Our project Act Green brings together independent young artists (facilitators) and youth (ages 18-23 years old) from small communities in 3 participating countries in an effort to raise awareness about current common local and EU environmental issues and the importance of promoting active citizenship and green sustainable practices to help fight against climate change. With the help of non-formal performing arts learning activities designed by our facilitators, based on feedback from youth our NGOs interacted and worked with, we’ve developed a 7 days mobility that will help reach our project objectives. Main project objectives: 1. Raise awareness among young participants about current environmental challenges (deforestation, pollution, global warming and climate change) and how they can be addressed through active citizenship and adopting green and sustainable practices by taking part in non-formal performing arts learning activities and exchanging information about local and European environmental issues and initiatives . (O1) 2. Develop personal and interpersonal skills (soft skills) of young participants through non-formal performing arts activities that will help them become more self confident, take initiative and better express themselves in social and professional situations (public speaking, debate, teamwork and cooperation, creativity and spontaneity, movement and body language, creative writing, critical thinking and constructive feedback etc.). (O2) Non-formal performing arts activities and tools are a fun and engaging way for teaching and learning, especially suitable for youth work and youth skills development. Activities include: improvisation theatre, mime, movement and dancing - choreography, creative writing, monologue, story telling etc. The benefits and importance of performing arts on youth personal and interpersonal skills development has also become the focus of public education. For example, in Romania, starting this year (2025), “Theatre Education” classes will be included in the high school curriculum for 9th graders in all high schools around Romania, regardless of their profile. In Lithuania the general upper secondary education includes subjects like graphic design, filmmaking, and technological arts, moving towards implementing theatre activities in schools. In Croatia the vocational high school curricula have recently been reformed with inclusion of general education modules that cover arts like visual arts and possibly theatre as elective or optional components In our project, non-formal performing arts tools will play a key role in both developing youth soft skills and also have a positive impact on young participants’ attitude, sense of initiative and civic engagement regarding current environmental threats, helping raise awareness in their circles and make positive changes in their lifestyle, circles and communities. The “Attitudes of Europeans towards the environment” Eurobarometer from May 2024 shows that EU citizens are highly concerned about environmental issues, with 74% believing these issues have a direct impact on their health and daily lives. Citizens are concerned about the effects of pollution, chemical waste and climate change on the environment and waters in their countries. The study also indicates that people would consider making a change in reducing waste by recycling, reusing and sorting. According to a document published by the European Parliament (Deforestation: causes and how the EU is tackling it), urban and infrastructure development, including construction and road expansion represent the third biggest cause of global deforestation and are Europe’s main cause of deforestation. EU consumption of goods produced on deforested land accounts for about 10% of global deforestation, mostly palm oil and soya. To help fight against climate change and as part of the European Green Deal, the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 aims to increase the quantity and quality of EU forests and promote their role as carbon sinks. Our environment is a common good and it requires the joined forces and involvement of all countries, communities and people to make a positive change. The project will help acquaint participants and local communities with such concerns and initiatives and how each one of us can and should contribute to a greener future, having both a local and European dimension.