LocationsIn mid-August, Minsk hosted its second summer school dedicated to climate change. Thirty-five schoolchildren aged eight to 16 spent five intensive days attending lessons you simply wouldn't find in any ordinary classroom.
Five days that could change the future
August 28, 2025
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
While adults engage in debates at climate summits and negotiate international agreements, summer camps and schools worldwide are quietly developing their own climate agenda. Children aged seven to 16 explore the greenhouse effect through hands-on experiments, devise energy-saving projects and discuss the planet's future with an engagement that would impress seasoned diplomats.
For the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), young people are important participants in solving the climate crisis with a unique ability to innovate and mobilize both resources and communities.
Summer climate schools constitute an investment in the future, transforming knowledge into action and channeling children's natural curiosity into a powerful engine for solutions.
From 11-15 August 2025, the Republican Centre for Ecology and Local History, supported by UNDP's regional project “Climate Education to Advance SDGs and Climate Action" (Climate Box), orchestrated a remarkable educational programme. The participants were winners of the national competition "The Future of the Climate is in Our Hands" – young people who had already demonstrated a genuine passion for climate issues.
No boring lectures — just lively discussions and experiments.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
Twenty-one girls and 14 boys, organized into three age groups, delved into climate science through interactive sessions, laboratory experiments, field trips and even psychological workshops. These weren't boring lectures – here they debated, experimented, developed projects and presented their findings to expert panels.
The summer school transformed Minsk into a climate laboratory. Participants visited four key scientific institutions, each revealing fresh perspectives on climate change challenges.
Participants of the summer school in front of the Forest Selection and Seed Production Centre building.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
At the Republican Forest Selection and Seed Production Centre, children discovered how forests adapt to shifting weather patterns. Minsk Zoo explored how global warming affects wildlife. Yet the standout experience proved to be the Central Botanical Garden of Belarus's National Academy of Sciences.
"I was absolutely fascinated by the incredible plant collection. Learning about the enormous efforts to protect rare and endangered species in our country was truly inspiring," reflected 15-year-old Valeria Ananko from Naroch Secondary School.
Each day carried its own focus. "Climate and Us" dialogue sessions gave way to eco-debates examining climate change's impact on human health. The ecological and psychological workshop "In Harmony with Nature" helped forge new environmental perspectives, whilst the laboratory session "Climate Change and Biodiversity" equipped students with essential research skills.
Experienced climatologists shared the latest scientific data and demonstrated how to turn theory into practical solutions.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
The school's true value lay not merely in its comprehensive programme, but primarily in meaningful exchanges with specialists. Seasoned educators working daily on climate issues shared cutting-edge research, demonstrated practical applications of theory and introduced contemporary scientific methodologies.
"The classes gave me opportunities to debate with experts and articulate my own perspectives on climate issues," explains 14-year-old Nikita Pikarevich from Osipovichi. For a teenager passionate about investigating facts and seeking evidence, this proved invaluable.
The school's distinctive strength was its practical teaching approach. Students didn't simply absorb theory – they engaged with UNDP's "Climate Box" educational materials, designed to illuminate complex climate processes through accessible methods.
Results emerged immediately. Thirteen-year-old Nikita Zaretsky from Minsk School No 177 is already formulating ambitious plans. "Summer school taught me about global warming, carbon footprints and eco-friendly habits... I'm determined to propose creating a green roof at our school, because change begins in the classroom."
His peer Elvira Yanenko from the Slutsk Ecological and Biological Centre moved beyond theory: "I've developed a project for waste separation and completely reconsidered my approach to choosing cosmetics."
The summer climate school classes were accessible to all children.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
Fourteen-year-old Karina Matsko from Borovlyanskaya School reflects: "During summer school, particularly on nature excursions, we discussed the recent disappearance of certain plant species and the emergence of new ones uncharacteristic of Belarus. I love studying flora and fauna, and the programme has inspired me to investigate climate change's impact on biodiversity."
What began as a summer programme is evolving into serious research ambitions.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
The summer climate school has concluded, but its influence is only beginning. Feedback from parents confirms that children returned home equipped with fresh knowledge, concrete projects and, crucially, an understanding of their vital role in addressing climate challenges.
Thirty-five schoolchildren spent merely five days in Minsk. Yet these days may transform not only their individual futures but our collective destiny. After all, today's children will be making tomorrow's climate decisions.
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