Teacher Training (TT) Iceland
Programme Overview
Type: Face to Face (4 days)
Start Date: Oct 15th, 2025
End Date: Oct 18th, 2025
Residential: Optional
Facilitation: Margarita Hamatsu & Taisa Mattos
Certification: Gaia Education
Language: English
Location: Alviðra - Education Center of Environmental Protection Agency Iceland
Organised by:
This four-day course responds to the growing global demand for educators ready to bring sustainability and regeneration into schools. It empowers teachers with the skills to facilitate transformative, participatory learning environments where students and the school community are active creators of a more sustainable future.
The training is designed to support the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) principles and Gaia Education’s 4D Framework (encompassing the Social, Ecological, Economic, and Worldview dimensions of sustainability) into school activities. It promotes a whole-school approach and encourages project-based learning grounded in sustainability and local resilience.
This Teacher Training emphasises experiential learning and regenerative school design, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Gaia Education Training of Trainers (ToT) course is answering a worldwide demand for skilled facilitators able to facilitate transformative learning environments and host multi-stakeholder conversations that enable collaborative action.
The aim of the Training of Trainers is first and foremost, to help you deepen your experience in how to teach, facilitate and train people by enabling collaboration and participation among a community of learners. In addition, we support and hope to inspire you to identify what you are most deeply called to teach, and most importantly, why participatory methods are so critical for the engagement of communities and societies.
Addressing the urgency of accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at local level, Gaia ToT also includes the SDG Multipliers Training, including a module utilising the whole-systems inspired SDG Flashcards.
The course will be taught in English.
Why Tulum?
ToT Tulum will take place right after the RegenWeek '24, a gathering of regenerative leaders taking place in Tulum, Mexico, from March 21-28, 2024.
Programme Overview
Type: Face to Face (5 days)
Start Date: March 30th, 2024
End Date: April 3rd, 2024
Residential: Optional (See notes below)
Facilitation: With Facilitators
Certificate: Yes
Location: Tulum, Mexico
Organised by:
In partnership with:
Learning Outcomes
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During the Teacher Training, participants will:
- Develop core skills in participatory facilitation and transformative learning.
- Gain confidence in building resilient and collaborative school communities.
- Integrate sustainability and regeneration principles into everyday school practices.
- Decode UN conventions and frameworks into practical educational activities.
- Design regenerative education projects applicable to their own school settings.
- Develop core skills in participatory facilitation and transformative learning.
Programme Content
- Regenerative Design for Schools: Creating thriving learning environments based on the Gaia Education’s 4D Framework for Sustainability (Social, Ecological, Economic, and Worldview dimensions).
- Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in practice: Apply ESD principles through real-world examples and strategies tailored for educators and schools.
- Nature-based Education: Reconnect learning with the natural world through practices that inspire environmental awareness.
- Holistic Approaches to Sustainability Education: Integrate mind, heart and hands through interconnected and meaningful educational experiences.
- Experiential Learning: Learning by doing, reflecting, and transforming.
- Facilitation Labs: Develop skills in participatory methods, group dynamics, and collaborative learning environments.
- Practical Tools & Frameworks: Explore hands-on tools and frameworks to bring sustainability education to life in your classroom or community.
- SDG Multipliers Module: Learn how to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within school communities.
Facilitator
Margarita Hamatsu
Margarita’s journey is rooted in her passion for education, sustainability, languages, cultures, and the well-being of society. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Science with a specialization in Education for Sustainability from the University of Iceland, along with a degree in International Studies in Education. She is also a certified Life Coach and a trained facilitator with the Global Ecovillage Network, where she actively promotes holistic and regenerative practices.
Margarita currently serves as Project Manager for Outdoor and Nature-Based Education at Hjallastefnan Preschool in Selfoss, Iceland. She is the co-founder of Adventures for Students Iceland and Futureroots.Education, both dedicated to reimagining sustainability in education. These initiatives focus on empowering educators through capacity-building, well-being, and transformative training that integrates ecological, social, economic, and cultural dimensions into everyday teaching.
Margarita also contributes her expertise as a member of the South Iceland education committee, run by the National Protection Agency. Her broad experience includes work in the internationally recognized Ecovillage Sólheimar in Iceland. At the heart of her work is a commitment to environmental advocacy, community resilience, and meaningful human connection.
She is also actively engaged with the Gaia Schools Network.
Taisa Mattos
Taisa Mattos is Gaia Education's Face-to-Face Programmes Coordinator and Gaia Schools Coordinator. She has coordinated and taught Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) Programmes since 2009, contributing to over 30 certified EDEs across Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Argentina, and online. She was also the lead facilitator for Gaia Education’s Training of Trainers (ToT) in Mexico.
Taisa served as Education & Research Coordinator at the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) from 2019 to 2024 and is a Board Member of the International Communal Studies Association (ICSA). She is passionate about ecovillages, sustainability, and regenerative education.
Author of the book "Ecovillages: Building a Regenerative Culture", she holds a Master's degree in Psychosociology of Communities and Social Ecology (EICOS/UFRJ) and a Bachelor in Social Communications (ECO/UFRJ), both at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Taisa is Brazilian and works as an international trainer, group facilitator, consultant and project manager in the fields of sustainability, regenerative education, and community life.
Venue
Alviðra is an educational center operated by National Protection Agency Iceland, offering programs focused on wildlife and geology. It is located in South Iceland, about a 45-minute drive from Reykjavík, surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes. In addition to its educational facilities, Alviðra also features a community garden where Aldviðra members can grow their own vegetables. The center provides a unique opportunity for visitors to learn, connect with nature, and participate in hands-on environmental activities.
Course Fee
Early Bird
€600
*Prices per person for 4 days of course training.
Regular Price
€720
*Prices per person for 4 days of course training.
Accommodation & Food
Please select your accommodation option
Dorm 180 Euros (mixed)
Triple Room 320 Euros (female)
Twin Room 400 Euros
*Prices per person with food included (3 vegetarian meals on the training days).
Please note that there is limited availability for twins and triple rooms. In case you would like to book this option, please reach out to: margarita@adventuresforstudents.is to confirm availability.
**International participants are welcome to arrive on the 14th and departure on the 19th (with no extra accommodation costs).
More Information
Please fill this short form and we will contact you to support making the decision if this programme is suitable for you.