MOTIVATION FOR THE PROJECT

Sustainable development” is of major concern for all EU members as outlined by among all, the EU-2020 strategy. With sustainable development we mean: "Sustainable Development stands for meeting the needs of present generations without jeopardizing the ability of futures generations to meet their own needs – in other words, a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. It offers a vision of progress that integrates immediate and longer-term objectives, local and global action, and regards social, economic and environmental issues as inseparable and interdependent components of human progress. (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/) Within this area, the climate change, energy use and waste are areas of strong common importance in Europe at this point in time. Furthermore globalisation of today places high demands on people’s capability to live with and understand the values cultural diversion brings. The pre-school is a social and cultural meeting point that can strengthen and prepare children for this ever developing multicultural society. Awareness on each country’s own cultural heritage as well as awareness and participation in other people’s cultures can contribute to pre-school children developing their capacities of understanding other people’s life conditions and society values. Sustainable development encompasses many dimensions where also bringing people closer to each other in peace and harmony is another dimension besides the ecological one of great importance.
The pre-school today should lay the foundation for a lifelong learning and it should be fun, safe and educative for all children participating. Pre-school education should stimulate children’s development and learning as well as offer a safe and caring setting. Pre-school education needs to focus on environmental issues, such as an sustainable ecological approach to life. Pre-schools have a very important role to play in offering children the opportunities to thoroughly develop their understanding of human and society and that everything is connected. For us the above is the rational for this project as sustainable development has no national boundaries.