Empowering Youth for Sustainable Futures: Building Community-Led Climate Action

Description:

Koukouva Social Cooperative Enterprise (S.C.E.), is a multi-collective interdisciplinary group situated in Kalamata, Greece. Our journey began in February 2019 with a vision to foster learning through experience and play, enhance the local cultural life, and promote the principles of respect, equality, cooperation, and solidarity. We firmly believe that strong communities, equipped with knowledge and a deep respect for the environment, can play a pivotal role in driving the change that our planet urgently needs.

Developed by the environmentalists of our group, our project, "Empowering Youth for Sustainable Futures," is designed to empower youth workers and inspire positive change within communities. It is built upon the foundational pillars of climate action, Social Solidarity Economy (SSE), cooperativeness, and youth empowerment. It seeks to equip youth workers with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to guide and support young people effectively, while also addressing critical global challenges.

Objectives:

Youth Empowerment: The primary goal of this project is to empower youth workers, educators, and leaders, enabling them to become catalysts for change within their communities. By providing them with experiential learning opportunities, valuable resources, and innovative educational tools, we aim to enhance their ability to engage and inspire the next generation.

Climate Change Awareness/ Community-Led Climate Action: Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. Through this project, we aspire to raise awareness about the urgency of climate action and environmental sustainability. Participants will gain a deep understanding of climate change and learn how to effectively communicate its importance to young people.
However, as climate change cannot be solved by personal responsibility alone, our project also focuses on nurturing strong communities that collectively take action. We seek to raise awareness about the urgency of climate action and the essential role that communities can play in driving positive change.

Promoting SSE: We believe in the power of Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) to foster economic sustainability and social inclusion. Our project will introduce SSE principles and practices to youth workers, encouraging them to incorporate these ideas into their work and inspire young people to explore SSE initiatives.

Cooperation and Teamwork: A key aspect of our project is promoting cooperation and democratic group work among youth workers. Participants will learn how to facilitate group dynamics that emphasize respect, equality, and effective collaboration, ensuring positive outcomes in their youth programs.

Digital Transformation: In an increasingly digital world, digital skills are essential for effective youth work. We will facilitate the digital transformation of learning tools, enabling youth workers to harness technology for better outreach and engagement with young people.

Target group:
- Youth workers, educators, and mentors actively involved in working with young people.
- Environmental enthusiasts and educators with a passion for community-led climate action.
- Social enterprises and cooperatives members committed to social and environmental responsibility.

Costs and Logistics: Our training Course will be funded through the Erasmus Plus program. This means that accommodation expenses, as well as three meals per working day, will be fully covered. Additionally, travel costs will be reimbursed up to a specific amount depending on the distance traveled.
Please do let us know if you're interested in using environmentally-friendly travel choices (Green Travel).

English will serve as the primary working language for all project activities.