The project aimed to address the challenges faced by young people in island communities while developing their potential for a youth work methodology centred on storytelling and the connections between culture and nature. We sought to enhance the creative, social and digital skills of young participants while supporting their active engagement in cultural heritage and environmental restoration. We worked to establish a sustainable network of small islands across Europe, connecting communities through their shared and diverse experiences and bringing the voices of the periphery to the forefront of conversations about the future of Europe. By gathering and sharing stories from island cultures, the project enabled young people to reflect on their identities in relation to both culture and nature, encouraging a sense of ownership and pride in their heritage. Our objectives included building understanding of the relationship between past, present and future, promoting intergenerational and interpersonal connections, empowering young people to envision and contribute to more inclusive, resilient futures for their communities. We aimed to develop an innovative methodology transferable to other European islands and contexts in youth work
The project was based on recognition of the special circumstances and needs of young people in island communities. These communities often possess strong identities, unique natural environments, and distinctive cultures and histories. However, they face various challenges which particularly affect young people. The project envisaged an innovative way to address these circumstances based on the expertise of the partnership including youth organisations from islands across Europe. We sought to develop and test new approaches to empowering young people to explore their heritage while developing their understanding of the connections between culture and nature. Our aim was to listen to different voices from the edges of Europe, engage young people with the relevance of their culture and the special places they live, and help them to recognise their own roles in shaping their futures, those of their islands, and that of the EU. Through this ecocultural approach and an understanding of the power of storytelling in building relationships and inspiring imagination, we aimed to strengthen intergenerational connection, promote sustainability, and envisage positive and inclusive futures.