Eco-School

1st Eco-School program

Eco-School Award Ceremony in Biatorbágy

The Eco-School Award Ceremony took place at the Biatorbágy Primary School and Hungarian-English Bilingual Primary School. The host of the event was Dávid Trózsák, Curriculum Development Officer at the Department for Public Education Content Development of the Ministry of Interior of Hungary. Welcome notes were delivered by Erika Pálfi, Head of Department for Public Education Content Development at theMinistry of Interior. The audience included first-time recepients (első díjasok), second-time recipients (másodszori díjasok) as well as the perpetual award winners (örökös ökoiskolák). Approximately 300 participants arrived from all over the country, bringing plans and flowers as an example of a best-practice, recommended also to the schools for the first day of the school year in September. AIC was represented by Ms. Erika Sólyom. During the entire event, it was emphasized that Eco-Schools have to incorporate the environmental projects and events into their pedagogical program. Active participation is very important throughout the year. The welcome speech was followed by the music performance of singer Enikő Hodosi, accompanied by Gábor Éles. Then the Eco-School Certificates were awarded by Dr. Katalin Balatoni, Deputy State Secretary for Education at the Ministry of Interior of Hungary. Further awards were presented by Nikoletta Keszthelyi, Deputy State Secretary for the Environment at the Ministry of Energy, who emphasized the commitment to teaching sustainability and environmnetal protection in the schools. The closing part of the event was a presentation on the preservation of sustainable values given by environmental influencer, Péter Szebenyi.

Written by Erika Sólyom

June 7, 2024

Photo and Video Credit: Ministry of Interior of Hungary

2nd Eco-School program

Tree Planting at the 2023-2024 Graduation Ceremony of AIC

After the official program of the Graduation Ceremony of the 12th graders with their master teacher, Ms. Andrea Juhász, special end-year notes were delivered by AIC President, Dr. Shahrokh Mirzahosseini. This year, in light of eco-consciousness, a new tradition began at Avicenna. At the end of the ceremony, graduating students with and their teachers planted a tree in the garden of the school as „trees are the poems that the earth writes upon the sky.”

Written by Erika Sólyom

May 17, 2024

3rd Eco-School program

Eco-conscious School Trip to Pécs

Avicenna students went for a 3-day eco-conscious school trip to Pécs. Organizers, with the leadership of Mr. László Maróti, made sure that various environment-centered programs are included during the trip such as staying in the hills and not in the city center, exclusively using public transportation or walking in the woods. In addition to city tours, students visited the local zoo and learnt about the importance of coral reefs in the ecosytem. During the visit to the Planetarium of the famous Zsolnay Quarter, AIC listened to a presentation about space research, astronomy as well as the connection of natural sciences and the environment.

Written by Erika Sólyom

June 11-13, 2024

4th Eco-School Program

Eco-School Presentation for Calabrian Visitors

In cooperation with the Hungarian subsidiary of International House English language school, 30 Italian students and 5 accompanying teachers from the Calabrian town of Amantea visited Avicenna International College on October 1st, 2024. Mr. János Kovács, Director of International Cooperation at AIC and organizer of the program, greeted the guests and outlined the agenda. Dr. Shokooh Mirzahosseini, Manager of AIC German Department, presented the development of AIC and summarized the nearly 30-year history of the institution and its main areas of educational activity. Dr. Arash Mirza Hosseini, CEO of AIC Ltd., presented AIC’s operation, current activities, contacts with Italy through various programs such as the Erasmus mobility. Ms. Andrea Juhász, Vice Principal, welcomed the guests on behalf of the management of Avicenna High School. Two Italian AIC students, Ricardo and Nicola welcomed the group on behalf of the students. ESL and HFL teacher, Ms. Erika Sólyom greeted the guests in Italian and conducted a presentation about the Eco-School projects of Avicenna and underlined the importance of sustainability. The program ended with a tour in the school and a group photo in the garden, with green backpacks pointing to green projects in the future.

