Sustainable Communities for You(th)

Climate change and other environmental crises made it clear by now that there is no other way than sustainability, that we have to radically change our habits in order to be able to survive on a finite planet. Yet, we usually approach sustainability from a very narrow perspective, expecting scientists to come out with phantasmagoric technologies or implementing sporadic actions or regulations which focus on very specific targets, like reducing the carbon footprint. All so very important, but still not enough. We cannot make it as long as we are stuck in an old paradigm, attached to concepts like individualism, consumption, etc. We need a holistic approach, which will involve everyone in achieving the big goal in front of us. We need to include all people in the process of change, creating communities which are sustainable all round. Communities with a green approach toward their environment and food production; communities with a stable and responsible financial model; communities which are able to communicate and interrelate, making effective decisions which include voices of all minorities, by practicing methods like sociocracy or consensus; communities which value each individual, recognise their strengths and needs and incorporate them all, perceiving diversity as a main asset, rather than a reason for exclusion.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of “Sustainable Communities for You(th)” is to have a closer look at, discuss, analyse and practise sustainable communities. Based on our experience, deep discussions and detailed research, which included both reading and listening about existing sustainable communities, as well as observing some of them directly, we identified four basic pillars of sustainability:

• Personal sustainability, understood as awareness of one’s talents, strengths, dreams, values, goals and visions and ability to follow them and use them effectively in one’s development and search for fulfillment and happiness.
• Collective sustainability, understood as the ability of communities and groups to make decisions in a fair, inclusive manner, based on nonviolent communication and active listening to all its members as well as solving conflicts in a way that empowers people instead of dividing them.
• Financial sustainability, understood as being able to get the resources needed for the community to thrive in a responsible and effective way.
• Environmental sustainability, understood as building our spaces, sourcing our food, dealing with the wider nature, having in mind not only the needs of our species, but also the needs of other beings and of the planet as a whole.

We envision a society as a house, which cannot stand on one pillar alone. We need all four pillars to be sound and solid in order to ensure sustainability and resilience in the long run.

Other objectives:

• Getting to know tools of personal, collective, financial and environmental sustainability which can be used directly in our work with partner organizations, youth and local communities.
• Reflecting on what “community” means for us, becoming open for creating various kinds of communities with our coworkers, family, neighbors, youth, based on principles like respect and appreciation of diversity; giving voice to people who may not be heard enough, through better approaches to communication and decision-making; joint effort to fight the climate crisis and take deep care of the environment in its broader sense.
• Deepening our relation with partner organizations, building with them an international sustainable community.

PARTICIPANTS PROFILE: Participants should fulfill the following criteria: 

• experience and good understanding of needs in the field of youth work as well as good understanding of the situation of young people in their local community and/or national context,
• at least a basic understanding of non-formal education purposes, framework and educational approaches, 
• motivation to take part in a mutual exchange and learning process held in an intercultural setting within a transnational team,
•  good level of English,
• ready to devote their time and work to the project in all phases.

There is no age limit in the training course (beside 18+), we always try to bring different perspectives - from young adults till experienced middle or even senior age practitioners. As much as in the case of gender or origin, we believe in the power of diversity and putting together various perspectives. 

ACCOMMODATION: The training takes place at Żywa Ziemia (Living Earth), located in Zakrzewo, close to Gdańsk, Poland. Żywa Ziemia is a natural farm promoting healthy living, permaculture and sustainability (https://www.facebook.com/ZywaZiemia/). They provide shared rooms, multiple training spaces (including beautiful outdoor spaces, presence of animals and other living beings as well as solitude and natural surroundings reducing “city” distractions) and vegetarian/vegan food, partly produced at their farm.

COVID SITUATION: As organizers, we will make sure to meet any COVID restrictions and recommendations by the regulator, adjusting accordingly our program, accomodation, etc.