In today’s world, we are facing a serious problem with the way we consume and waste food and other resources. Many people buy more than they need, throw away food that is still good, or use items only once before throwing them out. This way of living is not sustainable, and it’s having a huge impact on our planet. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world wasted around 931 million tonnes of food in 2019, and over 60% of this came from households. At the same time, 33 million people in Europe cannot afford a proper meal every second day. While some are throwing away food, others are going hungry. This shows a major imbalance in the way we produce, consume, and value food. In addition, each EU citizen creates around 500 kg of waste per year (Eurostat). Only about half of this is recycled or composted - the rest ends up in landfills or is burned, adding to climate change and environmental damage. A lot of this waste comes from packaging, fast food, and products that are used once and thrown away. Food waste also has a major environmental cost. When we throw away food, we are also wasting the water, energy, land, and labor used to produce it. Food waste alone causes about 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While the EU is making progress in recycling, still less than half of this waste is reused or composted. These numbers show how important this topic is. We waste food while others go hungry. We throw away packaging and plastic that pollute the environment. And many young people don’t fully understand how their everyday choices affect the planet. In many countries, there is not enough education about these problems, and young people often feel like they can’t make a difference. We believe that youth can and should be part of the solution. With the right tools and knowledge, young people can help change habits in their homes, schools, and communities. That’s why we want to carry out this youth exchange - to help participants understand the problems linked to overconsumption and waste, and to explore how we can live in a more sustainable way. We believe that many of these problems start with a lack of education, reflection, and connection. In many European countries, young people do not receive enough practical education about sustainability, food systems, or waste. These topics are sometimes taught in theory, but not in a way that connects to real life or offers tools to act. At the same time, young people are full of energy, creativity, and ideas. They want to make a difference, but they don’t always know where to start. There is also a need to bring young people together to talk about these issues on an international level. Every country has different habits, systems, and traditions when it comes to food and waste. By learning from each other, we can open our minds, break stereotypes, and build a stronger European network of young people who care about the environment. We see the need to: - Raise awareness about food and material waste; - Develop responsible consumption habits; - Encourage sustainable lifestyle choices among youth; - Create space for young people to share ideas and learn from each other across cultures; - Empower youth to become changemakers in their local communities. With this youth exchange, we want to: - Help participants understand the environmental and social problems caused by overconsumption and food waste; - Introduce practical tools and ideas for reducing waste and consuming more responsibly (e.g. composting, zero-waste tips, smart food shopping); - Support the exchange of good practices between countries on how to live more sustainably; - Strengthen participants’ critical thinking about the link between personal choices and global impact; - Promote teamwork and creativity through workshops, campaigns, and real-life eco-challenges; - Encourage long-term action by inspiring participants to start initiatives at home or in their organizations. We also aim to use the project to contribute to EU climate goals, the European Green Deal, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by encouraging responsible consumption, raising awareness about food and material waste, and empowering young people to make eco-friendly choices in their daily lives. This project will not only increase knowledge, but also motivate young people to take real steps in their lives and become examples for others. Through international cooperation and non-formal education, we will build a stronger network of youth who are informed, responsible, and ready to act for a more sustainable future.