In our work with Youth and Youth Workers, we saw that while many young people are active on digital platforms, they often lack the confidence, tools, or guidance to use these platforms meaningfully, to tell stories that matter, to advocate for sustainability, and to influence their communities. At the same time, YWs across Europe expressed a need for concrete, creative methods to engage youth in climate-related topics without overwhelming or alienating them. This project allowed us to extend our work in media education into a vital new direction: digital environmental storytelling. It also strengthened our commitment to fostering youth participation in democratic life, by equipping them to speak up about what matters most – their future on this planet. That’s why #NewME: New Media for Green Citizenship was important to us. The project united two powerful approaches – media literacy and environmental education – into one practical, creative, and future-oriented framework. Together with our partners, we set out to co-create resources that would empower both Youth and YWs to use digital storytelling as a tool for green reporting, climate activism, and sustainable action.
As a media, arts, & cultural center rooted in participatory education and civic engagement, the Arbeitskreis Ostviertel e.V. is deeply committed to using media as a tool for social change. Our decision to co-initiate and lead the #NewME: New Media for Green Citizenship project stemmed from a recognition of two intersecting needs: the growing urgency of environmental challenges, and the critical need to support young people in becoming empowered, responsible creators – not just consumers – of media. We applied for this project alongside partners from the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, & North Macedonia, because we recognized the urgent need to engage Youth and Youth Workers (YWs) in environmental storytelling, not just as a topic but as a creative and empowering practice. In times of climate crisis and digital overload, we believed it was essential to offer young people accessible tools, relevant knowledge, and collaborative spaces that would allow them to both understand and shape the world they live in. Ultimately, #NewME addressed a clear need for creative, practical, and empowering tools that bridge climate education and digital literacy.