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Green Kindergarten Program and Network

  • Published on December 10, 2019

Direct (activities) and indirect (e.g. daily operation) learning in green kindergartens shapes children’s attitudes, promoting conscious costumer attitude raises parents’ attention, collaboration with local businesses and communities has immediate effects.

The “Green Kindergarten Program and Network” – a program targeting environmental awareness and sustainability education – has been operating in Hungary since 2006. Today, over 1000 Hungarian kindergartens (approximately 30% of kindergartens) have gained the “Green Kindergarten” title.

The inner network of 20 pillar kindergartens (being present in each county and in Budapest) support kindergartens that are preparing or possibly willing to join the network, by mentoring, organising teaching open sessions and other programmes or recommending supportive materials.

Each year, kindergartens are invited to undergo an application process to enter the network. Those that apply successfully are eligible to use the title, and those that have gained the title three consecutive times might apply for the Permanent Green Kindergarten title. In the application process, kindergartens undertake a self-reflective cycle of reviewing indicators and forming challenges, then taking actions and finally reflecting on their results as a community. Starting in 2021 the application process is managed online supported by a dedicated application page of the main Green Kindergarten website.

The Ministry of Agriculture supports the network by operating a website, organising special events and an inner network of pillar kindergartens. The Ministry of Human Capacities offers collaboration on educational policy and implementation design of processes in the network.

Education through direct (e.g. ESD activities, gardening, projects) and indirect (e.g. daily operation, maintenance, communication, events) learning in green kindergartens contributes to shaping children's attitudes, advocating for sustainability (raising awareness on sustainable use of natural resources and energy, prevention/minimization of waste production, promoting selective waste collection and providing sustainable alternatives for kindergarten activities) and promoting conscious costumer attitude (local and healthy products supporting local production and prudent utilization of natural resources) both raise parents' attention, collaboration with local businesses and communities (e.g. serving local products) have direct effect on sustainable consumption and production practices.

The curriculum of green kindergartens includes dedication towards ESD, promotes recognition, protection and preservation of local heritage and places special emphasis on environmental education, building developmental activities on this while also reflecting these value choices in the infrastructure and operation. Green kindergartens work with a whole-institutional approach. Their distinguished inner network called pillar kindergartens support other kindergartens preparing or possibly willing to join the network by mentoring, organising teaching open sessions and other programmes or recommending supportive materials. 

External source(s)

Supporting document(s)

206-8a8e8e617620382db1246d67307e69f3_The_Hungarian_Green_Kindergarten_Network%2B.pdf Download

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