Smart Drops: AI-Driven Ecological Literacy for Water Sustainability and Wellbeing Promotion

Reference code

2026-1-ES01-KA210-SCH-000456762

Call year

2026

Action

KA210-SCH

Duration

20 months

Period

1 October 2026 – 31 May 2028

Coordination

Laura Salgado Ferreira, IA-GO!

Sector

School Education

Coordinator country

Spain

Participating countries

Spain, Türkiye, Croatia, Italy

Role

Beneficiary: Laura Salgado Ferreira

Approved funding

60.000 €

Status

In Progress

General objective

To strengthen water sustainability literacy among students aged 14–18 in Mediterranean regions affected by climate pressure, integrating structured environmental inquiry into school curricula using accessible digital tools and international cooperation; to improve students' ecological knowledge, digital data skills and active citizenship, and to strengthen schools' capacity to embed sustainable education in long-term planning.

Specific objectives

• Strengthen green skills and ecological literacy: train 200+ students on the science of climate change and the water-energy nexus, fostering a deep sense of water stewardship.
• Develop basic skills and key competences through digital innovation: use AI, VR and GIS as pedagogical instruments to analyse climate data, ensuring students from disadvantaged backgrounds gain high-level functional digital literacy.
• Promote wellbeing at school by tackling eco-anxiety: use non-formal education to transform climate-related stress into proactive civic participation, increasing students' emotional resilience.
• Optimise the management of energy and resources in schools: pilot AI-driven smart tracking methods to monitor water usage as a finite resource, reducing schools' overall environmental footprint.

Target groups

• Teaching and professional staff of the four participating organisations
• Students aged 14–18: 12 direct participants per mobility and around 200 students per school community in Türkiye and Croatia
• The four organisations: two public secondary schools (Türkiye and Croatia) and two NGOs specialised in digital innovation and inclusion (Spain and Italy)
• Families, local farmers and regional water management authorities (e.g. ASKİ in Ankara)

Project activities

1. 01

   AI-Driven Eco-Training

   Online training for teachers and students from the four countries, organised by IA-GO! from Spain (18–22 January 2027): AI and GIS competences for environmental protection and the technical framework of the Water-AI Map.

2. 02

   A Journey Through Ecological Learning

   Mobility in Spain (8–12 March 2027), coordinated by IA-GO!: ecological literacy, an educational visit to the Doñana Natural Area and a workshop on water sustainability in school education.

3. 03

   Combating Climate Change and Water Management

   Long-term local activity in Türkiye (1 May – 31 August 2027), led by Ufuk Arslan Anadolu Lisesi: creation of a 250 m² drought-resistant landscape and cultural heritage garden in the schoolyard, responding to Ankara's water scarcity.

4. 04

   Climate Change and Our Water Environment

   Mobility in Croatia (24–28 May 2027), hosted by Srednja škola Mate Blažine: water fieldwork, environmental data collection and a visit to Pazin Cave.

5. 05

   Intercultural activities and networking among participants

   Mobility in Italy (25–29 October 2027), coordinated by Jump In: intercultural environmental awareness activities (eco-mapping, photo documentation, interviews with local stakeholders) and structured sessions on sustainable tourism and coastal protection.

6. 06

   Adriatic-Ankara Hybrid Sustainability Walk

   Hybrid sustainability walk in Croatia (6–8 December 2027), organised by Srednja škola Mate Blažine: a sustainability route with five stops documented with sensors and cameras, connected online with Ankara.

7. 07

   Green Dialogue: Empowering Youth for Local Climate Action in Poggiardo

   Workshop in Italy (7–8 February 2028), coordinated by Jump In: a local policy and strategy incubator where young people engage directly with the mayor and local stakeholders on EU environmental policies.

8. 08

   Ankara's Water Resources and the Threat of Drought and The Impact of Water on Civilization and Identity

   Mobility in Türkiye (17–21 April 2028), coordinated by Ufuk Arslan Anadolu Lisesi: Ankara's water resources and the threat of drought, with fieldwork at the dams and reflection on the impact of water on civilization and identity.

European consortium

• 

  Spain · Coordinator

  Laura Salgado Ferreira (IA-GO!)

  Mazagón, Spain · OID: E10381210

• 

  Türkiye

  Ufuk Arslan Anadolu Lisesi

  Etimesgut (Ankara), Türkiye · OID: E10029319

  School websiteSmart Drops on their site

• 

  Italy

  Associazione Culturale Jump In

  Poggiardo, Italy · OID: E10049535

  FacebookEU Youth Portal profile

• 

  Croatia

  Srednja škola Mate Blažine

  Labin, Croatia · OID: E10074792

  School website

Expected results (planned)

• Mediterranean-Adriatic Water-AI Map: an open educational resource with anonymised datasets, teacher guidance and classroom scenarios
• Digital Activity Booklet: a guide integrating AI-driven water data analysis and non-formal methods into curricula
• Ecological Wellbeing Handbook: a collection of non-formal education activities for mental health and environmental awareness
• Smart Water Protocol: a policy document for partner schools on efficient resource management and zero-waste habits
• Water Guardian Club Charters: frameworks for student-led action in protecting local water resources
• A 40% increase in correct responses in environmental literacy surveys
• At least 10 local case studies and 20+ environmental data points for the sustainability map
• Participation of at least 50% students with fewer opportunities

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education (SEPIE). Neither the European Union nor SEPIE can be held responsible for them.