Empowering Youth Work for A Sustainable Future. Focus on Environment

The context:

According to the UN, youth is one of the key stakeholders of the UN Agenda 2030 – the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable development – development that meets the needs of the present without compromising those of the future – begins with respect for the future generation. Therefore, engaging and empowering youth to endeavour for a more sustainable future is important.

Our environment is constantly changing, and although some of these changes can be attributed to the Earth’s natural course, reliable scientific research proves that the vast majority of environmental changes result from human activity. Therefore, it is crucially important to help young people understand the effects of their personal actions on the environment and lead them to behavioural change that contributes to environmental sustainability.

About the training course:

Sustainable development is a comprehensive concept that seeks the balance between economic growth, social justice, and environmental protection. This training course is part of a series of 2 training courses that aim to empower participants working with youth to mainstream sustainability principles in their youth work activities. The two courses will have a specific focus on different dimensions of sustainability.

This training course will specifically focus on the environmental dimension of sustainability. Throughout the programme, we aim to empower participants to contribute actively to a more sustainable future by incorporating environmental considerations into their youth-oriented initiatives.

Objectives of the training course:

• Discuss the role of young people and youth work in dealing with major global issues related to the environment;
• Understand the context and core principles of sustainable development and education for sustainability;
• Explore the importance of taking action towards sustainability on personal and organisational levels;
• Practice tools and methods that help young people develop their competencies and strengthen their values that contribute to environmental sustainability;
• Explore the role of the Erasmus+ programme towards the promotion of environmental sustainability among young people;
• Provide a safe space for intercultural dialogue, sharing, networking and partnership building.

Draft programme (the programme is subject to change considering the background and the needs of the selected participants):

DAY 1

• Getting to know each other
• Introduction to the training course, defining expected learning outcomes
• Group building
• Global trends, young people and youth work

DAY 2

• UN Sustainable Development Goals and youth
• Education for sustainability
• The environmental dimension of sustainability
• Our personal contribution to the environmental destruction

DAY 3

• The environmental aspect of sustainable wellbeing (outdoor activity)
• Organisational practices that contribute to environmental sustainability

DAY 4

Bringing sustainable development issues closer to young people – practical examples of youth work activities about food consumption and sustainable fashion

DAY 5

• Study visit

DAY 6

• Green and sustainable practices in Erasmus+ projects
• Sustainability in action
• Networking, building potential future partnerships
• Assessment of personal learning outcomes
• Overall evaluation of the training course

Eligible countries:

Erasmus+ programme countries: EU 27 countries; North Macedonia; Serbia; Iceland; Liechtenstein; Norway; Türkiye.

We invite participants who:

• Are youth workers, youth leaders, or educators engaged in youth centers, youth organisations, or any entity providing diverse activities for young people;
• Are mentors, trainers, and coordinators actively involved in local and/or international youth activities;
• Have medium, minimal or no prior experience in the field of sustainability;
• Are motivated to enhance their professional competences, aiming to incorporate sustainability principles into their daily interactions with young people;
• Have a connection to an organisation with an Erasmus+ OID number that agrees to serve as a sending organisation for the training course (we expect the sending organisations to support participants in applying the competences acquired during the training);
• Have a good command of English;
• Are able to participate in the entire program of the training course.

The venue:

Sadauskų sodyba

Address: Jurbarko pl. 351, Antalkių km., Vilkijos sen., Kauno rajonas, LT 54217

Website: http://www.sadauskusodyba.lt/en/

Application for the training course:

Application form: https://forms.gle/ruc9zfU566Kx38yc7

The deadline for filling in the application form is the 20th of February.

We will inform the applicants about the selection results by the 10th of March.

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Global Citizens’ Academy is an accredited organisation for Erasmus+ mobility activities in the field of youth since February 2022. Our STRATEGIC GOAL for the activities implemented in the framework of the Erasmus+ accreditation in the field of youth is to strengthen the role of youth work in the sustainable development of society by integrating the principles, approaches and tools of education for sustainable development and global citizenship education in youth work activities on local, national and international levels.

Grant agreement no. – 2023-1-LT02-KA151-YOU-000139699