Sporos was founded in 2019 by four activists to deliver educational activities to children, as they strongly believe that children are our planet’s only hope and feel great responsibility towards future generations. Through its forest schools Sporos strives from day one to reconnect children with nature and develop their environmental identity. The organisation soon expanded their horizons and now delivers courses on permaculture, regenerative farming, organic gardening, natural building and more. 

Being established in the oh so beautiful, yet torn island of Lesvos, they aim to bridge the gap between the local and the refugee population, bringing them all together to work and restore the land, while at the same time restoring relations.

Their mission is the regeneration of the environment, of culture and of human relations. Through their plethora of educational tools they aim to teach people of all backgrounds and ages how to live more sustainable, healthier lives while caring for each other and mother nature.

Lesvos Island is the 3th biggest island in Greece but on the fringes of the country. Its remote geographical position has an impact on the local population’s development opportunities. Lesvos is also the biggest migration hotspot in Europe and it hosts at the moment a very big number of displaced people. It is estimated that since 2015 more than 1 million asylum seekers have passed from the island. 

As an environmental education organisation, Sporos believes it is paramount to educate people from both communities and make them aware of the grave climate change issue we are facing. Their aim is to educate people from both the local and the refugee population together on sustainable environmental agricultural practices, reusing and recycling as well as food sovereignty. 

With this project they want to establish seasonal educational workshops in a Permaculture Lab that will be built, together with the help of AFD students with architectural and engineering backgrounds, using natural building techniques and upcycled/recycled materials. It will have an indoor space to store equipment and serve as a class for small groups and a bigger covered outdoor area. As natural building techniques will be used, the help of their target audience will be incorporated. 

Therefore, workshops will be organised with the help of the students, to teach the natural building techniques to refugees and locals during the implementation period. In addition, business students can work on building a sustainable business model to increase revenue in order to maximise our impact in the coming years.  

Core deliverables: 

– Prepare an architectural and engineering design for the Permaculture Lab including how to maximise the use of upcycled materials and incorporate natural building techniques.

-Collaborate with Sporos regarding the organising of the natural building workshops with refugees and locals. 

-Prepare a business plan for Sporos to achieve the impact goals of its educational activities in the next 5 years.