Get to know the 8 Friends
Ready to educate for sustainable futures?
The 8 Friends makes teaching sustainability simple!
We have crafted an exciting journey for you and your Children, featuring the 8 Friends; Tinka, Olly, Danni, Ginny, Yara, Lumi, Petra, and Rumi; that will guide your journey throughout Sustainability from the Start.
Engaging with their colourful adventures offers you a seamless way to weave sustainability into your teaching, creating a unified narrative throughout Sustainability from the Start. You find the activities in every module, everything available via the free app ECE Academy.
In a beautiful place on Earth, there is a village with 8 playful Friends. These Friends love to spend their days exploring, playing, learning, and having fun.
If you would find it beneficial, you are welcome to download this material (story and picture) around the 8 Friends to use in your ECEC setting - available in different languages:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
- Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid activist and politician (2003)
Download the free Sustainability from the Start poster and let the 8 Friends guide you (also available in multiple langagues).
As your children do not have access to the app, displaying the poster to them is a way to allow the Children to follow your shared journey as well:
Tinka is interested in and cares a lot about the Earth. Tinka inspires the Friends to see the beauty in every leaf and listen to the sound of every raindrop, to appreciate the Earth's richness and the coolness of the breeze. You meet Tinka in the activity "Love for Earth" in module 1.
Olly loves being outside, enjoying the sun, the grass, the trees, and even the rain. Every time Olly goes outside, there is something new and fun to discover. It can be a small or big adventure. You meet Olly in the activity "Nature Adventure" in module 2.
The 8 Friends are all about sharing, caring, and having a good time together. Danni thinks: "Isn't it wonderful how we're all different and special?" The 8 Friends like to learn about different songs, dances, and tasty treats from all around the world. You meet Danni in the activity "Cultural Connections Journey" in module 3.
Ginny has a special interest in economics. Ginny wonders: “What comes to mind when you hear the word economics?” This is a word that might sound big but is really about something we all experience - how things are made, sold, and bought in the world. You meet Ginny in the activity "Zero Waste" in module 4.
Yara loves exploring how everything on Earth is connected particularly something that's everywhere but also quite magical - water! Yara loves rivers, rain, and even the water we drink from our taps. Yara wants to help us understand the awesome water cycle and why we should use water carefully. It's an important part of our mysterious Earth! You meet Yara in the activity "Holistic Water Exploration" in module 5.
Lumi is all about friendship, kindness, and being kind to the world. Just like Lumi is a good friend to those around, Lumi wants to be a good friend to the world, treating everyone kindly and taking care of Nature. You meet Lumi in the activity "Colourful World" in module 6.
Petra is our friend who values teamwork, collaborations, and partnerships above all. Now Petra wonders: “What do you think collaborating mean? “How do you feel working together and collaborating? Is it easy or challenging? If we find it difficult, how do we solve it?” You meet Petra in the activity "Global Friendship Quest" in module 7.
Rumi often calls upon the 8 Friends to join together for projects. Be it a Nature adventure with Olly, a trade day at Ginny's shop, or a multicultural festival coordinated with Danni, Rumi inspires the Friends to contribute their unique skills and passions to every task. Just as the 8 Friends unite to create positive changes, Rumi wants you to realise that you can be the change you wish to see in the world. You meet Rumi in the activity "Nurturing our Handprints" in module 8, the very last module of the course Sustainability from the Start.
