“Haus der Kleinen Forscher” (“House of little Scientists”) is an educational initiative, nationally funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, in line with the United Nations Decade “Education for Sustainable Development” (BNE), It is a comprehensive educational programme that primarily supports educational specialists and teachers in guiding children in discovering, researching and learning in the various MINT subjects, covering mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology as well as with issues of sustainability. The foundation aims at further educating pedagogical staff in sustainability education: “Education for sustainable development means empowering adults and children to help shape a sustainable future. They learn to recognise the effects of their actions on others and on nature and to behave in such a way that no one is disadvantaged as far as possible. The common goal is a world that develops sustainably. This includes, for example, climate protection, sustainable consumption, clean water for all, peace, more gender equality, less poverty or affordable clean energy – in total, there are 17 sustainability goals that the global community has agreed on. Everyone should know that and how they can contribute to achieving these goals. Day-care centres have a great opportunity to develop holistically as a place of learning with the help of ESD.” Training of pedagogical staff can take place in-house, online and targets teachers as well as daycare centre managers.
