A project drafted by students from Romania and Norway turn the usual children's playgrounds into small green energy production plants and environmental education centers. Their idea, called EnergyGround, won a competition for sustainability projects organized in Norway for both students and teachers.

The initiative is part of Greenovation Challenge, a bilateral project for environmental education (Romania-Norway), developed by Junior Achievement Romania.

The EnergyGround park allows the production and storage of energy from sports activities. Activities like jumping the rope or pedaling transform the movement into energy using special equipment fitted with sensors, photovoltaic panels, and monitors that show explanatory animations on renewable energy.

The students worked in mixed teams to come up with a creative project on sustainable development. They had to choose between two themes, renewable energy and the house of the future.

Greenovation Challenge is a project developed by Junior Achievement Romania in partnership with Ungt Entreprenørskap Sogn og Fjordane and Romontana Associaton, and is funded through the EEA Grants 2009-2014 within the NGO Fund in Romania. Between 2014 and 2016, the project will include more than 900 students and 40 teachers from mountain areas.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: junior achievement romania on facebook)