinary inquiry approach. Kit do Mar provides educational resources about the ocean, in agreement with curriculum guidelines and prepared for all educational levels. It also develops several activities, workshops and projects.
One of those projects, “Bridges between school and blue science”, involves the engagement of high school students in authentic scientific research settings, by creating active partnerships between scientific research institutions and high schools.
“Kit do Mar” covers the whole country with more than 1500 schools registered and with the participation of more than 75 000 students. At the end of each scholar year we promote a national contest where children come to share their experiences and school projects about the sea.
