The project’s transnational cooperation highlighted the shared European culture of solidarity and active citizenship. The diverse partners—schools, NGOs, a university—contributed their experience and cultural variety to the creation of innovative activities that promoted volunteering as a tool for peace, sustainability, and social cohesion. The exchange of know-how, the adaptation of practices to local needs, and the use of non-formal learning methods provided the teaching staff with opportunities for professional development, while simultaneously strengthening the school’s European orientation. The project promoted experiential learning, familiarization with volunteering, participation in NGOs, the adoption of green practices, the development of soft skills, empathy, and the creation of digital and participatory tools. In doing so, it shaped a school environment that cultivates social responsibility and proves that change begins with education.
Our school submitted a proposal for an Erasmus+ programme with a thematic focus on volunteering and solidarity, recognizing the crucial role of education in fostering social awareness and active citizenship. Taking into account the report of the World Economic Forum 2020, which identifies climate-related risks (extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, man-made environmental disasters) as some of the most pressing threats humanity will face (Reimers, 2021), the school concluded that it is essential to promote volunteering activities for a greener planet. The project integrates principles of non-formal learning, empathy, and intercultural understanding, aiming to empower students through experiential activities, provide professional development for teachers, enhance the school’s outreach, and build partnerships with organizations such as NGOs and European institutions. The proposal adopts the horizontal priorities of Erasmus+ (inclusion, green transition, digital skills, common values), positioning the school as a laboratory of democracy and active participation, working towards a fair, sustainable, and socially conscious society.