“This project appealed to me because of its originality and the multitude of opportunities it offers for working with pupils. We explored targets of historical and cultural value, creating contexts for group interaction and exploration of specific issues…”
‘I was very pleased with the attitude and support of the institution’s administration, which saw in this project a possibility to diversify and enrich non-formal education activities…’
‘It is a project with great potential for development, which deserves to be continued and extended, for as many generations as possible of curious, active and knowledge-loving ’little explorers‘…’

These reflections belong to some teachers participating in the piloting process of a new non-formal education programme – ‘Little Explorers Academy’. The initiative takes place within the project ‘Academy of Little Explorers’, implemented by the Educational Centre PRO DIDACTICA, in partnership with Y-PEER, co-financed by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation, within the programme ‘RITA – Transformations in the Region’, implemented by the Foundation Education for Democracy. The overall objective of the project is to encourage young pupils to discover and explore the cultural, historical and natural sights of the municipality of Chisinau, developing their curiosity, spirit of observation and love for their home city.

Aware of the importance of promoting cultural heritage among children, LT ‘Da Vinci’, LT ‘M. Berezovschi’, LT ‘Ion Pelivan’ and LT ,, Onisifor Ghibu” have enthusiastically accepted to become partner schools in the process of piloting this subject in primary classes.

The programme encourages schoolchildren to learn about the history, values and traditions of their home town. Inspired by the practice of colleagues in Poland (the ‘Akademia Gdańskich Lionek’ educational programme), this first-ever approach is being carried out with the support of teachers as coordinators, parents as partners in the exploration activity, and local guides as learning facilitators – a collaboration that creates a network of support and reinforces the role of education as a collective and relevant process.

The student’s guide ‘Little Explorers’ Academy’, developed by Daniela State, accompanies the whole journey of discovery of museums, monuments, historical buildings, parks, etc. in the capital of the Republic of Moldova. It helps students choose the sights they want to visit, provides information about them and an algorithm for organising their visit. It also contains an explorer’s diary, which is intended to be filled in after each trip, asking students to write down the date of their visit, their impressions and emotions.

The 1,000 pupils involved in the experimentation of the subject, who have attracted an impressive number of parents, brothers and sisters in this educational adventure, have discovered the city where they live or have enriched their knowledge about it, having memorable experiences.
The results of piloting the “Little Explorers Academy” and the openness of the actors involved to study it provide a solid basis for extending and consolidating the project at national level.