Erasmus+ Training Course
Green
Horizons
Our purpose
In today’s rapidly evolving environmental landscape, the role of youth workers in guiding and educating young people is more crucial than ever. Recognizing this, our project was designed to empower youth workers, enhancing their ability to tackle environmental challenges effectively.
In light of this context, through this project, we aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of youth workers in environmental conservation and sustainability, enabling them to design and implement effective, innovative environmental projects that engage and educate young people in their communities.
We did this by following 3 objectives:
1st objective
Equip youth workers with a comprehensive understanding of key environmental issues and sustainable practices at the local level.
2nd objective
Develop youth workers’ abilities in project design, planning, and implementing strategies specific to environmental projects.
3rd objective
Create opportunities for participants to network and form collaborations for future environmental projects.
Project activities
During the mobility, the participants explored key environmental issues, shared best practices, and brainstormed innovative strategies. A special focus was placed on applying GreenComp: the European sustainability competence framework, which guided participants in developing sustainable and impactful strategies for environmental initiatives.
Activities included analyzing local environmental problems, discussing funding opportunities for eco and youth projects, and collaboratively developing strategies. Starting from value statements, participants identified key challenges, leverage points, and unintended consequences, which helped shape their approach. They then worked together to develop scenarios and project ideas based on common needs identified within their communities.
Non-formal educational methods such as debates, world café discussions, and group brainstorming were used to guide the process. Participants received continuous feedback, allowing them to refine their strategies and ideas to ensure effective implementation.
The project also fostered networking and collaboration, encouraging participants to form partnerships for future environmental initiatives.
Our project in pictures
Project Results
The main result of the project was the development of the Youth Environmental Strategy Guide. This document was created collaboratively with input from all participants, who worked together to identify key environmental challenges and develop practical strategies to address them.
The guide integrates the GreenComp: European Sustainability Competence Framework, providing a structured approach to tackling environmental issues. Our trainers carefully collected all the information from the participants, ensuring that every important idea and proposal was included. The guide encompasses strategies and real-world examples of projects. It reflects the collective effort of the project and serves as a practical resource for those looking to implement youth-led environmental projects in their communities. It offers a clear framework for action and showcases examples of how young people can drive impactful environmental change.
Moreover…
A key aspect of the project was the integration of GreenComp: The European Sustainability Competence Framework, which served as the foundation for project development and environmental initiatives. Starting from this framework, we have developed GreenComp Methodology aiming to define a structured approach to identifying environmental challenges and developing sustainable solutions.
The methodology focuses on 3 steps:
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- It starts with value statements to anchor participants’ strategies in shared environmental ethics.
- Continue with identifying challenges, leverage points, and unintended consequences related to sustainability.
- Finishes with developing scenarios and project ideas based on common needs identified within participants’ local contexts.
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Outcomes and Impact
The project successfully empowered youth workers by:
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- Providing them with a comprehensive understanding of key environmental issues;
- Equipping them with practical tools and methodologies to develop and implement environmental initiatives in their communities;
- Fostering collaboration and networking among participants for future environmental projects;
- Creating actionable strategies and initiatives that address specific local environmental challenges;
- Enhancing their leadership and communication skills, enabling them to effectively engage and inspire young people in their communities to take part in environmental actions.
As a result of the project:
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- Participants left the project with strategies and project ideas ready to be implemented in their communities;
- New collaborations were formed across various sectors, with youth workers committed to driving sustainable practices forward and using digital tools to share their green initiatives internationally;
- The project created a long-term network of eco-conscious youth workers, ready to make an impact in their communities;
- Participants gained the opportunity to co-create new projects with partners from other countries, further expanding the reach and impact of their sustainability efforts across borders.
Objectives Evaluation
The project “Green Horizons” 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.
