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Youth Action for Plastic-Free Future

2024-3-DE04-KA152-YOU-0002819082024Mobility of young peoplefinalized
Countries: DE|TR|RS|BE|NL|SE · Grant: €58,583
Environment and climate changeYouth policy development

Objectives

By implementing the project, we wanted to empower young people to take concrete action against plastic waste while promoting sustainable consumption practices. From a youth work perspective, the project aimed to turn environmental concern into practical action, non-formal learning, and long-term behavioural change. The main objectives of the project were to: -increase environmental awareness among participants, especially on ocean pollution and plastic waste; -equip them with practical skills to implement sustainable initiatives in their own communities; -promote social inclusion by involving young people from diverse backgrounds, including those facing social, economic, or geographical barriers; -strengthen digital competences through content creation and dissemination; -encourage leadership, initiative, and personal development by involving young people actively in organising activities and sharing results; -strengthen European cooperation and intercultural understanding, while building shared responsibility for sustainability challenges. More specifically, we wanted to address the global challenge of climate change and plastic pollution, with a special focus on the Caribbean context and the situation in Sint Maarten, where the mobility was implemented. The idea was to help participants better understand both the environmental and social impact of plastic waste and to connect this local reality with broader European environmental priorities. The project objectives were translated into concrete actions: -to examine the European-scale perspective on environmental protection through the Oceans and the Law of the Sea and the European Youth Strategy; -to organise a plastic waste collection campaign on the beach in Sint Maarten; -to create a fish model from plastic waste as a symbolic awareness-raising tool; -to apply the 8R model to promote conscious consumption and environmentally friendly daily habits; -to develop digital skills by turning project materials and experiences into online outputs such as blogs, videos, and website content. In broader terms, we wanted participants to become more capable of producing solutions to environmental problems, more sensitive to sustainability issues, and more active in their own communities. The project also aimed to link local and national impact with the environmental policies of the European Commission, while helping participants gain lifelong learning skills, stronger intercultural awareness, and a sense of European identity and cooperation.

Project partners (6)