SELENITE - Taking the Shape, Not the Stone

"SELENITE – Taking the Shape, Not the Stone" is an Erasmus+ KA152 Youth Exchange bringing together young people from different European countries to explore the relationship between natural resources, territories, communities and environmental citizenship.

Through non-formal education, outdoor activities and creative workshops, participants will explore the life cycle of natural resources: where they come from, how they are extracted, how they shape communities and landscapes, what happens when extraction ends, and what remains for future generations.

A central methodology of the project will be plaster casting, used as a creative way to observe and record the traces of a place without removing or damaging the original element.

Participants will combine artistic practice with environmental learning, intercultural exchange and reflection on civic participation.

- European dimension

Each national group will prepare a real case from its own territory connected to a natural resource and the community around it.

The case may explore, for example:

* extraction or former extraction of a natural resource;
* environmental transformation of a territory;
* local communities affected by extraction;
* civic mobilisation or environmental protection;
* transformation of an extraction site into cultural or natural heritage;
* traditional practices connected to local materials.

During the exchange, participants will compare these different European experiences and explore the connections between resources, sustainability, heritage and active citizenship.

- Main objectives

SELENITE aims to:

* strengthen young people's environmental awareness and civic competences;
* make the concept of finite natural resources concrete through experiential learning;
* promote creative and artistic methods in non-formal education;
* encourage intercultural dialogue around local environmental challenges;
* explore examples of community participation and environmental protection;
* develop educational outputs that can be reused by participating organisations.

- Target group

The project is designed for young people aged 18–26, including participants with fewer opportunities.

No previous artistic or environmental expertise is required.

- We are looking for partners who:

* work directly with young people;
* have experience or interest in non-formal education;
* are interested in sustainability, environmental education, cultural heritage, arts, rural territories or civic participation;
* can identify a meaningful local case related to natural resources and their impact on a territory or community;
* are willing to actively contribute to the preparation of the project;
* can select and prepare a group of motivated young participants.

We particularly value organisations that can bring a strong local perspective to the project and are interested in developing the methodology together rather than participating only as sending organisations.

The project is currently under development and the final programme, partnership and activities will be shaped together with the selected partners.