GreenACT is a 20 months’ project designed to enhance ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION and AWARENESS of YOUNG PEOPLE through the organisation of SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMME for making YP more familiar with the idea of environmental citizenship, based on the fact that the future depends on each one by acting responsibly and positively towards our environment and developing sustainable solutions for addressing environmental challenges. In a period where Earth faces the consequences of climate change and global warming crisis and the need for mitigation of climate change is emerging, Green-ACT aims to support further these YOUTH INITIATIVES and raise more awareness in the 6 countries, by educating young people on environmental issues, inspire them in developing a firm ecological mind-set, and invite them to have a positive impact in their communities as active agents. The partnership is composed of 6 partners from 6 countries: PL, IT, FR, CY, GR, TU Furthermore, it aims: • To promote the idea for establishing SUMMER SCHOOLS for raising young people’s environmental awareness • To set up the GreenACT MOVEMENT (a network of young activists) for coordinating their actions and engaging citizens; • to build/increase the capacity of partner organizations to take action regarding reducing waste in the partner countries by encouraging local communities to recycle and re-use. • to equip youth workers with new sustainable environmental skills in order to empower more young people • To facilitate brainstorming on challenges and possible solutions of topics such as alternative forms of socio-economy, biodiversity and food production, sustainable production and consumption, transport, etc. The objectives described above will be achieved through: IO1 GreenACT COMPETENCE FRAMEWORK FOR INCREASING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR IO2 EDUCATIONAL PACK which will facilitate innovative learning practices based mainly on non-formal methods. IO3 Green-ACT CLOUD-BASED PLATFORM: for hosting the GreenACT MOVEMENT where young people and youth workers will use as a way of interacting, sharing information, experience, and knowledge and use it as an online source. IO4 TOOLBOX, for preparing an A-Z guide for SETTING UP the GreenACT SUMMER SCHOOLS, pilot testing of the developed IOs, and ensuring project’s exploitation and sustainability. The GreenACT project is expected to have a direct impact on: Young people 16-25 years’ old Youth Workers whose profiles will be strengthened through the new tools and resources to support the project’s implementation IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE: • Be environmentally literate and able to address challenges in their communities; • Practice/develop further their creativity skills; • Better understand the meaning of recycling, reuse, reduce; • More committed to tackling climate change; • Improved skills and competencies related to green thinking; • Become part of a youth activist network – GreenACT MOVEMENT with an active role in shaping the environmental wellbeing of Europe. • Be more informed and aware of human impact on the environment; IMPACT ON THE YOUTH WORKERS • Equipped with new innovative educational tools (EDUCATIONAL PACK, TOOLBOX, VIDEO-TUTORIALS, PLATFORM) for raising young people’s environmental awareness and the sense of responsibility towards the environment; • Acquire experience in setting up and implementing a SUMMER SCHOOL for young people; • Improve their knowledge and skills regarding environmental issues and ways to reduce-prevent human impact on nature; • Better understand and recognise the benefits of adopting environmental behaviours; • Have increased opportunities/network for professional development with organizations and youth workers from other countries during the C1 activity; • Be part of the GreenACT MOVEMENT, an online community for exchange of knowledge and organization of actions with positive environmental impact; IMPACT ON PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: • Better prepared for serving the community and raise the awareness of the significance of organizing actions for mitigating climate change; •Development of groups within the partner associations to build up and manage projects related to eco-citizenship, environmental awareness in their countries and transferring their gained expertise; • Enhanced skills of project management, especially in the youth organizations involved • Enriched cooperation and networking between local organizations with local authorities, informal youth groups, waste management companies, green organizations; The project will be carried out in 6 EU countries. The partners were selected carefully since they have common needs when it comes to the promotion of responsible environmental behaviours starting from young people. This transnational initiative will offer transferrable valid tools that will change youth’s attitudes, the important markers of long-term social change, and interests in other countries (in and out EU).
The aim of this project was to provide additional support to YOUTH INITIATIVES and to increase awareness in 6 EU countries. We achieved this through: = the implementation of innovative GreenACT schools, = a unique learning approach aimed at educating young people about environmental issues, to inspire them and to encourage them to take action. Moreover, its objectives were as follows: = development of a Competence Framework for increasing environmental awareness and responsible behaviour = development of Educational Pack which will facilitate innovative learning practices based mainly on non-formal methods. = development of Green-ACT platform where young people and youth workers will use as a way of interacting, sharing information, experience, and knowledge. = development of a Toolbox, with A-Z guides for setting up the GreenACT SUMMER SCHOOLS Due to significant national and international restrictions during the project implementation, we have submitted a request to the National Agency for a 6-month extension of the project period. This extension is necessary to ensure the complete fulfilment of all proposed objectives.
The GreenACT project was applied for to address the specific needs of increasing environmental awareness and responsible behaviour. Its implementation through four intellectual outputs (IO1, IO2, IO3, and IO4): In IO1, data on the environmental landscape was collected and assessed using qualitative and quantitative methods. A Comparative Report analysed policies and perspectives, leading to the collaborative development of the GreenACT Conceptual Framework. IO2 focused on developing an educational pack, combining theory and practise with teaching materials, videos, quizzes, and training guidelines. Capacity-building program was conducted, with a Data Bank established for articles on European policies and good practices. IO3 involved designing and developing an interactive online platform, including an Eco-Cities Audit Tool, a roadmap for sustainable cities, an e-Learning Academy, and a GreenACT Movement Forum. In IO4, the GreenACT Toolbox was designed, translated into seven languages, and used for setting up Summer Schools. A Blended Mobility activity allowed youth participation, and the GreenACT Movement was launched for presenting results and advocating for environmental initiatives.