Children at the AWO Family Centre collaborate diligently on projects in Bottrop's Schwammstadt area.
The "Hand in Hand for the Sponge City" project, an educational initiative aimed at teaching children about climate protection, is currently active at the AWO Family Center "Hand-in-Hand" in Germany. This project focuses on the importance of water and plants in urban areas, using the concept of "Sponge Cities" to demonstrate how integrated water and plant management can contribute to sustainability, flood prevention, and healthy urban environments.
The children at the centre have been actively involved in various activities that highlight the role of urban greenery and water management in mitigating the effects of climate change and urban flooding. Through small experiments and interactive activities, they have learned about the benefits of plants and permeable surfaces in absorbing rainwater, reducing surface runoff, replenishing groundwater, and improving urban resilience against extreme weather events.
One innovative idea from a child at the centre was a house irrigation system with a magic flower. Another project involved the children building a raised bed, which was planted with tomatoes and herbs. A birch tree will also be planted at the centre, surrounded by wildflowers, and a bench has been created for people to sit and enjoy the newly planted area.
To help with watering the plants, a water tank has been set up at the centre. Artist David Kory from the Urbanists, who are funding the project, assisted a boy in spraying a carrot onto the facade of the centre, with the children creating stencils of their drawings and spraying them onto the building.
Nora Schrage-Schmücker from the Prosper III neighbourhood office helped the children build the raised bed. The centre has also participated in the Gießkannenheld*innen project. At the end of the project, the children received sponge city driver's licenses.
Cities, like the AWO Family Center "Hand-in-Hand", must be able to absorb and release water like a sponge, as emphasized by Sebastian Ortmann from the Emschergenossenschaft. The "Hand in Hand for the Sponge City" project is a testament to the power of education in fostering awareness of sustainable drainage systems and the broader role of green infrastructure in climate protection. The centre has been a climate protection kindergarten since 2019, demonstrating a commitment to teaching children about the importance of climate protection and sustainability.
- The children at the AWO Family Center "Hand-in-Hand" have engaged in learning about environmental science, especially focusing on climate-change and its mitigation, through interactive activities and small experiments that showcase the benefits of plants and permeable surfaces in urban areas.
- As part of their educational journey, the children have been involved in various projects such as building a raised bed for planting tomatoes and herbs, and establishing a house irrigation system with a magic flower, highlighting the importance of water management in urban environments.
- The "Hand in Hand for the Sponge City" project has not only taught the children about the role of integrated water and plant management in creating sustainable and flood-resilient urban environments but also underscores the significance of education-and-self-development in promoting climate protection and green infrastructure in cities.
