“Draw me your courtyard of tomorrow” – The students have submitted their work

Following the work carried out with the Park to imagine the future of their schoolyard, the eco-delegates of the Jean-Baptiste Darnet school complex in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche presented their redevelopment proposals to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and the architectural firm in charge of the project.

A project led by the students

At the initiative of the teacher in charge of the eco-delegates, this project aimed to question students about their needs and expectations regarding the playground, while integrating current environmental and climate issues. From March to June, they benefited from the support of agents from the Regional Natural Park, specialized in territorial education and adaptation to climate change, and from the Council of Architecture, Urban Planning and the Environment (CAUE) of Haute-Vienne.

After one first phase of diagnosis and investigation, the students came up with development proposals that took into account current and future climate conditions. The goal: to design a courtyard that is more pleasant to live in, cooler in the summer, more green, and more conducive to biodiversity. The students proposed the creation of a second courtyard, the planting of trees, the addition of water fountains, and a reorganization of the courtyard into several small spaces to combine quiet activities and sports activities. They would also like the future courtyard to reflect the identity of Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche with the creation of a collective ceramic fresco linked to the history of kaolin.

Before the summer break, the eco-delegates presented these proposals to the architect hired by the Region, who owns the premises and is ready to undertake energy renovation work on the buildings and greening the courtyard. The quality of the presentations, The relevance of the ideas and the commitment of the group were unanimously praisedBased on these discussions, the Region and the architectural firm will refine the plan for the future courtyard and will return to present it to the students in the fall.

A mobilizing educational approach

This project proved to be a powerful educational tool for the students. It allowed them to acquire cross-curricular skills: collaborative work, the ability to plan for the long term, understanding of climate issues, but also the ability to express oneself, to compare points of view and to build solutions together. A real apprenticeship in active citizenship. More than just an awareness-raising action, The project allowed students to realize that they can be agents of change, that their word has weight and deserves to be heard.

Camille, a first-year student, testifies: "I particularly enjoyed being able to interact with the architect, hear his ideas, and share our own. I also enjoyed thinking about which facilities to propose or remove from the courtyard. We are often asked for our opinion, even though as students we are at the bottom of the decision-making ladder.".

Jade, a second-year vocational baccalaureate student, adds: "It's a great project, which has a future and can help show that things need to change in the establishment and elsewhere."She also highlights the team spirit and constructive exchanges that marked all the working sessions.

Like Camille and Jade, the students appreciated the opportunity to work on a concrete project that will last over time. Everyone is eagerly awaiting the meeting scheduled for the fall to discover the updated development project based on their proposals.