EYWGD aimed to strengthen the quality and inclusiveness of youth work by equipping youth workers with the knowledge, tools, and methods to facilitate structured dialogue on climate change and sustainability. We focused on integrating debate methodology into environmental education and improving youth workers’ capacity to manage disagreement, identify misinformation, and guide evidence-based discussions. We aimed to make these competences widely accessible through digital solutions and blended learning. We also set out to create a permanent digital environment where youth workers could learn, cooperate, and share materials without geographic or financial barriers. Another objective was to connect organisations from different regions into a functioning network that supports continuous learning, mentoring, and dissemination of good practice. Through these goals, we wanted to make climate-related youth work more informed, participatory, and resilient, while ensuring equal opportunities for those working in remote or low-connectivity areas.
We designed EYWGD to address several connected needs identified across youth work organisations in Europe. Many youth workers wished to engage young people in climate and sustainability topics but lacked structured, discussion-based materials and confidence to facilitate such activities without polarisation or misinformation. Smaller organisations, especially in rural or remote areas, faced additional challenges such as weak digital connectivity, limited budgets, and isolation from professional networks. Existing online tools were fragmented, difficult to maintain, and not adapted to youth work realities. We therefore recognised the need for an integrated approach that would combine debate methodology with environmental education, build a shared digital environment for training and cooperation, and strengthen links among dispersed youth workers and organisations. Through EYWGD, we aimed to improve the quality of youth work, support digital transformation, and make access to learning, mentoring, and peer exchange possible regardless of location or resources.