KITA21 of the S.O.F. Environmental Foundation

The S.O.F. Environmental Foundation supports northern German daycare centers in integrating sustainability into early childhood education as part of the educational initiative KITA21. The funding is aimed at educational institutions committed to environmental awareness and sustainable action. The initiative, active in Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Schleswig-Holstein, offers sponsorship measures in the form of targeted educational and advisory services. Through training, practical consultation, and the establishment of networks, pedagogical professionals and management personnel are empowered to transform their daycare centers into innovative learning environments for sustainable development. The foundation thus aims to provide early impulses so that children can grow up as future shapers of an ecologically oriented society.

The core of the initiative is the sustainable imparting of environmental competencies. With a broad range of offerings, including basic training courses, individual advisory services, and interactive workshops, the pedagogical staff is specifically further qualified. Additionally, the initiative honors exemplary commitment with an annual award that serves as motivation to implement innovative projects in the field of education for sustainable development. The comprehensive support is tailored to the needs of the daycare centers and enables the exchange of practical experiences as well as the joint development of sustainable concepts. All participants are encouraged to question old patterns of thought and establish forward-looking educational approaches.

The funding is directed at all daycare centers, providers, and associations operating in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein as well as northern Germany that show interest in implementing educational projects for sustainable development. Through continuous support, it is possible to sustainably build competencies and redesign everyday pedagogical practice. The initiative thus contributes to making environmental education a fixed component of early childhood support and anchoring sustainable action already in early adulthood. At a time when ecological and social challenges are gaining increasing importance, KITA21 offers a practical and future-oriented platform to make an important societal contribution. This funding encourages all actors to pursue innovative paths and further strengthen the connection to sustainable topics in everyday daycare center life.