ERASMUS+ Youth Exchange

ECGHO

Can ECO have an ECHO to your EGO?

14-21 April 2022

Căpățâneni, Romania

About the project

If ECGHO would be a Haiku...

Earth inheritance,

Young hearts learn to preserve,

Future shines bright, green.

One of the core ideas of sustainability is that each generation inherits the earth from those who have come before them. The aim of every generation should be to leave it in better, or at least in no worse, condition than when it found it. Youth work can play an important role in ensuring that this happens; in addition to the family and the formal education system, youth work exerts a strong influence on young people’s transition to adulthood, and it can help in promoting their participation in society.

Our objectives

ECGHO aimed to promote understanding among young people of key concepts and principles related to sustainability.

With this in mind, we set up the following objectives:

1. To develop young people’s knowledge of environmental and social issues at local and global levels through experiential learning.

2. To encourage youth active participation for sustainability promotion, including at the personal, local or global scale.

What did we do?

Once upon a time, in the beautiful Romanian village of Căpățâneni, a group of 30 young people from 7 different countries across Europe gathered for an exciting and educational adventure. They were all brought together by a common goal: to learn about and promote sustainability in their communities.

The group was a diverse mix of individuals from various backgrounds, with different languages and cultures, but they all had one thing in common – a passion for sustainability. There was Milana from Bulgaria, who was always the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. She was passionate about sustainable agriculture and could often be found discussing the latest research with her new friends and always able to bring a smile to someone’s face. Then there was Benedek from Hungary, who was the life of the party. He always had a joke or a funny story to tell and was known for his love of interactive activities.

As the days were passing, the group dove into a variety of activities designed to support their learning journey. They played name games and ice-breakers to get to know one another and learn about different cultures. They participated in presentations and storytelling sessions to learn about environmental and social issues at a local and global levels. They also did simulations, role-plays, and debates to develop critical thinking skills and encourage the questioning of prevailing opinions.

One of the highlights of their experience was when they calculated their carbon footprint. They were surprised to find out how much their daily habits contributed to carbon emissions, and they were determined to make changes to reduce their impact on the environment.

The activity was very interactive, the group was divided into smaller teams and each team was given a worksheet with a list of questions about their daily habits, such as transportation, energy consumption, food choices, and waste management. They had to answer the questions honestly and then use the information to calculate their carbon footprint.

The results were eye-opening for the young people, as they realized that small changes in their daily habits could make a big difference in reducing their impact on the environment. They were also encouraged to think critically about the choices they make and the impact they have on the environment.

As the week came to an end, the group reflected on all they had learned and the new friendships they had formed. They also created a short video that highlighted the negative impact of plastic on the environment and the benefits of recycling, in order to raise awareness and encourage more people to be more eco-friendly. The group left Căpățâneni feeling empowered and ready to take on the challenge of promoting sustainability in their own communities.

The show must go on, but let’s make sure it’s a sustainable one!

What are the people saying?

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience than the youth exchange in Căpățâneni. The activities were so informative and fun, and I learned so much about the environment and sustainability. I’m taking back home so much knowledge and motivation to be more sustainable in my daily life.

ECGHO was such a great opportunity for me to meet young people from all over Europe and to learn more about ecology. The activities were so interactive and engaging that I couldn’t help but enjoy every moment of it.

I had an amazing time at the ECGHO youth exchange. The activities were so interesting and I loved everything that the organisers and the facilitator did for us. The carbon footprint activity was a real eye-opener for me, and I will make sure to reduce my own carbon footprint from now on. It was also great to meet so many young people from different countries, I made some great friends and I will definitely keep in touch.

I join the youth exchange in Capataneni and it was very good experience. Not only I learn about sustainability and the environment, but I also make lot of new friend. Different country people make it very interesting. And, talk in english all the time help me to improve language skill. I never forget memories and how much it change me.

This project was an amazing experience for me. Not only did I learn so much about sustainability and the environment, but I also made some of the best friends I’ve ever had. The diverse group of people from different countries made for a truly enriching experience. And, being put in an English-speaking environment for 8 days helped improve my language skills significantly. I’ll never forget the memories I made and the impact this exchange had on me.

What did we learnt?

Increased understanding of environmental issues and sustainability principles at a local and global level such as the effects of different fishing practices on marine life, the impact of consumption habits on people and environments in other parts of the world or the impact of irresponsible plastic disposal

Greater awareness of key concepts and principles related to sustainability such as the causes and consequences of carbon emissions, or the impacts of different types of pollution on the environment and human health.

Increased awareness of the impact of individual actions on the environment and ability to take personal responsibility for reducing that impact.

Development of critical thinking skills and ability to question and analyze information related to the environment.

Enhancement of skills for conducting research and data analysis related to environmental issues.

Development of skills and knowledge necessary to organize and lead local sustainability initiatives and for creating effective environmental materials to promote sustainability awareness.

Increased understanding of the importance of recycling and reducing waste in protecting the environment.

Skills in identifying and implementing ways to reduce waste in daily life.

Increased motivation and commitment to actively engage in recycling and waste reduction efforts.

Increased understanding of the importance of empathy, equality, and solidarity in promoting sustainability.

Increased concern for future generations and an appreciation of nature through their actions and behaviors.

Did we achieved our objectives?

The project “ECGHO – Can ECO have an ECHO to your EGO?” was financed with the support of the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Programme. This blog reflects only the author’s views, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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