AgriEDU CEX launches the “Green Matters” project to support “green” education in Romania

AgriEDU CEX (Center of Excellence for Agro-Food Educational Resources and Sustainable Development) has launched the “Green Matters” program together with the Văcărești Natural Park Association, SOS Children’s Villages Romania, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This initiative brings together education, nature, and community involvement to support green education in Romania and empower younger generations to take the lead in addressing the climate crisis.

“As part of the new Green Matters program, we aim to create role models that inspire Romanian children, and together with our project partners, alongside GroenPact, our partners from the Netherlands, and with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Romania, we plan to organize various activities to promote best practices in the green sectors and foster innovation in Romanian education”,” stated Florentina Nanu, Coordinator of AgriEDU CEX.

At the launch event, recently held at SOS Children’s Villages in Bucharest, participated H.E. Willemijn van Haaften, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Romania, Jan Steverink, professor at Zone College in the Netherlands and Coordinator of GreenTable Romania, as well as Diana Podaru, General Director of SOS Children’s Villages Romania, Dan Bărbulescu, Executive Director of the Văcărești Natural Park Association (APNV), and Florentina Nanu, Coordinator of AgriEDU CEX.

Her Excellency Ambassador Willemijn van Haaften emphasized the role of education in this process: “Making cities greener requires a deep cultural and behavioral change. And education should be our most powerful instrument. Let’s teach the younger generation that every flower matters, every seedling planted, every new or improved green space in the city makes a difference.”

AgriEDU has taken on the mission of acting as a connector for green education initiatives in Romania since 2021, providing the necessary framework for young people to develop ecological competencies through innovative educational resources, professional training, and impactful national projects. The new initiative, Green Matters, reinforces this mission by bringing together strategic partners focused on sustainability and social equity.

A key role in supporting this initiative is played by the educational hub of SOS Children’s Villages, which will actively integrate projects focused on nature and urban biodiversity.
“Children need an authentic connection with nature to grow into adults who care for and protect the environment. Through the SOS Children’s Urban Green Hub, we aim to provide children with opportunities to explore urban biodiversity with their minds, hearts, and hands, in a safe, green, and opportunity-rich environment created within SOS Children’s Villages. This project fosters practical learning and emotional engagement with nature, helping to nurture a generation that is both conscious and committed to environmental protection. We invite all partners who share this vision to join us. Together, we can cultivate sustainable values and build greener, more responsible communities,” said Diana Podaru, General Director of SOS Children’s Villages Romania.

With immediate goals to expand green spaces in Bucharest by conserving, promoting, and improving access to five biodiversity-rich natural areas – Băneasa Forest, Petricani Meadow, Dâmbovița Riverside, Saulei Valley, and the Dobroești Reedbeds (Colentina Valley), the Văcărești Natural Park Association seeks to create new opportunities for experiencing nature, while also advancing education, green solutions, and ecological restoration—key concepts still underrepresented in Bucharest’s civic, educational, and urban environment.

A video was launched within the event, created with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The video, Green Matters, could serve as a prelude to Green week in all Romanian schools and shows how Dutch pupils are involved from a young age in projects that protect nature and integrate it more into their everyday life. The video was filmed in Netherlands schools the with the help of Jan Steverink, a teacher at Zone College, and Victor Dijkshoorn, a landscape architect and CEO of VIC Landscape, who were both present at the event.

“Education doesn’t end at the classroom door. Children learn best through hands-on experiences, active involvement, and real-world examples. That has been at the core of AgriEDU’s mission since 2021, and it’s exactly what we continue to provide through this new program,” concluded Florentina Nanu.