In the village of Bata, more than 140 children from ethnic minority communities stood together and voiced a truth larger than all of us: “Earth is our home. We don’t have a spare planet”.
It wasn’t a line from a script. It was a promise: a declaration of belonging, responsibility and hope.
These children imagined a world where forests breathe freely, rivers run clear, the air is light, and the soil is alive. A world where they are not passive observers of global challenges, but active guardians of their shared home.
This vision became the heart of Mission: Earth, a GET youth-led initiative designed to strengthen children’s environmental awareness and foster active citizenship. Through the project’s learning materials, teacher training and methodological support, students explored climate change, sustainability, and global interdependence – and transformed knowledge into action.
For one month, Hristo Botev Primary School became a living ecosystem of global learning and real-world engagement. Every day opened a new path for curiosity, creativity, and leadership.
During this period, the children planted trees, cared for the soil, and nurtured young seedlings. They cleaned their village, created art from natural and recycled materials, organised exhibitions and science projects. They developed their own eco-rules for the school and became Health Ambassadors, Eco Patrols, Gardeners, Explorers, and Creators.
These activities were inspired and supported by our project’s educational resources, which helped teachers weave global themes into everyday learning and encouraged students to take meaningful action. Gradually, the children began speaking about climate change with a confidence and maturity that surprised even their teachers–they no longer waited for someone else to act; they proposed solutions themselves.
More than 100 parents joined their actions, while Pomorie Municipality, the local community centre, cultural institutions and social services stood beside them. For the first time in years, the school, families and local institutions worked as one – united by a shared purpose. What began as a school initiative grew into a community movement, proving that global education is not simply a lesson, but a way of living, acting, and changing the world together.
The culmination was the performance “Let There Be Light”, where Earth, Water, Air, and Soil spoke through the children’s voices. The script was co-created by teachers and students, inspired by the GET project’s climate change materials and the children’s reflections throughout the month. The performance itself became a Youth Action – a creative expression of what the students had learned and felt.
Earth whispered:
“My forests burn. My ice is melting. I need you”
Water pleaded:
“My rivers are crying. The sea is gasping for breath”
Air admitted:
“I am becoming hotter, dirtier, heavier”
And Soil—quiet, essential, irreplaceable—said:
“Without me, there is no future. No bread. No life”
Then a child stepped forward and said: “But we hear you. We will plant trees. We will save water. We will keep the air clean. We will be part of the changee— today, not tomorrow”.
The hall fell silent. At that moment, the children were no longer performers. They were leaders. They were the change itself.
A young environmental advocate, invited as guest presenter, captured the essence of the moment: “You don’t have to be big to make a big change”. And everyone believed it.
Mission: Earth did not end on 22 April. It ignited a spark that continues to shine.
Children now lead eco-initiatives in their school: they maintain the school garden and herb beds, organise seasonal clean-ups of the village; sort waste and promote recycling through student-made posters, create art from natural materials. The school now plans to make Mission: Earth an annual, student-led initiative – a sign that the change is lasting and growing.
Teachers see a real transformation
“I embraced my participation in the GET project wholeheartedly… The students were active participants and generated ideas for new initiatives related to climate change and environmental protection” Irena Balahurova, biology and chemistry teacher
Nina Vasileva, English teacher added: “I want my students, my family and my friends to live in a cleaner, safer world… I joined Mission: Earth with great enthusiasm”
Parents feel included and empowered.
“I am happy that my children and I are part of this community, and I gladly join the school’s initiatives. Thank you for helping us”
Diana Barabar, parent and refugee from Ukraine:
And the students themselves speak as young activists. Aylin, Aylin, a sixth-grade student, told us: “Climate change is part of our lives… I believe each of us can make a difference by taking care of waste, consuming less, and avoiding unnecessary waste of food, clothes and transport”.
The village of Bata has become a model of youth-driven environmental action, showing how small communities can inspire big change. Its story reveals what happens when children are trusted, encouraged, and empowered: they rise, they act, they inspire. And they remind us that the future is not something we wait for: it is something we build together.
With the support of the GET project, Mission: Earth continues to grow as a sustainable Youth Action initiative, proving that when global education meets local commitment, even the smallest village can become a beacon of transformation, a spark that ignites new actions far beyond the borders of Bata.
