SUPERNATURAL

In a moment where the political leaders have failed several times o reach an international agreement concerning global environmental challenges and climate change the role of youth participation and civil society organisations play in ensuring sustainability of our planet is more important than ever. As organisations that actively promote the international/regional mobility of young people, especially with the opportunities offered by Youth in Action and travelling invariably by plane, the partners in this project recognise the need to standardise the introduction, in all stages of our projects (planning, implementation and follow up), mechanisms to reduce the environmental impact of our activities. This means on all aspects including travel & transportation, urban mobility, use of resources such as paper, water, electricity and consumption of the food, etc. This training course involving 24 youth leaders from 8 countries, and 8 partner organisations will introduce participants to the concept of Carbon Footprints and how to calculate the Footprint of an activity or action based on the carbon emissions it produces and give ideas and best practices example of how organisations can introduce carbon offsetting into the “budgets” of the activities. In this way the participants will have the capacity when planning future international/local youth activities to measure the overall environmental impact of an activity taking into account the form of travel-international and urban transport, electricity, paper & material, water and food, usage of local products will be especially evaluated. Following this analysis the participants will then be trained to know how to use concrete methods and tools to contribute to sustainability of their projects and organisations in a positive way and so balance the negative impact of the activity creating where possible "zero" carbon footprints for the overall projects. OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING COURSE: The TC for youth leaders who organise and implement youth projects will raise awareness and mobilise them to work together on common strategies and approaches to reduce the environmental impact of youth activities and therefore increase in the consciousness on this matters. The main objectives are to: • increase participants’ knowledge and awareness about environmental impact of different aspects of international/local youth projects, develop competences in calculating carbon footprints and how to reduce carbon footprints • develop the quality criteria in youth projects related to environmental impact. • explore all different aspects of our impact such as travel (with special accent on urban transportation and ecological means of transport), local food consumption, waste, etc. • work on the inclusion, promotion and dissemination of the results of the project within partner organisations’ future activities. • explore the creative project management when addressing environmental challenges and climate change issues. WORKING METHODS The training will be based on non-formal education methods, encouraging active participation of young people involved. • Ice-breakers, energisers. • Inputs from experts • Simulations, role plays • Intercultural and experiential learning • Variety of visuals for thematic input PROFILE OF PARTICIPANT Priority will be given to those that most closely meet these criteria: • Youth leaders, youth workers, volunteers very motivated to act in their sending organisation • Are over 18 years old • Have an interest in the topic • Willing to learn & motivated to share experience with others after the event • Are able to work in English • Are committed to attend for the full duration of the training • Are nominated by their youth organisation • Ready to put in practice the learning outcomes in local level after the event! • Gender balance, group diversity in terms of different social and cultural backgrounds will be taken into consideration.