Written by János Kovács and Erika Sólyom

October 1, 2024

5th Eco-School Program

Green Cities Presentation at AIC Erasmus Mobility in Lecce

With the leadership of Mr Steve, 9 Avicenna students took part in a one-week long study and cultural trip in Lecce, in the Salento countryside in the Puglia region of South Italy. The whole trip with its magnificent natural, cultural and academic offering was made possible thanks to the invitation of Istituto Tecnico Grazia Deledda. The weekly calendar was fully packed with academic and cultural events. The program also included Eco-School related activities. For example, AIC students participated in a Green Cities presentation made by the local students and then took part in organic chemistry lab practices to produce soap. Avicenna students also had a chance for a long outdoor education at the Lecce seaside, called San Cataldo. They collected water and sand samples to analyse them later on in the laboratory. The water samples were meant to be examined for phyto and zooplankton under stereo microscope. The sand samples were collected for micro and macro plastic analysis and to determine their origin. On the last day of the school week, students picked up their Erasmus certificates and went to a truly spectacular garden in Giuggianello, to the Cutura. La Cutura is a private collection of exotic succulent plants, the owner’s father started it and the family itself has collected more than 1000 specimens so far. On the way back to Budapest, students visited the regional capital Bari, which is another spectacular port and seaside city. The group spent four hours there and then headed to the airport to go back home with a heavy heart given the whole tirade of unforgettable events and places and the welcoming spirit of the Italian hosts. This mobility was fully financed by Erasmus funds and co-organised by AIC and its partner in Lecce, Istituto Tecnico Grazia Deledda.

Written by Steve Szabó and Erika Sólyom

October 10-13, 2024

6th Eco-School Program

AIC Students Planting Flowers in the School Garden

Avicenna International College is dedicated to organise more and more sustainability related programs not only by teaching about our environment in the classroom but also involving and inspiring our students to support the school’s ecosystem. On November 13th, 2024, our Grade12 students with their Civilisation teacher, Ms. Alice joined forces to clear leaves, rake compost, and plant bulbs and seeds around the school grounds. This initiative provided a wonderful opportunity for students, teachers, and management staff to come together outside the classroom, collaborating on a project that reflects our shared commitment to sustainability. Several students even took the lead by choosing the plants and collecting materials ahead of the gardening, a reflection of their dedication and care to this initiative. The afternoon was a rewarding experience for everyone involved. Many thanks to guidance, inspiration and support of Mr. Károly and Mr. Győző. The event was organised by HFL/ESL teacher and AIC’s Sustainability Coordinator, Ms. Erika.

Written by Alice Callender and Erika Sólyom

November 13, 2024

7th Eco-School Program

Recycled Flowerpot Workshop for Classroom Plants

Avicenna International College has purchased beautiful plants for each classroom. On November 14, 2024, Ms. Zsófi dedicated one of her Master Classes to a workshop, where students made recycled flowerpots for the newly arrived classroom plants.

Written by Erika Sólyom

November 14, 2024

8th Eco-School Program

Cyanotype Art Workshops

Cyanotype is a creative and environmentally conscious process that combines art, science, and nature, using sunlight, a renewable and abundant natural resource, to produce blue prints. Invented in 1842, this method involves coating paper or fabric with a non-toxic, light-sensitive solution, placing objects like leaves, flowers, or other found materials on the surface, and exposing them to UV light. When sunlight is not available, UV lamps can be used. After exposure, rinsing the surface with water reveals the final print in beautiful deep blues: delicate details—the veins of a leaf, the curve of a petal—that echo the beauty of the surrounding natural environment.

Cyanotype offers a way to work in a meditative, tactile way, closely with nature. It uses light, water, and organic forms to create images, offering a thoughtful way to make art while being mindful of the environment. The Sun, is an essential collaborator in this analog process. The simplicity and affordability of cyanotype make it accessible to many people. By its low environmental impact, cyanotype offers a creative process that respects and works in harmony with nature, making it a model of sustainability in artistic practice and education.

On October 9th, November 20th and November 27th, 2024, four groups of Erasmus students from Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and Turkey participated in a cyanotype workshop at Avicenna High School, where they produced some wonderful works with the guidance of Ms. Eszter.

Written by Eszter Poroszlai

November 27th, 2024

9th Eco-School Program

Sustainability Lecture Series – Part 1

Mr. András Kovalóczy, a recent graduate of CHARM-EU, gave a presentation on ”Young Professionals in the Sustainability Sector” to Grade11 students of Ms. Ildikó’s Sustainability class at AIC. In his introduction, András spoke about his personal and professional background. Then he introduced the CHARM-EU program he has recently graduated from. CHARM-EU is an educational program for M.A. students in the field of Sustainability and Global Challenges. CHARM-EU represent a Challenge-driven, Accessible, Research-based and Mobile model for the co-creation of a European University aligned with the European Values, the European Green Deal and the sustainable development goals. (https://www.charm-eu.eu/about-us). Then he introduced the UN SDGs and spoke about SDG-based challenges. At the end of his presentation, he talked about his recent fellowship in Tanzania, where he was involved in a participatory research about exploring how climate change impacts the farmer communities in Northern Tanzania.

Written by Erika Sólyom

December 12, 2024