Innovative Strategies for Environmental Education in Educational Institutions

Abstract

The Ana Paez Educational Unit faced environmental problems derived from the lack of preservation of green spaces and the disconnection of the educational community with its surroundings. With 1,198 students and 72 employees, the institution was located in Latacunga, Ecuador, and experienced difficulties similar to those observed in Argentina during 2023. In both contexts, pollution, poor waste management and deforestation affected the environment. Despite initiatives such as the creation of vegetable gardens and reforestation activities, these actions lacked continuity and maintenance, resulting in the progressive deterioration of green areas.
Educational institutions in Ecuador and Argentina showed a low commitment on the part of students and teachers, who prioritized obtaining grades over environmental care. In Argentina, the environmental campaigns promoted in 2023 did not achieve genuine participation, generating situations of abandonment in recreational and green school spaces.
Faced with this reality, the Ana Paez Educational Unit designed an innovative campaign that sought to involve the entire educational community. This initiative proposed participatory strategies, artistic practices and the use of technology to promote collective responsibility and the formation of environmentally conscious citizens. The need for inter-institutional collaboration and the support of governmental and non-governmental organizations was emphasized to ensure the success of the actions