GEOSTORIES: Young Voices of Geoheritage

Looking for partners: Erasmus+ KA152-YOU Youth Exchange on geoheritage, nature and digital storytelling — Portugal, 2027

Sociedade de História Natural de Torres Vedras (SHN, Portugal), founded in 1998, is preparing a Youth Exchange (KA152-YOU) to be submitted to the Portuguese National Agency. SHN works in palaeontology, geoheritage and Earth science education, holds a collection of more than 1,500 fossils from over 320 sites, publishes the scientific journal Paleolusitana, runs the GeoEduca science-education programme, and has previous experience in Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects. Our partners include the Oeste Geopark and the Municipality of Torres Vedras. The Faculty of Tourism of Akdeniz University (Türkiye) has already joined the consortium.

The project — "GEOSTORIES: Young Voices of Geoheritage"
Young people from five countries will spend 7 days in the Torres Vedras / Oeste Geopark territory exploring fossil sites and geological landscapes, and will turn what they discover into their own digital outputs: short films, podcasts, a QR-based geo-trail, a virtual exhibition and a joint social media campaign. Back home, each national group will apply the same method to the geoheritage of their own region. The programme is fully non-formal, youth-led and built around fieldwork, peer workshops, daily reflection and Youthpass. It is not a study trip and not a training course delivered by adults.

Planned framework

Venue: Torres Vedras / Santa Cruz, Portugal
Dates: May–June or September 2027 (7 days, excluding travel)
30 young participants aged 18–30 (5 groups of 6) plus 1 group leader per group
At least 8 participants with fewer opportunities
Priorities: environmental sustainability, digital transformation, inclusion and diversity, youth participation
European Youth Goals 3, 9 and 10

We are looking for sending organisations working in:

Geoparks, geoheritage interpretation or palaeontology outreach
Environmental education, nature conservation or citizen science with young people
Inclusion — organisations able to bring rural, NEET, migrant-background or disabled young people
Digital media, film-making or media literacy with youth

Organisations from EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme are preferred. We especially welcome organisations based in or near a UNESCO Global Geopark.

What we offer: a host with real scientific infrastructure — collections, laboratory, field sites and a network of Earth science professionals — a clearly defined non-formal programme co-designed with young people, and full support with preparation, safety arrangements and Youthpass.

What we need from you: a valid OID, a signed mandate, a group of 6 young people and at least one experienced group leader, and active involvement in the preparation and follow-up phases.

Interested organisations are asked to write urgently to nazife_sahan@yahoo.com.