One of the main ideas of the International Centre for Education and Exchange Minsk establishment is the idea of strengthening the foundation of a common «House of Europe» by lessons drawn from our history. Global consequences of the Chernobyl disaster had an impact on the lives of not only the Belarusian people, but also the entire European community. In this regard, the theme of «people and the environment» is one of the central parts of the educational activities of IBB Minsk.
In the 1990's IBB organized regularly meetings of the working group that was dealing with alternative energy sources, energy conservation, and environmental protection. In 1995 the study group on energy policy which dealt with the analysis of potential renewable energy sources in Belarus was organized. This group also defended in the political sphere the opinion that these sources of energy are promising for Belarus.
In 2001, the range was extended with a cycle of seminars on ecology, which made a significant contribution to the development of ecological awareness in the population. Experts in the field of education and natural scientists critically evaluated educational materials on ecology and tried new methodological principles. As a result, the best methods were selected and published in the form of numerous handbooks for teachers on environmental education for different age groups. In collaboration with the Academy of Postgraduate Education, in 2004 there was issued a teaching aid, approved by the Belarusian Ministry of Education, «Ecological glance - a manual for teachers of middle class».
Since 2005, the theme of sustainable development has become a central topic of educational seminars, because the solution of environmental problems that threaten the future of mankind is impossible without the implementation of the principles of sustainable development. Since 2005, Belarus has been actively supported the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. The goal of education for sustainable development is not only to convey theoretical knowledge, but to teach students to act as consumers consciously and try to live in harmony with nature and the environment. Therefore, the development and implementation of local school agendas is the best way to interest students, teachers and parents in realization of the principles of sustainable development.
In 2007, IBB Minsk supported pilot projects for local school agendas in four Minsk schools and a school in Novopolotsk. Initiatives of these schools are represented in the brochure «Local School Agenda: First Steps in Belarus». In 2008, about 20 schools participated in the project «Local Agenda 21 in schools». In cooperation with the Academy of Postgraduate Education, there have been developed and approved training courses for teachers. Additionally, a handbook «Local Agenda at school» was published, which serves as a detailed guidance for the initiative groups of local school agendas.
With the support of the Association «Local Agenda 21» of North Rhine-Westphalia, under the direction of Dr. Klaus Reuter there were established first contacts between Belarusian and German schools, working actively in the field of education for sustainable development. Within the project in February 2008 there was organized an educational trip to Germany, during which teachers and students from schools participating in the partner network had the opportunity to get acquainted with specific examples of the principles and methods of education for sustainable development in German schools, and school projects in the area of sustainable development.
In 2009 IBB Minsk for the first time involves students in its ecological activities. Students and teachers of public universities located in Minsk, meet regularly in the Student Club of Ecologists. Within the Club, discussions on environmental issues are held with the participation of invited experts in the field of environmental problems. Students become acquainted with the environmental initiative teams at the other universities respectfully, together environmental actions to draw public attention to environmental issues and make a practical contribution to environmental protection.

For more information please contact:
Nadezda Samersova, head of thematic directions «Man and the Environment»
Address: samersova@inbox.ru