From the perspective of youth work practice, Guardians of the Blue Forest aims to strengthen the capacity of youth workers to use non-formal, creative, and nature-based methods to inspire young people in making informed, ethical, and environmentally conscious decisions. The project connects youth work practice with urgent global challenges by focusing on Caribbean marine ecosystems, seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs, as living laboratories for skills development. 1. Strengthen Eco-Literacy in Youth Work Youth workers will gain knowledge about the ecological role of seagrass, mangroves, and coral reefs, linking them to global challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change. Through field visits, eco-mapping, and biodiversity surveys, they will learn how to embed environmental education into non-formal youth work, enabling them to guide young people toward a deeper respect for nature. 2. Develop Critical and Ethical Decision-Making Skills Through simulations, role play, and structured debates (e.g., “Tourism vs. Fisheries vs. Conservation”), youth workers will practice methods for guiding young people in weighing complex perspectives. They will learn to help young people critically assess trade-offs, reflect on ethical implications, and take responsibility for sustainable choices. 3. Foster Intercultural Dialogue and Solidarity The project will create safe spaces where youth workers from six countries collaborate, exchange cultural perspectives, and co-create outputs such as intercultural nights and storytelling. This strengthens their ability to promote tolerance, empathy, and global solidarity in their local youth work practice. 4. Enhance Creative Communication for Advocacy By engaging in art labs, campaign design workshops, and the production of short videos or posters, youth workers will acquire tools for turning environmental messages into impactful creative outputs. These methods can then be transferred to their local youth groups, amplifying youth voices in advocacy and policy dialogue. 5. Build Resilience and Emotional Awareness Reflection sessions, daily debriefs, and symbolic activities such as the Eco-Footprint Challenge and Planting Together will enhance youth workers’ ability to facilitate emotional awareness and resilience-building among young people. They will practice guiding youth in transforming personal challenges into strengths, a competence transferable to both environmental activism and daily life. 6. Promote Networking and Sustainable Youth Work Practices The PDA will act as a platform for creating lasting networks among partner organisations and youth workers. By co-developing follow-up activities (e.g., community hikes, eco-awareness campaigns, school visits), participants will strengthen their capacity to design, manage, and disseminate projects that are innovative, sustainable, and rooted in Erasmus+ values. In short: Guardians of the Blue Forest will empower youth workers to become facilitators of eco-literacy, intercultural dialogue, ethical decision-making, and creative advocacy, ensuring that young people are supported in making value-based, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable choices.