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.