PRECIOUS PLASTICS

It is inspired by the Precious Plastic initiative (https://preciousplastic.com/), which enables the creation of low cost, DIY, community-based recycling units. Recycling units that are not only capable of collecting and separating plastic waste, but also to transform the recycled plastic into multiple and new design products. A space that connects social awareness (active citizenship) to creativity (design of new products) and digital skills (digital manufacturing). A Precious Plastic workshop is above all a neighborhood recycling factory, a space to gather a community, share a purpose, develop new ideas and contribute for a better world.
This project is innovative because while focusing on the worldwide circular economy movement of the Precious Plastic, it aims to address young people with less opportunities through specific actions that develop their spirit of initiative and respect for the fundamental right to a clean and sustainable environment and living space. Not only we are focusing young people´s needs by proposing to open a Precious Plastic local chapter but also opportunities, through the stimulus of their entrepreneurial spirit and self-reflexion on their consumption patterns and waste issues. From the success of this KA1 will depend on the existence of a future KA2, allowing to gather relevant experience afterward needed for the creation of new methodologies and other outputs targeted to this group.

The objectives of this project include:

Promotion of active citizenship and development of a sense of initiative in young people regarding a European priority – the reduction of plastic waste;

Enable young people facing social or economic exclusion to have a unique learning opportunity, promoting inter-religious dialogue and multicultural exchange to provide a more rich experience to participants;

Promote capacity building in partner organizations and youth workers in the development of innovative programs in circular economy, acquisition of digital skills, and in being able to engage youth communities to act upon fundamental rights as the right to a clean, safe and sustainable living environment;

Disseminate innovative practices and provide quality contents in the field of digital youth work;

We seek to empower local communities, with a particular role of young people, to make a difference regarding our collective future. This message is particularly relevant in a Europe still struggling to find a sense of belonging and purpose, while the precious plastic offers citizens a sense of usefulness and the opportunity to make a difference in a common challenge.
The Precious Plastic project will train 14 youth workers from 7 partner countries, as well as provide a Youth Exchange opportunity to 42 young people, all from difficult backgrounds facing social exclusion. It will be structured around three main activities:

Advance Planning Visit: Discussion of operational matters regarding the project implementation, preparation of the activities, and signature of the partnership agreement;

Youth Workers Mobility: Capacitating youth workers and partner organization to successfully implement and develop educational contents in the field of circular economy, as well as develop competencies in the area of digital youth work;

Youth Exchange: A unique opportunity for young people, facing the risk of social or education exclusion, to be part of an international environment and develop relevant competences and skills while promoting cultural and religious dialogue.