Europe is currently facing two crucial issues: an environmental crisis (waste production, depletion of resources, records pollution levels) and a social crisis (rising unemployment, inequality more pronounced), resulting in young people feeling lost and at risk of exclusion in a changing world with fewer educational, social, civic and professional opportunities paradoxically in a society based on consumerism and the throwaway culture. ECOSTEP YOUTH aims to draw on the resources and the values held by re-use centres and the ecosystem they represent to bring new opportunities to young people in job placement or at risk of exclusion. The socio-educational programmes (youth programmes) are designed to open up new potential in terms of skills, recovery and self-esteem and job opportunities within the social economy. Young people who are at the centre of all phases of the project, will in turn become ambassadors and actors to different consumer and citizen attitudes but who will also be an integral part of these new perspectives in terms of networks and cultures. The project's objectives : - Foster transnational dynamics driven by groups of young people, taking as medium "the waste" intrinsic to all societies, to help make them become engaged and informed citizens with new socio-professional prospects. - Consolidate multidisciplinary organizations and provide shared solutions to common problems, beyond the contexts and cultural specificities, using creativity as vectors of awareness and confidence outlet. A participatory strategy of listening and taking into account opinions of youth groups identified will be promoted at all levels of implementation of the project. It will be promoted through the use of digital tools, broad support on social media and interactive and participatory contributions. The project is in the field of social and solidarity-based economy. ECOSTEP YOUTH is supported by nine European partners who are oriented towards young people, education and innovation: • The promoter ATELIER D’éco SOLIDAIRE (France - Creative reuse centre: Integrating creativity in the field of recycling of waste) • PASSEPORT EUROPE (France – Expertise in innovation and exploitation) • FUNDACIO PERE TARRES (Spain - Social Issues, training and youth education) • TRINIJOVE (Spain -orientation, socio-professional integration for youth) • INTERMEDI@ KT (Greece - News Technology Specialists) • CRNI (Ireland - Irish Network reuse With ReCreate The Rediscovery Centre) • AL IKRAM (Morocco - Training, socio-professional integration of young people, creative recycling centre). The project promotes a synergy of work among different kinds of educational structures adapted to young people at risk of dropping out or exclusion. From specific educational institutions such as French ITEP, to schools and universities of design. Groups of artisans, designers, communities, NGOs, foundations, local councils, businesses, artists are also encouraged to participate. Four intellectual productions will be realised: 1. A website accompanied by a social web network for project communication and entertainment to promote the involvement and exchange between the different groups. 2. A collaborative DESIGN CONTEST on the theme of upcycling, allowing young people in difficulty or at risk of exclusion, to unite their creative skills within mixed teams along with the participation of young designers, artisans, designers, etc. The event will aim to promote the hidden talents of a public often sidelined and will work as a strong promotional tool for the project ECOSTEP YOUTH. 3. A MOOC type web-documentary dedicated to the definition of a common language. It will explore the professions of design and crafts, prevention of waste. It will be produced by young people and targeted at their peers. 4. A series of demonstrative and interactive workshops in the public space. ECOSTEP YOUTH will promote: - an empowerement of the young participants - The adoption of new or improved practices to meet the needs of disadvantaged groups - Strengthening of cooperation with partners from other countries in areas of youth education and training as well as other socio-economic sectors. The project aligns with the EUROPE 2020 goals for a smart economic society which is sustainable and inclusive.
In the context of environmental and social crisis in Europe, it is crucial to develop social, civic and professional education perspectives for young people in search of meaning in an all-disposable consumer society. The ECOSTEP Youth project has generated a transnational dynamic driven by groups of young people, taking as a medium "the waste", innate to all societies, to make them engaged and knowledgeable citizens by bringing shared solutions on common issues. It engaged 13 mixed teams, representing a total of 95 young people from various social and cultural backgrounds, in 5 countries (France, Ireland, Spain, Morocco and Greece), under the expertise of 7 youth oriented partner organizations with an emphasis on pedagogy and innovation : The promoter ATELIER D'éco SOLIDAIRE France, resource center for creative reuse - PASSEPORT EUROPE France, innovation and valorisation expertise - TRINIJOVE Spain, formal and informal education foundation working in the priority neighborhoods of Barcelona - INTERMEDI@KT Greece, specialists in New Technologies - CRNI Ireland, national network of reuse with 2 of its members ReCREATE (material library dedicated to educational and creative projects) and REDISCOVERY CENTER (center of environmental education with artisan workshops) - AL IKRAM Morocco, association of upcycling leading projects with young people and single-parent families from disadvantaged neighborhoods of Casablanca - FORO TECNICO DE FORMACION Spain, vocational training center. The learning activity (mobility week) which took place from the 30th of october till the 4th of november 2017 in Bordeaux, was the flagship event in embarking on decisive action for the launch of the projects activities. It was intended for young people selected for their skills to train them on the stakes and objectives of the project. These became ECOSTEP "ambassadors" who in turn recruited and accompanied their own teams in participating in the projects activities (including the design competition and the creation of a WEBdoc). 3 intellectual outputs were produced: 1. A European competition on the theme of upcycling: 13 teams entered the competition. They were accompanied by professionals and were trained during numerous workshop sessions (design research, choice of materials, prototype production, making of final piece, development of videos and presentation documents for teams and end products). Their work has resulted in the creation of unique and creative pieces, made from recycled materials, some of which have been identified by professionals, paving the way for potential commercialization. A wide dissemination via the project portal (https://ecostep-youth.eu) and social networks made it possible to select a national winning team by country, a team rewarded by the public vote, and a laureate at European level via an international jury. 2. A web documentary produced by and for young people, on the theme of the creative and artistic reuse of waste, the "green" and craft trades: an interactive multimedia environment (videos, photos, interviews), a real educational tool enriched by a glossary translated into 5 languages defining essential terms for these topics. 3. Participatory workshops open to the general public were organized by the young people, thus enabling them to get involved in the implementation of a public event. These workshops brought visibility to the project and put into practice the techniques learned. The aim was to make participants aware of more environmentally friendly consumption patterns. An interdisciplinary approach within the consortium, a strong organisation of the areas of resources, arts and design and the accompaniment of young people ( the projects target audience) made it possible to detail quality productions, reflecting not only the values of the project for the young people but also allowing them to display their sensitivity and creativity on these themes. ECOSTEP Youth has contributed to bringing them new personal and professional skills thus demonstrating the full potential and the added value of this type of innovative educational action for young people, and in particular those in insertion or at risk of social exclusion. Each one, involved in all the phases of the project, is in his or her own way an ambassador of the values carried by the project and they benefited from a rewarding experience, rich in exchanges and learned skills. This in turn helped nurture confidence, self-esteem, awareness of circular economy and openness to new career paths.