The objective of the project CYRCLE is to encourage cooperation between Europe, Latin America and Africa, promoting youth initiatives in the field of responsible tourism, through the implementation of circular economy principles in the craft sector, as a strategy for sustainable development and economic growth in vulnerable communities. CYRCLE project will incentive to youth-led responsible tourism initiatives in order to contribute to the maintenance and protection of the heritage, cultural and natural assets of the destinations, and allow the young people to contribute to the strengthening of the local economy, to create collaborations between the different parties involved of the local community which can become an alternative recipient of tourism. The project activities will be based on the identification and valorization of local community assets, especially in the field of handicraft, that could be used in order to achieve sustainable tourism that will benefit local communities. In order to promote this objective, CYRCLE project will organize some main activity clusters: a) research on the principles and best practices related with responsible tourism with local youth. This research will also include the identification of important local assets that could be valorized for a tourism related product in each of the local communities, the analysis of circular economy strategies which can be applied to the responsible tourism and the research about the local handicraft sector.b) the enhancement of skills and competencies of youth workers in the field of responsible tourism and youth entrepreneurship within the framework of three international Meetings in Italy, Mexico and Kenya. c) the creation of networks and information for entrepreneurial training, and responsible tourism offer through the youth-led initiatives. It will include the development of material for an eLearning course offered for youth and the creation of innovative CYRCLE platform for the circulation of best-practices, studies, responsible and alternative tourism offers, sharing of experience, circulation of human resources for the local promotion.It is expected that more than 100 youth workers (also with fewer opportunities) from all the partner countries will be involved in the activities both through the participation in the transnational events and the participation in the e-learning course. The project is going to be implemented by a consortium that includes 5 partners from 2 EU (Italy, Greece), 1 Africa (Kenya) and 1 Latin American (Mexico). The project consortium includes NGOs, SMEs, and foundations which have diverse and complementary skills.
The project seeks to promote responsible tourism, applying the principles of circular economy and focuses on the handicraft sector, through youth initiatives, as a promotion mechanism for the development of responsible tourism. The project, by applying the principles of the circular economy, aims at valorising the artisanal sector as a strategy for the development of a responsible tourism, where young people, as the most dynamic and innovative part of the community, can express their potential.
The tourism sector is one of the main vehicles for economic growth (10% of world GDP). Despite the benefits offered, this sector has long relied on the irrational use of resources characterized by production, consumption and discard process. Responsible Tourism, as an alternative model, represents a way to move towards sustainable development and it’s based on the creation of collaborations between the different parties involved, including the local community as a recipient of tourism flows.
<< Background >> The tourism sector is one of the main vehicles for economic growth (10% of world GDP). Despite the benefits offered, this sector has long relied on the irrational use of resources characterized by production, consumption and discard process. Responsible Tourism, as an alternative model, represents a way to move towards sustainable development and it’s based on the creation of collaborations between the different parties involved, including the local community as a recipient of tourism flows. << Objectives >> The project seeks to promote responsible tourism, applying the principles of circular economy and focuses on the handicraft sector, through youth initiatives, as a promotion mechanism for the development of responsible tourism. The project, by applying the principles of the circular economy, aims at valorising the artisanal sector as a strategy for the development of a responsible tourism, where young people, as the most dynamic and innovative part of the community, can express their potential. << Implementation >> The CYRCLE project implemented the activities: 1. Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation,2. Research, Methodology and Training Program with the e-learning course based on asynchronous and synchronous (7 online webinars) activity,3. Local Workshop for the practical approach of the local Cyrcle Community Strategies,4. Nr. 3 Transnational Meetings Program in Kenya, Italy and Mexico (CBY and Youth Mobility),5. Communication & Dissemination of the project results and activities. << Results >> The main results achieved are: - PM tools and Reports- Research, Data Collection and Training materials delivered by partners- e-learning course platform and contents free available including video recorded sessions - The CYRCLE Platform for the development of the communities' itineraries- Local CYRCLE MODEL, including Itineraries and youth-led strategies- Communication tools and materials and and social network accounts- Involvement of local community members through practical workshops