RE:ACT — Reconnecting Ecology and Action Together

University-age STEM students across Europe are among the most climate-literate generations in history, yet surveys (Eurobarometer; Hickman et al., 2021, Lancet Planetary Health) consistently show a gap between this awareness and any concrete, sustained action - many describe a paralysing sense that their knowledge doesn't translate into agency. RE:ACT is a Youth Exchange designed by a student team from Istanbul Ticaret University (Team Lacin) to close that gap for exactly this group: young people who understand the science of renewable energy and climate change, but feel stuck between concern and action.

Rather than lectures or lab-style experiments, the exchange is built entirely around non-formal, non-hierarchical methods. Participants document environmental issues that personally affect them (Photovoice + SHOWED), map shared problems across countries (World Café), and prototype real, hands-on responses (Design Thinking, simulation and roleplay). Every day closes with a peer-led reflection circle tied to Youthpass - participants are treated as the subjects of the project, not its objects, and the whole programme is designed to turn STEM knowledge into an emotionally resonant, communicable, and actionable story rather than a dry technical report.

We are looking for one or more partner organisations or informal groups of young people (13-30 years old, KA152 Youth Exchange rules) who share this focus on climate/environment, non-formal education, or STEM outreach, and who can co-design and co-host part of the programme with us. We're especially glad to hear from partners who bring their own local environmental case study to the table, since the comparative, cross-country mapping at the heart of the exchange needs real material to work with.

The exchange is planned for 2027 (exact dates to be set together with confirmed partners), lasting 5-7 activity days plus travel, in line with KA152 Youth Exchange rules. We're aiming to submit the KA152 application by the 1 October 2026 deadline, so we'd love to hear from interested partners as soon as possible - but we're happy to talk even if your own planning timeline is different.

If any of this resonates with your own work with young people, get in touch - we'd love to compare notes, however early-stage your interest is.