With the SUSTAIN project, we wanted to give young people and youth workers the tools, knowledge, and motivation to actively contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals in their daily lives and communities. Our objectives were threefold: -Increase understanding of the SDGs and related topics. We aimed to provide a deeper and more practical vision of the SDGs, helping participants understand how these goals connect to real challenges in Europe and their own communities. -Create innovative learning materials for youth workers and young learners. We developed interactive and engaging resources, such as Digital Breakouts and WebQuests, to make learning about the SDGs accessible, dynamic, and inspiring. These tools were designed not only to transfer knowledge but also to encourage problem-solving, creativity and teamwork. -Empower youth communities to take action. By combining learning activities, participatory visits, and dissemination campaigns, we wanted to strengthen young people’s sense of responsibility and equip them to become active agents of change. The goal was for them to gain the skills, confidence, and resources needed to lead initiatives that address social and environmental challenges in line with the SDGs.
We applied for the SUSTAIN project because we saw an urgent need to strengthen youth’s knowledge, skills and engagement with the SDGs. Despite the commitments made under the UN 2030 Agenda, recent challenges like the COVID and the war in Ukraine have slowed progress, leaving many young people facing uncertainty, unemployment and reduced opportunities for participation. In CZ and SP, youth workers and youngsters expressed a lack of knowledge about the SDGs and limited access to innovative learning tools that could empower them to take meaningful action in their communities. These needs were identified through the partners’ direct experience working with local youth and professionals, who regularly highlighted these gaps in awareness and resources. We also identified significant barriers, particularly for those living in rural or disadvantaged areas, including poor connectivity, limited training opportunities and social discrimination. With this project, we aimed to respond to these needs by creating accessible and engaging digital learning materials, while providing spaces for youth workers and young learners to exchange ideas, develop critical thinking and become active contributors to sustainable development in the EU & beyond.