The emotional dimensions of change-making
Young people are facing a future that is increasingly uncertain. The worsening impacts of the climate and nature crises are multifaceted, and their solutions require mental, emotional, and psychological shifts alongside the physical, economic, and technical responses to create change and sustain our future.
During our Communities of Hope project, we saw how stories, creativity and art allowed teachers and students across a variety of schools to reflect on and break down the complexities of the climate and nature crises, and create actionable change with visible impact.
Each school involved in the project began with an initial sustainability audit to identify the key priorities tailored to each school. Artist Alaa Alsaraji then ran a series of interactive workshops with students to develop creative action, followed by a re-audit to assess the incredible impact they had made.
By taking climate and sustainability education across the curriculum, beyond the facts of Geography and Science, both students and teachers were able to use art to discover the possibilities of change and explore the emotional dimensions required to shift mindsets and change hearts.
Communities of Hope: A Teacher’s Guide
Our new resource, Communities of Hope: A Teachers Guide, transforms our approach, ethos and key learnings from the project into a usable and supportive guide for anyone wanting to facilitate creative student-led climate action within their schools.
The resource includes your very own school sustainability audit, designed to help you identify the most meaningful areas of action that you can start with. We’ve also included a range of art-based activities where students can apply critical thinking and take creative action based on their own ideas and interests, and additional resources and contacts to help take your action to the next level.
