MOSCA Sustainability Competition 2020

The 2020 project competition combined two themes that are very important to how we see ourselves at MOSCA: Sustainability and regional commitment. A total of seven projects succeeded in convincing the jury with their ideas in the sustainability competition and are being supported in their implementation with 10,000 euros.

“We are impressed by how many committed people in our area live sustainability and drive it forward with tremendous energy and creative ideas. We are delighted to be able to support them in these projects - especially when there is little prospect of government funding,” explained CEO Simone Mosca.

No fewer than four of the seven winning projects link educational support with sustainable agriculture. The Landesschulzentrum Adelsheim, for example, was delighted to receive 4,000 euros for its “Chickens and Sheep as Farm Animals” project. The educational institution will use the money to build enclosures and boundaries to keep sheep and chickens in a species-appropriate and safe environment, while at the same time teaching children how to interact with farm animals. Display boards, also funded by the grant, will highlight the importance of sheep and chickens as farm animals and provide insights into breeding and the diversity of animal breeds. As the enclosures are open to the public, numerous visitors will also be able to benefit from the information on offer outside of school hours.

Not animals, but plants are the focus of the Waldkatzenbach kindergarten. As part of their project “From raised bed to mouth,” the children plan to plant and care for vegetables and process them as part of their regular cooking days. In this way, they will not only learn more about useful plants and their cultivation, but also practice a sense of responsibility and commitment: the children will independently carry out all the work involved. MOSCA is providing the kindergarten with 1,000 euros for the construction and planting of the raised bed.

The Jakob Mayer Primary School in Buchen will also receive 1,000 euros. Through its “Klassenacker” project, the school aims to teach children and young people about ecological interrelationships and strengthen their appreciation of food and a healthy environment. Each class is given its own plot of land to cultivate under the guidance of a farm educator – from sowing and tending to harvesting and processing.

The private Neckarelz kindergarten also intends to promote awareness of ecological cycles among its children. As part of the project “It takes almost a year to make our pizza”, the girls and boys produce all the ingredients for a pizza in cooperation with a farm - whether wheat for the dough, tomatoes for the sauce or vegetables for the topping. At the end of the year, all these ingredients are used to make and eat pizza together. With the 500 euros in funding, the kindergarten can already cover half the costs of the cooperation project.

Two other winning projects in the competition show that sustainability can also be lived in sports. The Eberbacher Sportclub 2019 e.V. earned top marks with its comprehensive concept on the topic of “Sport & Sustainability.” This serves as a clear guideline for the future of the club for all members. Much has already been implemented in recent years, from the energy-efficient conversion of all floodlights and the move to reusable cups at parties, through to the use of well and surface water for sports field irrigation. For 2021, the club has again set its sights high. It aims to switch all the lighting on the club grounds to energy-saving LED lights, install water-saving sanitary and household appliances, and strengthen the club’s offering with further training measures and support for people from immigrant backgrounds.  MOSCA is supporting this commitment with 750 euros.

The Lindach 1926 e.V. Sports Shooting Club has opted for electronic shooting systems for greater environmental friendliness. In particular, trapping the bullets is problematic with the old systems: for example, the lead-containing ammunition in the rifles falls onto sand or paper strips with every shot. This makes waste separation difficult and in some cases generates hazardous waste that has to be disposed of in an environmentally harmful manner.  Electronic shooting systems with bullet traps offer a remedy: the sand used to trap small-caliber ammunition is completely eliminated, while compressed-air bullets will in future land in reusable granules. MOSCA is also funding this project to the tune of 750 euros.

Last but not least, MOSCA is supporting the Johannes-Diakonie’s Schwarzbach School with 2,000 euros. In an outdoor classroom setting, the school teaches children and young people who find it difficult to learn in conventional school environments. All lessons here take place outdoors with the help of construction trailers and stables. Under current spacing regulations, there is currently no place large enough for common breaks that can also be heated. With MOSCA’s financial support, a previously open outdoor kitchen will be turned into an enclosed, heatable space where students can get warm.