Trine Lindström, teacher of Geography, Biology, Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) and Social Studies (M&M), sustainability coordinator on school and student level, and mentor
‘We need to learn with nature, not just about nature’
Our school is a mini society where we provide students with guidance, skills, and a way of being, to participate meaningfully in society. Sustainability is about living in a way that makes a future for the next generations possible. That is what we need to instill in students, and it is not only about knowledge. In education, we often become so focused on learning objectives that we sometimes forget what truly matters. In Finland, it is natural to work with nature and teach outside: because we are part of nature.
Sustainability in practice
Many students are engaged with sustainability, although it can sometimes be exhausting for them. Some students, for example from countries where climate change is rarely discussed, are happy to finally be able to take action. At school, I coordinate the Eco Counsel: our sustainability council. Each class has a representative, and students are allowed to skip a mentor session to participate. Together with me and their focus groups, they work on concrete initiatives such as solar panels, a clothing swap, awareness campaigns on sustainable transport, or other projects. My role is mainly to guide: I act as a voice for the students, provide support and structure, but the execution is in the hands of the students themselves.
Projects, collaboration and opportunities
A great example is a group of eleventh grade students who had to give a pitch on how to make the school more sustainable. They designed a vegetable garden, experienced the entire cycle, and have now received funding to carry out the project. Next year, new students will take it over. We also collaborate with other Esprit Scholen, local organizations such as the Terragon Foundation, and international partners like the Danish Efterskole. The beauty of Esprit Scholen is that sustainability is part of the vision. We have a sustainability coordinator, structures that give me room to operate, and my work is appreciated. This creates an environment in which sustainability, collaboration, and initiatives from both students and myself naturally come together.