Who can participate?

The challenge is aimed at pupils from primary and secondary schools in the Netherlands. The organisation also encourages teachers and other education staff to submit their creative proposals. There is also a challenge for further education; see this link for more information.

What is the challenge looking for?

The challenge is looking for new ideas from you to make the school more sustainable. Ideas can also focus on how to become more aware of or learn more about sustainability. A new idea means that it does not yet exist or take place at your school. You will get started in the short term. Your idea must be launched by December 2024 at the latest and implemented during the 2024–2025 school year. You could, for example, organise an activity, project and/or pupil platform focused on sustainability.

Here are some example themes that the ideas could relate to:

  • Preventing food waste
  • Reuse / repair
  • Less waste
  • Water conservation
  • More greenery in and around the school
  • Learning about climate and sustainability
  • Local food production

Your idea may also fall under a different theme!

What is the challenge not looking for?

The challenge is not looking for modifications to the building, such as solar panels, heat pumps or other technical installations. There are already other subsidies and initiatives for these.

What can you win?

Your school will receive an amount of money to carry out your project together with you:

  • For primary schools: 10 winners: €2,500 per submission.
  • For secondary schools: 8 winners: €3,125 per submission.

In addition, the winning pupils will receive the ‘Sustainability Talent in Education’ certificate during the award ceremony. This certificate is signed by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the other participating ministries.

Assessment criteria

When assessing the submissions, the jury will consider the following criteria:

  • Impact: the extent to which the idea contributes to sustainability at school.
  • Creativity: the extent to which it is a new, unique idea.
  • Action plan: how clearly is the idea described?
  • Involving fellow pupils.
  • And finally: how can the idea also be implemented in the following school year?

These criteria are explained in more detail in the procurement-related annex.

Timeline

  • 3 April from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: digital drop-in session ‘From idea to action plan’ (not mandatory)
  • 19 April at 5:00 p.m.: challenge deadline (submission of the initiative proposal)
  • 17 May: announcement of the results and the winning parties
  • End of May: award ceremony and signing of the agreement by the winning parties, and submission of an extract from the Chamber of Commerce by the winning parties.

For more information, click here.