Sustainable YOU(th)

Main aim: to raise awareness about climate change and promote environmentally sustainable and responsible behavior in daily habits for 35 young people, in 5 local communities, while increasing the social inclusion of 15 youth with fewer opportunities through a youth exchange program in Lithuania.

Objectives:

Increase Climate Change Knowledge: Enhance participants' understanding of climate change, its causes, consequences, sustainability, and the environmental situation in their respective countries.
Promote Sustainable Practices: Introduce the 5 R's of Waste Management (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle) and other green practices through non-formal and practical activities, encouraging their integration into daily life.
Empower Agents of Change: Inspire young people to take an active role in environmental and sustainable development by devising action plans that enable them and their local communities to contribute to climate change mitigation and sustainability.

Activities:

International Youth Exchange in Lithuania | 2023

In September 2023, an international youth exchange took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, bringing together 42 participants from Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Romania, and Turkey. The activity focused on sustainability, ecology, and climate change through non-formal education methods.

Workshops on sustainability and climate awareness

Participants explored topics such as climate change, ecological responsibility, and individual carbon footprints through interactive workshops, discussions, and practical tasks.

Non-formal learning and practical activities

The programme included ice-breaking, team-building, simulations, and hands-on activities such as carbon footprint analysis, 5R waste management practices, and role plays on eco-friendly behaviour.

Intercultural exchange and study visit in Ukmergė

Participants shared environmental challenges and best practices from their countries and took part in a study visit to Ukmergė, where they learned about local sustainability initiatives and environmental solutions.

Results:

Participants gained a deeper understanding of climate change and its environmental impacts while learning practical approaches such as the 5 R’s of waste management and adopting more sustainable habits. They developed community-based action plans for climate change mitigation and became more aware of their ecological footprints, leading to positive lifestyle changes and more responsible consumption. The project also strengthened participants’ teamwork, tolerance, and intercultural skills, while boosting their self-esteem and personal development. In addition, attendees explored the benefits of non-formal education and opportunities within Erasmus+, further increasing their engagement. At the community level, environmentally friendly practices were encouraged and adopted, while partner organizations enhanced their competencies, achieved short-term goals, and were motivated to integrate sustainability into their work. Overall, the project contributed to raising global awareness on climate change and aligned with EU and Erasmus+ environmental priorities.

This project is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program, supporting education, training, youth, and sports initiatives across Europe.