The program is aimed at improving environmental education in educational institutions (from kindergartens, through schools to colleges/faculty level), in collaboration with municipalities/cities, utility companies, civil society organizations, media and young people. “ECO-SCHOOLS” should educate new generations of young people to become environmentally conscious, empowered and active in their communities.

''Eco-schools are a great opportunity for our schools, students and the entire local community to work together, concretely and strategically, based on an international methodology, to contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development while directly empowering young people'' said Jan Kulenovic. Director of the MUNJA Social Innovation Incubator, authorized representative of the Eco-School for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He added that the implementation of the program would take two years and that schools in order to receive prestigious green flags and the formal international status of the Eco-School would have to implement a methodology of seven steps, according to an individual plan with the mentorship of MUNJA Incubator.

Coca-Cola in BiH, as a special partner of the program, made the Eco-school program accessible to all secondary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

'By enhancing our knowledge of ecology, environmental conservation, recycling, renewable energies, and repeated use through recycling, we jointly contribute to empowering the community and its environmental activities. In the long term, we want to continue to increase the share of positive environmental footprint and reduce the negative effects on the environment. Coca-Cola HBC B-H Sarajevo has recognized that education and the education system are our key partners in our efforts and that we need to nurture eco-conscious individuals and communities from an early age. Coca-Cola is a company that has long made its investments in the community through youth empowerment programs and this is a logical step and we will therefore be pleased to support an internationally licensed environmental education program called EKO-SCHOOLS with the hope that as many schools as possible participate in this program by raising young people for a waste-free world. We at Coca-Cola will continue to work with local communities, industry partners, customers and consumers to help solve problems such as packaging waste in the environment and seas and to share good practices with them'' said Mirjana Brlečić Bujanić. Head of Public and Regulatory Affairs of Coca-Cola HBC Adria.

''The development of the Eco-School program is assisted by EKOPAK, the first authorized operator for the packaging waste management system. Last year, Ekopak, in cooperation with its partners from Europe, helped Munja Incubator become a member of the FEE network  and entrusted this organization with the implementation of the Eco-Schools program in BiH. This program is of great importance for the development of the system of selective disposal and recycling of packaging waste because through internationally established standards it encourages school children, teaching staff and local communities to establish and develop in their schools awareness of the importance of waste recycling and environmental protection in general. Today's info seminar is the first in a series because it is a long-term project and will continue in the coming years. We hope that most schools in BiH will respond to our call and that all relevant state and local institutions as well as companies from the real sector that have a developed concept of corporate social responsibility will help us in the implementation" said Arman Sekerić, Ekopak expert associate.

 

The International Eco-School Program was developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in 1994 and is now implemented in 67 countries and 60,000 schools. As of the end of 2018, BiH is part of this program, and the BiH Authorized Representative is the MUNJA Social Innovation Incubator, which has been working to empower young people for 18 years in partnership with over 200 schools in all parts of the country.

More information about the Eco-Schools program can be found at: www.hocu.ba/ecoskole, www.ekopak.ba, Facebook: Eco-schools of BiH, Instagram: Eco-schools of BiH. and for additional statements you can contact Gabrijela Rezić on 063 407 327.