Discovering Hope: Leveraging Technology, Education, and Geotourism for the Exploration & Resilience of Areas Affected by Climate Change
START DATE: 01/05/2026
END DATE: 31/01/2029
Description
Project overview
The REBUILD project (Discovering Hope: Leveraging Technology, Education, and Geotourism for the Exploration & Resilience of Areas Affected by Climate Change) is an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in School Education (KA220-SCH).
The project aims to transform climate change education by turning traditional school excursions into interactive, inquiry-based GeoTour explorations. Through the innovative use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), students will explore the effects of climate change in their local environments, collect and analyse real-world data, and develop practical climate resilience strategies.
REBUILD combines environmental education, STEM learning and digital technologies while encouraging students to become active European citizens. Through collaboration between schools in different European countries, students and teachers will exchange knowledge, compare local climate challenges and jointly explore solutions for a more sustainable and climate-resilient Europe.
Objectives
The overall objective of REBUILD is to strengthen climate literacy, digital competencies and active citizenship by integrating AI, AR and GIS technologies into school-based climate education and field activities.
Key specific objectives and activities include:
- Enhancing students’ environmental awareness and climate literacy through localised, real-world learning.
- Developing students’ digital and STEM competencies through the practical use of AI, AR and GIS.
- Transforming traditional school excursions into immersive GeoTour explorations and inquiry-based learning experiences.
- Training teachers to design GeoTour routes and climate-related educational activities using innovative digital technologies.
- Developing a GeoTour Exploration Framework, digital handbook, educational resources and a repository of AI, AR and GIS tools.
- Establishing the REBUILD digital platform for sharing GeoTour activities, resources, climate data and resilience strategies.
- Promoting cross-border collaboration between European schools through eTwinning and other collaborative activities.
- Encouraging the participation of girls and underrepresented groups in STEM and climate education.
- Engaging local communities in climate awareness, resilience and sustainability activities.
- Empowering students to become active citizens and climate leaders, capable of proposing evidence-based solutions to environmental challenges.
The official project summary identifies environmental awareness, digital/STEM skills, immersive GeoTour learning, European cooperation, community engagement and active citizenship as the six central objectives of REBUILD.
TARGET AUDIENCE
The project focuses primarily on secondary education communities and the wider stakeholders involved in climate action and education.
The main target groups are:
- Secondary school students, particularly students living in climate-affected European regions
- Teachers across different disciplines
- Schools and educational organisations
- Girls and students from underrepresented or disadvantaged groups in STEM
- Local communities, families and local stakeholders
- National and European policymakers
- European and international organisations working in education, sustainability and youth climate action
Through GeoTours, teacher training, digital resources, eTwinning cooperation, community events and the REBUILD platform, these groups will be directly involved in climate education, data collection, knowledge exchange and the development of climate resilience strategies.
Partners
The project is implemented by a 7-partner multidisciplinary consortium from 4 European countries: Belgium, Greece, Cyprus and Latvia. The consortium combines universities and research expertise, educational and scientific organisations, digital innovation organisations and secondary schools.
Open Up’s role in REBUILD
Open Up plays a key role in the digital dimension of REBUILD, contributing its expertise in educational technology, STEAM education and digital transformation. Open Up leads the development of the project’s AI, AR and GIS Tools Repository and the establishment of the REBUILD Digital Platform, providing educators and students with accessible digital resources for climate education, GeoTour activities and cross-border collaboration.
Partner Organisations
- GHENT UNIVERSITY (UGENT) — Ghent, Belgium — Coordinator
- 7th GENERAL LYCEUM OF KALAMARIA — Thessaloniki, Greece
- CYPRUS MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY (CY.M.S.) — Nicosia, Cyprus
- OPEN UP HELLENIC SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION OF INNOVATION — Larisa, Greece
- EUROGEO VZW — Belgium
- RIGA SECONDARY SCHOOL No. 25 — Riga, Latvia
- SINT-LODEWIJKSCOLLEGE — Sint-Andries, Belgium
