The T-Lab project had two interrelated objectives. Our first aim was to enhance the collaborative capacity of our consortium partners to work effectively across European borders in delivering youth education focused on sustainable and inclusive tourism practices. Our second aim was to develop and strengthen the capacity of community organisations working with young people in Germany and Spain, particularly in linking environmental education with the role of tourism in sustainable and inclusive development. In order to achieve these objectives, we set 4 main specific objectives: 1. To improve the educational quality and methodologies of the consortium members while addressing common educational priorities. 2. To develop the structural capacity of our organisations to coordinate and implement youth education initiatives at European level. 3. To jointly develop innovative teaching approaches to help young people understand the principles of sustainable tourism and how tourism intersects with climate challenges, social justice issues and opportunities at national and international levels. 4. To build the capacity of local youth-focused organisations in Germany and Spain to effectively educate young people about sustainable tourism.
Our consortium identified a clear need for enhanced educational resources on sustainable tourism that incorporate diverse perspectives and lead to meaningful learning outcomes. This reflected our own experiences in our work. The project emerged from the recognition that tourism is a complex sector that requires an educational approach. This is particularly relevant as European citizens make up the majority of international travellers and tourism accounts for approximately 10% of global emissions. The idea was to link travel choices with environmental and social responsibility. We identified several critical needs: youth organisations lacked adequate training on the social and environmental impacts of tourism; local organisations needed better tools for educational innovation; and there was insufficient awareness of tourism's role in addressing climate challenges in Germany and Spain. While many youth education organisations excel in SDG learning, they lack connections to sustainable travel practices. Our transnational collaboration developed new methodologies that connect all dimensions of sustainability while building organisational capacity, enabling participating organisations to not only teach sustainability, but to embody it.