We aim to empower young people to become active agents of change in the face of today’s most pressing challenges: climate crisis, sustainability, and the mental health implications of eco-anxiety. Our ambition is not only to raise awareness but to provide youth with practical tools, competences, and opportunities to take meaningful action in their communities. From the perspective of youth work practice, this means offering a carefully designed learning process based on non-formal education principles, youth participation, and competence development. At its core, EcoUprising responds to two interconnected realities. Firstly, young people are highly aware of the environmental crisis, but often feel powerless in the face of its magnitude, leading to frustration, anxiety, or disengagement. Secondly, traditional education systems frequently lack the experiential and participatory methods that allow youth to transform knowledge into agency. Our project addresses this gap by using youth work methodologies that combine experiential learning (Kolb’s cycle), peer-to-peer education, and competence-oriented reflection (Youthpass framework). Our objectives are: - Strengthen environmental awareness and action competences among young people by exploring sustainability topics such as biodiversity, greenwashing, circular economy, and human rights. Using interactive board games, Land Art, the SDG Intelligence Exhibition, and study visits to urban greening initiatives, participants will learn through learning by doing, linking complex issues to their everyday realities. - Foster resilience and wellbeing by addressing eco-anxiety through nature connection and reflective practices. Activities such as outdoor rituals, reconnecting with green spaces in Vienna, and structured reflection (e.g. “Five Fingers” method, Dixit cards) provide tools for emotional regulation and mental health promotion, integrating wellbeing into sustainability education. - Build intercultural dialogue and European solidarity through collaborative, youth-led learning. By working in mixed international groups, participants will practice teamwork, debate, and critical thinking. Intercultural nights and joint tasks will enhance communication, tolerance, and diversity appreciation, in line with the European Youth Goals (“Sustainable Green Europe” and “Inclusive Societies”). - Develop leadership, initiative, and follow-up capacity by empowering each national group to design and implement Action Plans in their communities. This approach builds project management competences, accountability, and ensures that learning outcomes extend beyond Vienna into tangible local actions. Methodologically, the project is built on the non-formal education triangle: learning by doing, peer-to-peer exchange, and guided reflection. Each day participants experience activities, reflect on them in learning groups, and link their insights to Youthpass key competences. Reflection is not an afterthought but systematically embedded, using diaries, buddy systems, and structured evaluation methods. For youth workers, the project demonstrates how gamification, creative arts, and experiential exercises can make sustainability education both effective and engaging. For participants, it provides a space to experiment, fail safely, and build confidence in their ability to lead initiatives. For partner organisations, it strengthens capacity to design and deliver high-quality Erasmus+ projects aligned with the Youth Work Agenda and Erasmus+ Quality Standards. In terms of impact, EcoUprising seeks to achieve a triple effect: - On the individual level, participants gain competences in environmental literacy, wellbeing, and intercultural communication. - On the community level, Action Plans and dissemination activities multiply results and inspire peers. - On the organisational level, partners gain tested tools and methods (board games, exhibitions, reflection models) to integrate into their ongoing youth work practice.