Pau Costa Foundation is the coordinator of the EduFire Toolkit project. Helena Ballart, Head of Education and Awareness of the PCF, explains a little bit more about the inquietudes that gave birth to this project, the social perception of wildfires in Catalonia, and the future of the project in classrooms in the following interview.
“By addressing the intersection of wildfires, climate change, and community resilience, the project can prepare students to be informed, engaged, and proactive participants in addressing the urgent environmental challenges we are facing.”
Helena Ballart
What are your inquietudes for being involved in this project?
I am invested in projects that empower individuals through education. The Edufire Toolkit
project’s focus on equipping students with the knowledge to make informed decisions,
advocate for change, and contribute to a sustainable future resonates with my belief in
the transformative power of education.
What is, in Spain (concretely, Catalonia), the social perception of forest fires? Is this
issue addressed at an educational level?
Here we prioritize the transmission of accurate information taken from the wildfire
community. We will try to share educational messages grounded in solid scientific data.
This approach aims to eradicate false and inaccurate information, ensuring that our
collective efforts are based on reliable evidence and expertise. By promoting clear and
accurate knowledge, we can enhance the effectiveness of education initiatives and foster
a stronger and more informed community.
Do you think this project could stay or continue in the classrooms in the moment of
the climate emergency we are facing?
Absolutely, the wildfire education project has the potential to remain highly relevant and
even gain significance in the face of the climate emergency we are experiencing. As
climate change contributes to more frequent and intense wildfires, the importance of
educating students about wildfires and their ecological, social, and safety implications
becomes even more critical.
