According to the latest IPCC report Observed climate change is already affecting food security through increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and greater frequency of some extreme events. It is expected that the poorest and most vulnerable communities and nations will be the hardest hit despite being least responsible for today’s climate emergency. In light of these emergent challenges currently threatening the prosperity and stability of the EU and the world, the importance of youth workers’ empowerment via a 13-day learning experience that facilitates the global transition towards low-emission, energy-efficient buildings, regenerative food systems and active communities was particularly topical. The ‘Designing for Water, Energy, and Food: Facing Climate Change and Fighting desertification’’ Youth Worker Mobility built on the foundations laid down by its predecessors (“Permahabitat”, “Building Regenerative Habitats” and “Critical Co-Construction”) and went one step further by tackling in depth the energy inputs and outputs-namely water, energy and food, and sustainable approaches to their design and management across different scales of habitat (site/house/farm etc.). The main objective of this residential activity was to promote the acquisition of practical skills and theoretical knowledge in the fields of vernacular and natural building, permaculture design, regenerative agriculture, sustainable nutrition and food ethics, water management, purification and recycling, as well as energy self-sufficiency in order to increase participant’s personal competencies and professional opportunities in designing human systems and living spaces to create stable and resilient systems that provide shelter on a personal, collective and global level. Guided by 3 skilled trainers, within the welcoming setting of the Southern Lights farm (Greece), this training course encompassed a multitude of non-formal learning activities, which aimed at enhancing the skills and competences of young people as well as their active citizenship. It is expected to contribute to the evolution of youth work by: - supporting the development of the professional, social and linguistic skills of the participants and their personal development as a source of motivation and satisfaction in their daily work; - improving the quality of the service offered by participants and by organisations of which they are members, for the benefit of the greatest number, and in particular of young people and leaders of social utility projects (offers better suited to needs, based on active and participatory methods, development of ecological, civic and citizen awareness); - experiential learning in: building and renovating in an energy and resource efficient way; participatory design-build method; food sovereignty practices and healthy, sustainable nutrition, as well as sustainable water management, purification and recycling, that can provide high quality local jobs and promote participation in the labour market; - building a community of youth workers that can support the quality of projects and activities for young people in EU programmes and beyond. They have access to systems and tools that promote greener living, social dialogue, living together and intercultural encounters, thus also strengthening their sense of European identity and their participation in democratic processes.