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Permaculture Design Course for All

2020-3-IT03-KA105-0200042020Youth mobilityfinalized
Countries: IT|ES|DE|HR|SE|BG · Grant: €18,080
Agriculture, forestry and fisheriesRural development and urbanisationEnvironment and climate change

Objectives

Today important economical and environmental changes are taking place everywhere. These changes challenge us to develop integrated sustainable solutions for economic, social and environment problems in urban and rural areas. This Erasmus+ mobility provided a clear understanding on how we as humans can minimize, even possibly reverse, Global-Climate Change and heal much of the damage to our planet, while also creating greater abundance & security for all. In the short term we aimed to create informal pathways to move livelihoods and economies beyond the sustainable, by first and foremost engaging, connecting and empowering youth and by extension their communities. The aim of this activity about permaculture was to create systems that are ecologically sound, economically viable and self sustaining. At international level studying Permaculture requires intensive learning, often very expensive. Through this mobility we wanted to make the international training in Permaculture Design Course, free, so affordable for all. In our activity Permaculture Design Course for All (PDC4A) was designed with a participative methodology, integrating theoretical and practical non-formal learning experience on designing and building regenerative habitats in order to increase participants’ personal competences and professional opportunities in the field of sustainable practices. The activity included hands-on workshops on: 1. Exploring bioclimatic design and natural building techniques. 2. Climatic conditions, the hydrological cycle, waste management and what we mean by building healthy soil. Further we explored regenerative strategies, and how to grow healthy sustainable food in a wide variety of settings. 3. How to produce energy responsibility. We explored how to harvest energy from renewable sources. We also explored low-tech alternatives that can be vital in communities. As well, the PDC4A project linked very strongly to the general objectives of the Erasmus+ programme. In addition, the multilinguistic and multi-cultural environment of the project encouraged participants to exchange and share projects and ideas in a variety of languages and cultural approaches, increasing their linguistic competences, raising their awareness and promoting the vision for an inclusive multicultural society where no-one is left behind. During this activity there were several experienced facilitators, who guided participants with the use of nonformal learning sessions, and overview of practical, hands-on activities. The mobility involved interactive presentation activities led by participants using open space technology and during practical workshop as well as cultural exchange activities (music, art, etc.) and a public event offering the chance to participants and local residents to meet and exchange. Through team-building activities and group/partner practices, the project aimed to infuse a sense of community and cooperation that can be replicated in participants’ daily work and personal environment and that contributed to strengthen their involvement as active citizens in European societies. Entrepreneurial tools and skills were provided to youth, together with other soft skills, like teamwork, alternative organizational and economic modalities and other instruments to boost their future projects’ quality. By the activity we wanted: - expand the professional, social and linguistic abilities of the participants and help them to grow on a personal level so they remain motivated and fulfilled in their day-to-day work; -provide experiential learning in designing sustainable environment; permaculture principles and ethics that can provide high quality local jobs and promote participation in the labor market; - increase the quality of the services offered by the participants and their organisations, for the benefit of many, especially young people and social entrepreneurs (services better suited to the actual needs, using active and collaborative methods, development of civic awareness and engagement); - foster the intercultural dialogue and solidarity between European actors fostering sustainable and inclusive development in Europe. This contributed, by establishing a network of organisations and of individuals working in different countries towards the same goals of sustainability, to develop long-lasting collaborations. Last but not least, this project aimed at training skilled people who were able to implement innovative and replicable methods to spread sustainability in all its aspects and in a variety of ways and that better suit the needs of the youth they work with.

Project partners (6)