(Czech Republic) The project Locals focused on promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and raising awareness about the circular economy. It aimed to show how sustainable principles can be applied in both business and everyday life. A total of 20 students and 3 teachers participated, directly engaging 250 citizens and reaching over 10,000 people through social media.
Students conducted interviews with local entrepreneurs who apply circular economy principles and created engaging reports, videos, and social media content to share their stories. The main outputs included an interactive map of sustainable initiatives, a documentary film in English, and a well-designed Instagram page that became a platform for connecting responsible businesses and citizens. The project involved 20 partners, including entrepreneurs, a youth-focused nonprofit organization, and international collaborators.
The learning objectives were to develop key 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. Students learned how to collect and verify information, conduct interviews, produce educational media content, and communicate sustainability topics in an appealing way. They also gained experience in teamwork, visual communication, and project management, linking classroom knowledge to real-world sustainability challenges.
From the community perspective, the project mapped sustainable businesses, supported their networking, and inspired young people to act as informed, responsible consumers. Students designed the project’s logo and visual identity, learning about branding and purposeful design, while also using digital tools for filming, editing, and publishing.
Learning and service were fully integrated, connecting lessons from language, social sciences, IT, and visual arts. Activities included mapping businesses, interviewing entrepreneurs, preparing reports and videos, managing social media, and creating educational materials that helped the public understand circular economy principles.
The project had a significant impact on the community, promoting sustainable business practices and responsible consumer behavior. It also built long-term partnerships between local enterprises and the school, laying the foundation for future projects. The materials and content produced will continue to be used for education and awareness-raising.
This project stands out as an excellent example of how a school can combine education, creativity, and community engagement. By aligning learning goals with sustainable development and cross-sector collaboration, it successfully demonstrated how young people can become advocates for change and leaders in building a greener, more responsible future.