Building a Sustainable Future: Inspiring the Next Generation (EN)

Building a Sustainable Future: Inspiring the Next Generation

Project Type: Youth Exchange

Project Code: 2023-3-IT03-KA152-YOU-000180215

Partner Associations: Asociatia Bridge To Unity (Romania), MANİSA OLUŞUM DERNEĞİ (Turkey), Suma (Croatia), Together We Are The Change (Poland), Youthpath (Greece)

Providing Bodies: European Commission, Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventù

The youth project "Building a Sustainable Future: Inspiring the Next Generation" is an initiative undertaken to respond to the growing need for an active and conscious approach to safeguarding our planet, felt both at local and European level. Through direct involvement of young people, the project aims to promote a deep understanding of the impact of man on the environment and to stimulate critical reflection on how daily habits can be changed in favor of greater sustainability.

The core of the project is structured around crucial themes such as the environment and human impact, responding to the interest expressed by young participants of previous youth exchanges. These young people expressed the desire to actively participate in discussions and practical activities to explore and mitigate climate change, integrating the objectives of the Erasmus+ program that promotes youth mobility in Europe, non-formal and informal education, social inclusion and the development of intercultural education.

The project involved participants from Italy, Romania, Croatia, Turkey, Greece and Poland, creating a context rich in cultural diversity and exchange of ideas. Through the use of non-formal education methodologies, the activities fostered the interpersonal growth of young people, allowing them to develop new skills in a dynamic and interactive way.

The activities implemented included beach cleanups, which raised awareness among young people about marine pollution; recycling art workshops, where waste was transformed into art, promoting creative recycling; and the zero-mile food Masterchef, an activity that highlighted the importance of consuming local products to reduce the ecological footprint. In addition, participants created videos on sustainability, which are effective tools to spread awareness and promote positive behavioral changes.

The culmination of the project was the presentation of the young people's work to the municipality of Milazzo. This moment gave participants the opportunity to show the fruit of their commitment and reflections to the local community, demonstrating the effectiveness of the educational methodologies adopted and the impact of their learning.

These activities not only allowed young people to gain greater awareness of environmental issues, but also strengthened their sense of responsibility towards protecting the planet, demonstrating how non-formal education can be a powerful tool to inspire and implement tangible change in society.