ROOTS: Rediscovering Cyprus through Place-Based Learning

ROOTS – Learning That Grows from Place

ROOTS is a place-based learning initiative by RITECY that invites people of all ages to rediscover Cyprus through the places they live in, walk through, and care about. Rather than treating learning as something that happens only in classrooms, ROOTS turns villages, neighbourhoods, landscapes, and community spaces into living learning environments.

By learning with places instead of just about them, participants reconnect with Cyprus’s cultural, historical, social, and environmental heritage. ROOTS nurtures a sense of identity and belonging, encourages dialogue between generations, and inspires more responsible and sustainable ways of living.

Why Place-Based Learning?

Learning is most powerful when it is connected to real life. Place-based learning grounds education in the everyday experiences of learners and the communities around them.

In a country like Cyprus—rich in stories, traditions, landscapes, and lived histories—this approach:

• Strengthens cultural identity and social bonds

• Keeps local knowledge and traditions alive

• Encourages active citizenship and community participation

• Connects formal, non-formal, and informal learning

• Builds environmental awareness and respect for place

ROOTS responds to a growing need for education that feels meaningful, rooted, and forward-looking.

Who Is ROOTS For?

ROOTS is designed for diverse learners and communities, including:

• Children and young people (schools, youth groups, informal education)

• Educators and youth workers

• Local communities and municipalities

• Migrants and newcomers seeking cultural connection and inclusion

• Adults and seniors interested in lifelong learning

What ROOTS Aims to Achieve

Through its activities, ROOTS seeks to:

• Reconnect learners with their local environments, histories, and cultures

• Empower communities as co-creators of learning experiences

• Preserve intangible cultural heritage through stories, memories, and shared knowledge

• Strengthen civic engagement and a sense of belonging

• Support educators with creative, hands-on teaching tools

What We Do

1. Learning Walks & Field Explorations

Guided visits to villages, urban neighbourhoods, historical sites, and natural areas. Participants explore local stories, architecture, traditions, and ecosystems through observation, dialogue, and inquiry.

2. Community Mapping & Storytelling

Participants work together to create physical and digital maps that highlight places of cultural, social, and personal importance, enriched with oral histories from elders and local residents.

3. Intergenerational Learning Labs

Hands-on workshops that bring young people and older community members together to exchange skills, traditions, crafts, and life experiences.

4. Educator Toolkits & Training

Development of practical toolkits, lesson plans, and training sessions that help educators and youth workers apply place-based learning in their own contexts.

5. Digital Heritage Outputs

Creation of digital stories, short documentaries, podcasts, and interactive maps that share local heritage with wider audiences.

How We Work

ROOTS is built on approaches that value participation, creativity, and care:

• Experiential and inquiry-based learning

• Phenomenon-based education

• Inclusive and participatory methods

• Arts-based practices and storytelling

• Sustainable and ethical engagement with communities

Expected Impact

Through ROOTS, we aim to see:

• More engaged and motivated learners

• Stronger connections between education and community life

• Greater cultural awareness and social inclusion

• Safeguarding of local knowledge and heritage

• A flexible model that can be adapted by schools, NGOs, and municipalities